Clash of the football GODS - Ronaldo - Messi rivalry

Nothing remains at the end of the day, just like our lives and the people around us, the mobile phones we use, the memories we share with people so dear to us, our cars, jewelries and many more that. 

But, just but, if there is one thing that can never be easily erased is, the best thing that's ever happened in football history, the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. My god, these two football icons have clearly escalated the popularity of this amazing sport and more so, they've done the unthinkable that I can actually name you several amazing players from the past were not even able to tail even an inch to what these two football gods have done. 

We've seen some amazing rivalries in the past, Maradona - Pele, Ronaldo - Zidane, Roy Keane - Patrick Vieira, Johan Cryuff - Franz Beckenbauer, but question is, how are these rivalries anywhere near to C.Ronaldo and Messi? Who is actually better, Ronaldo or Messi? Are they both that good that they are incomparable to one another? 

Having won a combined ten Ballon d'Or/FIFA Ballon d'Or awards (5 each), to me, both of them are widely regarded as the two best players of their generation and among the best of all time. They are often regarded as the record-breakers, for a simple fact of breaking regular 50 goal barrier in a single season and have already scored 600 goals each for their country and club. 

Ronaldo, 33 began his professional career with Sporting CP, making his debut on 7 October 2002, and in 2003, the lad caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson, former legendary Manchester United manager. Believe it or not, he was only signed for $12.2 million. Ronaldo was becoming a fan favorite, popular among football fans across the globe, gaining global attention, and was even being compared to the likes of Eric Cantona and George Best, two of the best players United ever had! 

From a little boy who was not convincing enough to persuade his dad about his love, passion and desire for football, is now regarded as the best player in the world of football! If there is one thing that haunts Ronaldo till now, is the fact that his dad is no longer around physically to share his success. 

During his remarkable six years at Manchester United, Ronaldo has won all major titles, such as the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and the prestigious Premier League trophies. He, then departed to Real Madrid in 2009, where success grew even bigger for the Portuguese! He currently holds the highest goal-scoring record for the club and is regarded as a "goal scoring machine".

Ronaldo has won almost anything there is to be won in professional football, except the World Cup! All former greats have won the World Cup in several occasions in the past, and if Ronaldo wins it this time, I don't think there can be anyone even after this generation can match what this genius has achieved in his entire professional career. 

On the other hand, we have Messi the Messiah. Messi, unlike Ronaldo, has spent his entire professional career at Spanish club, FC Barcelona. Messi was spotted at the age of 13 by Barcelona scout, Josep Maria Minguella, and promptly moved to Spain to join the academy. Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency at the age of 10, and upon joining Barcelona, the club paid for his treatments. 

Throughout the early years of his career, Messi had to endure the pressure of the tag, "The New Maradona". The Argentinian is very known for his dribbling skills, vision and clinical finishing. Statistics have proven that, Messi, being regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, is also one of the players that records least distance covered on field for a single match. 

Asked why, stats show that the lad is aware and visualizes the movement ball ahead of the next step which makes him to move freely on field. Now, not everyone could possess those kind of visualizing skills, well, that probably makes him a special player. 

Now, when it comes to national level performance, Messi seemed very average compared to Ronaldo. Messi comes from a team that has the likes of, Aguero, Dybala, Di Maria, Rojo and many more, but who does Ronaldo have? Alright, he has Quaresma. Who else? 

To me, Ronaldo's versatility gives him the edge over Messi and the goal-scoring records of course. Ronaldo can play with anyone, Messi needs certain, specific group of players to perform. 

Additionally, a leader is what describes Ronaldo's stand point in Portugal. He leads the team, and sometimes, all a leader needs is some pinch of ego and firmness. I believe Portugal's track record of recent years have greatly reflected the way Ronaldo has led the team as a captain. One good example would be the Euro 2016 triumph over France. 

Ultimately, Ronaldo who has the edge over Messi when it comes to goal-scoring records, leaderships qualities and major titles, I still believe there is no player bigger than the game itself! 

Ronaldo and Messi, embrace this magical football gods, enjoy the game and learn to appreciate the both of them. 

Gone too high to have lost it in the end

Just when you need the most in-form player in your team to step and finally secure a silverware after many years, everything goes flushing down the same old lane for Liverpool. It has been a memorable Champions League tournament for Liverpool since day 1 until the Final against reigning champions, Real Madrid. It was a final that no Liverpool player, the coach, the officials neither the fans would want to remember. It is surely one of those finals that all Liverpool fans would wish it never existed. 

The Final at Kiev, that one day that would sum up Liverpool and Real's journey in the tournament seemed too easy in the end for the Spanish giants to snatch it. Losing Mo Salah in the early stages was already a big blow that could potentially cost us the silverware, well it never just ended there because Karius had other plans of outsmarting Salah's headline injury status by causing two blunders that he will never forget his entire life. 

The 24 year-old German was excellent throughout the group stages and the knockout stages that followed but just one night, brought a title of "blunder" upon him. It is funny how the complex of the game just drifted in a dark road for Karius but he only has himself to blame, because regardless being inexperienced, his breathtaking performances throughout the tournament created a hope among the Liverpool. 

Jurgen Klopp was rather reluctant to have a go at Karius for those costly mistakes but what he did just proves how much of a great coach and a friend he is to his players. Although failing to win a single silverware since taking up the role at Liverpool, Klopp deserves nothing but great amount appreciation because he did something that no former managers at Liverpool were able to pull through, which is taking the Reds to three major cup finals. 

Well, one man that silenced all critics, Gareth Bale stole the limelight and how ironically, it just had to be in the Champions League Final. I tell you, Zidane is a genius. Resting your most expensive player and bringing him on when there is no Mo Salah, well what more can you expect but a super, crazy, unbelievable overhead kick goal that stunned football fans worldwide. I tell you, my friend was like, "holy shit, what just happened! Tell me I am dreaming." Well, mate you're not unfortunately. 

Million dollar goal that's worth of winning any type of match and definitely an even bigger bonus since it is the grandest stage of all. 

Ronaldo was well-guarded by Van Djik and Lovren. I thought the centrebacks did a great job of handling the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and kept him on his toes, but Bale was left unguarded when he scored that outrageous goal. 

Liverpool never played bad except for those mistakes, and even after losing Salah, I thought they did put up a good fight against a highly formidable team that's filled with players that could potentially snatch any form of championship tournaments. They made a world class team look merely average and that is some achievement by their current standards. 

Sergio's act of wrestling Salah down to the ground which cost a dislocated shoulder for the Egyptian was not something new for the Spaniard. He has been doing that for ages and I am sure it was all part of the plan to bring down the most dangerous Liverpool player on the field. 

Let's hope they come back stronger and may they finally win something.