COMPARING MESSI WITH RONALDO. Both players have scored in two UEFA Champions League finals and have regularly broken the 50 goal barrier in a single season. Sports journalists and pundits regularly argue the individual merits of both players in an attempt to argue who they believe is the best player in modern football.[468] It has been compared to legendary sports rivalries such as the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier rivalry in boxing which culminated with the Thrilla in Manila, the Borg–McEnroe rivalry in tennis, and the Ayrton Senna-Alain Prost rivalry from Formula One.[469][470] Its part of my life now. People are bound to compare us. He tries to do his best for his club and for his national team, as I do, and there is a degree of rivalry with both of us trying to do the best for the teams we represent. “” —Cristiano Ronaldo commenting on his rivalry with Messi.[471] Some commentators choose to analyse the differing physiques of the two,[472] while part of the debate revolves around the contrasting personalities of the two players: Ronaldo is sometimes depicted as an arrogant and theatrical showoff, while Messi is portrayed as a shy, humble character.[473][474][475][476] In a 2012 interview, Ronaldo commented on the rivalry, saying I think we push each other sometimes in the competition, this is why the competition is so high,[477] while Ronaldos manager during his time at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, opined that I dont think the rivalry against each other bothers them. I think they have their own personal pride in terms of wanting to be the best.[478] Messi himself denied any rivalry, saying that it was only the media, the press, who wants us to be at loggerheads but Ive never fought with Cristiano.[479] Responding to the claims that he and Messi do not get on well on a personal level, Ronaldo commented; We dont have a relationship outside the world of football, just as we dont with a lot of other players, before adding that in years to come he hopes they can laugh about it together, stating; We have to look on this rivalry with a positive spirit, because its a good thing.[471] Representing arch rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two players face each other at least twice every season in the worlds biggest club game, El Clásico, which had a global audience of 400 million viewers in March 2014.[480]
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 08:24:41 +0000
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