With Cristiano Ronaldo winning the Balon D’or this year, he and Messi have won it 9 times in 9 years, adding more fuel to the ‘Who is better’ debate. But, is this the time to recognise that both these individuals mark a new era in world football?
Photo Credits: PG1. LEAD_3
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Balon D’or for the fourth time and he couldn’t be happier. His fans are over the moon and there was congratulatory messages all over social media, from facebook and twitter, to Instagram and snapchat. The Portuguese forward first won it in 2008 and then in 2013 and 2014. Interestingly, since 2008 either Cristiano or Lionel Messi have picked up the prize.
The two brilliant players, who also have an intense rivalry as their clubs are arch rivals in the Spanish La Liga, are often pit against each other via their various fans. Fans of CR7, as Cristiano Ronaldo is popularly known, will regularly diss Lionel Messi when he misses a penalty, his team loses and the likes. The same happens to CR7 when he falters and Messi fans go the whole hog.
But perhaps it would be pertinent to note that this is a rare time in world football history. Never have we ever had two footballers share the limelight this way. Perhaps this is what the modern era of football is all about, or perhaps this is just evolution. People once pitted Diego Maradona against Pele, but they didn’t cross each other’s paths as regularly as Cristiano and Messi do.
Messi has won the Balon D’or five time so far, but this was Cristano’s year. And he deserves it. This may not settle the Ronaldo versus Messi argument anytime soon, but it certainly makes it interesting.
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Yes it’s true that the fans of either player are fighting amongst themselves and even abusing each other over who's the better player. Both of them are legends in their own right. They have won nearly everything on offer at club level and also in some measure at international level. But if you are a true football fan and not owing allegiance to a particular club or country you will appreciate both of the players and their abilities. As football fans, we can only judge them by their footballing talent and not compare their personal lives, which unfortunately their fans are resorting too. And due to this a lot of very good players like Luis Suarez, Alexis Sanchez, Neymar, Gareth Bale, Mesut Ozil etc. who are just below them in terms of talent are going under the radar unnoticed. So Messi and Ronaldo fans should lay this debate to rest, look beyond them and just enjoy the beautiful game.
Fronton Noronha, mechanical engineer
Back in 2007, Kaka won the Ballon D'or Since then, it has been the Cristiano and Messi show and its pretty likely either of them would win it in 2017, a decade of dominance. We all appreciate both of them on and off the pitch, even if we are too fickle to admit it. But its human nature to be biased and a good debate is always fun.
Keith D’Souza, marketing professional
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Why did CR7 deserve the Balon D’or in 2016?
• Although he scored fewer goals this year than in 2015, after 42 games in 2016 Ronaldo has scored 38 goals in all competitions - an insane amount for someone technically classified as a human male. 2016 is not over yet either
• He didn't manage to get on the scoresheet during the 120 minutes of play in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid but Ronaldo was there ready to score the trophy-deciding penalty in the shoot-out, helping Madrid to their 11th Champions League title
• He then led Portugal to a shock triumph over France in the final of Euro 2016
