Cristiano Ronaldo at 40. Is He the Greatest?

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Cristiano Ronaldo has turned 40 today and is still playing & he's still creating & scoring goals.His career stats are absolutely remarkable.

The plan is to represent his Country Portugal in the 2026 World Cup.Is he the greatest complete footballer ever or is there another?

Cristiano Ronaldo turns 40: Forward's most impressive records and statistics during his record-breaking career - Sports Mole

WWW.SPORTSMOLE.CO.UK

---

To celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo's 40th birthday, Sports Mole looks at the...

 

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

Messi for me, has always performed underwhelmingly in national tournaments with Argentina, well until they won the last World Cup, but he played very poorly during the group stages. Yes, Ronaldo didn't always play well and forced Portugal to focus on him at the cost of the team. I do think he's more polished. Both are great players, but for me Ronaldo is the better of the two.

It's very fine margins, but I think one downfall is how Messi is around world-class players and Ronaldo has often lifted his national team by himself. He's repeated it at clubs; when he played for Juventus, he heavily played a role in taking them further in the Champions League. Whereas, at PSG, Messi did not seem to repeat his Barcelona performance.

It would have been easier to judge had Messi joined a team like Manchester City earlier in his career.

I know Man City kept trying to secure his signing, but without them both having played in their prime in similar leagues. Everyone will have their own opinion, but I think Messi wouldn't have been as big in the Premier League. I think he would have struggled where skill wasn't enough to deal with the style. Likewise, if Messi signed for an Italian club, I think he would have struggled massively with the physicality. It's a difficult league to do well in when defenders are quite dirty.

[liampie]

i dont really care about either, i think ronaldo challenged himself more whereas messi has taken an easier route but both are incredibly talented.

[KingMaynard]

I think Ronaldo is the better player, but Messi is more of a team player, and I would rather have someone like him in my team. I don't think Messi lifts or improves Argentina but can be world-class for them.

[KB1862 Instagram Bainbridge316]

On 05/02/2025 at 15:20, Chris said:

I think Messi wouldn't have been as big in the Premier League. I think he would have struggled where skill wasn't enough to deal with the style.

I don't think he would have been as dominant in the Premier League as most people think he would. People assume just because of his performances in the Champions League against English clubs that he would come in and do his business. But, doing it week in week out is completely different to having a game against a Prem side on the odd couple occasions. I think if he came against a tough side that get stuck in, he'd struggle in those type of games and in the English game there are plenty of those. 

On 12/02/2025 at 13:06, liampie said:

i think ronaldo challenged himself more whereas messi has taken an easier route

Ronaldo did challenge himself by going to teams and leagues where he managed to keep up the competitiveness. Messi could have challenged himself more as he had the ability but as you mentioned he took the easier route. As much as he has lit up the MLS, it doesn't scream greatness given the league he's performing in. Not to discredit the MLS because they've come a long way and it has become more and more competitive but when you've got a team like Busquets, Alba, Suarez and Messi you'd expect Inter Miami to blow that league apart. 

On 05/02/2025 at 15:20, Chris said:

It's very fine margins, but I think one downfall is how Messi is around world-class players

There's no disputing Messi's greatness but this has certainly helped Messi on his way to greatness by being surrounded by great players who made him look world class. 

On 05/02/2025 at 15:20, Chris said:

Ronaldo has often lifted his national team

Ronaldo has also been a detriment to his National team. Especially in the last 2 tournaments. Portugal without Ronaldo are a better team than Portugal with Ronaldo in their team. Most of this comes down to his ego. At times it often feels like players must go through him and not be able to do their own thing. 

As great as Messi and Ronaldo are, I'd place Diego Maradona above both of them in terms of greatest ever.

[Fozzy]

3 hours ago, KB1862 said:

As great as Messi and Ronaldo are, I'd place Diego Maradona above both of them in terms of greatest ever.

Absolutely, Maradona’s skill was just on another level and you cannot argue with his ability to raise average teams to greatness, he was definitely the most skilful that I have seen.

I suppose the article though does state “Complete” player and you would find it difficult to argue against Ronaldo.

[DangerousSausage]

Have you all forgotten Delroy Facey?

[4everapie]

1 minute ago, DangerousSausage said:

Have you all forgotten Delroy Facey?

Or Tony Hackworth

Izale Mc Cloud 

Gavin Gordon

 

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

Messi

Hack-worthless at the bottom of the pile

[TheSkipper 𝕏 TheSkipperNCFC]

Both players are very good, but we will never know who is better. It's all down to opinions, and there isn't one right answer. I personally enjoy watching them both, especially during their prime. However, I don't think I can choose who is better based on their time in the Spanish leagues. It would have been interesting to see them compete more closely for a longer period, though.