I dunno how you can say Messi's twice the player that Ronaldo is. They've both scored the similar number of goal this season and last. Barca's success isn't solely because of Messi. And you can't go internationally because you expect Argentina to do better than Protugal. The reason Barca are more successful is because they are a better all round team than Real Madrid. Both are phenomenal players
I can never decide who's the better of the pair, they are both very different players who create something from nothing on a regular basis. One day I say Messi, the next Ronaldo... I think Messi probably just edges it, I'd say he's probably the most skillful of the pair, but I've never seen anyone other than Beckham be able to hit a ball like Ronaldo can.
I dont disagree with anything you said mate. Its a futile argument to compare players of now with players of then. Reading the Millwall programme from last saturday when it was a tribute to the late Brute Barry Kitchener, lol, he made references to his playing days when he said when he played against better players than himself, if he could not get the ball he just got the man and HE DID. I would love to see Tommy Smith or Ron Chopper Harris against Messi for example. But it wont happen sadly.
ronaldo has power in his shot and possibly stronger in the air, tho messi is better then his height suggests.., thats about all he wins on.. he hardly ever sets his team mates up with goals, like messi does, if he isnt scoring them he usually sets them up.. xavi, iniesta all play there part of course, but on the rare occasion he isnt playing they become a lot more playable, he turns them from a good team into a special team.
Ronaldo is a great player too but lets himself down with his flouncing attitude, spits the dummy out far too much, he is a better striker of the ball than Messi though
Maradona has responded by calling Pele 'stupid'... http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/145861.html
I know he must be off his tits on the white stuff. This is from the bloke who said the best player in the Argies team at the last WC was Gutierez (from Newcastle), who'd just been promoted at the time. Not Messi, not Aguerro, not Higuaine, not Mascherano but Gutierez. He also took a 36 year old Martin Palermo with him and left one of the form players, who'd just won the champions league with Inter (Cambiasso) at home. The mind boggles.
It's a good debate, I generally go for Messi on account of him being less of a tosser. Can you imagine Messi in 40 years time behaving like Pele and Maradona are now?