Opinion: A battle of the ages? Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

It’s is the age old battle; good versus evil, arrogance versus humility, handsome versus, well not so handsome. Last Saturday night Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo resumed not only their quest to be crowned top goal-scorer in Spain, but also perhaps football’s most ostentatious game of one-upmanship.

Last season the crown went to Ronaldo, but the major trophies went to Messi and this year La Pulga will be keen to get one over his Madeiran narcissistic nemesis despite protestations that the priority is continued success for the team. Let us be honest, if you are Lionel Messi and you have the talent, the medals, the money and the acclaim, all that is really left is getting one over the poser from Portugal. And that will not be easy. Saturday’s game against Rayo Vallecano (a bewilderingly turbulent 6-2 win for Los Blancos) saw Ronaldo score his ninth Real Madrid hat-trick, without even playing particularly well. In fact in his post-match interview he almost seemed dejected with his own performance despite the aforementioned goals; the implication being that if you publicly profess yourself to be handsome, talented and rich, nothing less than exceptional is acceptable. Yet his goals were decisive and important and without them, Madrid would have struggled against their neighbours from Vallecas who acquitted themselves admirably on their return to the Bernabéu. That Ronaldo is utterly essential to Real’s chances is unquestionable. Not only his preposterous ability to score goals, but his selfish desire to be the best in the world which can only be a positive influence on a side searching for titles.

If Ronaldo’s hat-trick was functional without being sensational (two penalties and a shot the keeper could have saved), Messi’s three goals against Atlético Madrid in the Camp Nou a few hours later, were categorically brilliant. Swivelling, swerving, scything through the Atelti defence with dummies and electric pace, finishing with the calculated precision of a surgeon putting the final touch to a long technical procedure. He was “mucho Messi” but then again he always is against the Rojiblancos, 14 goals in his last 11 games versus the team from the Vicente Calderón prompting one journalist to ask him after the match “Oi Leo what have you against Atleti?”. If Messi is the assassin in the Barça side, then Xavi is the evil genius orchestrating the operation, sending his henchman on murderous missions, then having delivered the killer pass he sits back in his chair and strokes his white cat as the plan comes together beautifully. Ok maybe a metaphor too far, but on Saturday his was as good as Messi without getting on the score-sheet himself.

But we can save the Xavi eulogising for another column, and without doubt we will have plenty of opportunities this season to praise Barça’s quarterback-like midfielder who turns 32 in January. This is about two men. Two brilliant men. And one Golden Boot.

It is impossible to state without doubt which one will triumph, although Ronaldo’s ability to score with his left, right and head as well as penalties and free kicks might just give him the edge. Having seen Messi on Saturday would you really bet against him? Thought not.

Philippos Kitromilides is Chief Sport Reporter for LBC 97.3, XFM and Capital FM. He’s also appeared on Real Madrid TV and has featrured on this very site on numerous occasions. Follow along on Twitter here with Phil.

Tags: Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Real Madrid