Compare them only based on their career stats, performance on the pitch, impact on their team and such. No "Cristiano is a good boy because he donates money" or citing other off-pitch reason to vote

[x] zlatan

he would KO cronaldo with a high kick to the head while holding off messi like a toddler with his just his left arm. it's not even close.

Take nothing away from C Ronaldo - he's a physical freak with a ridiculously strong mentality, but I believe that Messi is not only the best player in the world but the best and most talented player in history. I'd be surprised if we see another player that good in our lifetime.

I'd put Messi and Maradona as #1 and #2 and C Ronaldo probably #3 in all time rankings. Then there's a large drop to the next tier of players.

Both about equal. I would take Ronaldo slightly, in terms of his career and trophy haul. They're inseparable though, the only reason you would get people claiming one has more talent then the other is prejudice, because of how much damage they have done to the team they support lol.

Messi is one of the very best dribblers at the moment, he also has the best goal ratio in La Liga. Ronaldo is a physical freak and is mentally tough. Ronaldo is closing in on being the leading international goal scorer of all time and has a major trophy for his country. He's also chasing Pele down for all time club goals and is getting close. He leads the Champions League all time in assists and goals, of which his knockout stage stats destroy everybody.

With these two it can simply come down to season by season, or a particular competition. There is never a rule of one over the other. Each player has had better success when they have had better teammates or a more functional team. As of right now, Ronaldo has had slightly more impact, dragging that garbage Juve team to the top of the table (with help from Dybala recently), the amount of game winners he has this season is crazy. In that same resepct, Barca don't have too much threat or attacking creativity outside of Messi and Suarez (with some help from Griezman).

This post was edited by piatek on Jul 12 2020 04:42pm

that's always a pleasure to see Messi playing when its not for CR, so i voted Messi

Messi should never be in a top 3 discussion.

Like them both, but messi is by far the best player ever.

Cristiano hit 30 goals in Serie A at 35 years old. Incredible

inb4 pen and tap-in merchant

Imagine how many he would have scored playing for Santos in the 60s. Pele is not close to any of Messi/Maradona/C Ronaldo

Agree with Pele not being up there since he only played in South America for his prime then came to New York. He did amazing national team level though.

Maradona is the clear cut #1