In his eight game of the season, Cristiano Ronaldo finally got on the score sheet as he scored in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspor in an Europa League encounter on Thursday....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The Portuguese talisman added a second goal for the Red Devils from the penalty spot, after Jadon Sancho had opened the scoring against the Moldovan giants, with both goals coming in the first half as United picked up the first win of their Europa League campaign.
But let’s focus on Ronaldo and his performance. It was nice to see him finally get on the score sheet, penalty or not, but it has to be said that while he scored a goal, his overall performance was whack.
He was guilty of losing the ball too cheaply, misplacing simple passes and killing Man United’s attacks with his sloppiness and lack of intensity. He won only one duel and did not complete a single dribble, a sign of how much that area of his game has waned. He can’t press, dribble or create anymore. Take away goals and, with all due respect, he becomes a liability to the team.
Make no mistake about it, this didn’t start yesterday or this season. His dependence on goalscoring has been a thing for years now, the difference is that he was a more effective poacher some seasons ago than he is now, and so he used his goals to cover up for his deficiencies. Now that the goals are seldom coming, his ineffectiveness is clear as day.
In short, he is finished, as they say.
Can the same be said for Messi? Absolutely not. Just take a look at Messi’s performances this year; the goals haven’t been forthcoming like they used to, we can all agree on that. But asides goalscoring, Messi remains world class in every other department.
This season, he is the best chance creator, dribbler and assister in all of Europe’s top five leagues. He may not be scoring as much, but he is helping PSG massively with other aspects of his game.
Little wonder why he has won Man of the Match eight times out of ten games he’s played this season.
Unlike Ronaldo who is of little to no use without his goals, Messi is a full package. He runs games, and he doesn’t need to score to make his presence felt. Messi has always been an elite goalscorer and playmaker, but even though the goals aren’t flowing like before, his creativity remains an asset to PSG, and of course, the Argentine national team.
I have always rated Messi ahead of Ronaldo because I see him as a more complete specimen, in the sense that no one else can score and create like he does, and like he has done throughout his career.
Now that the goals have reduced for both players, the gulf in class is now clear for all to see: without goals, Ronaldo is of little use to his team. Without goals, Messi remains the backbone of Paris Saint Germain’s attack, and their most influential player.
