The Portugal international may not be
the greatest of all time, but has there ever been a
player with such a perfect blend of technique and
physique?
While infamously declaring his preference for
Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo last year,
Sepp Blatter displayed a surprising level of insight
when he mused that the Barcelona No.10 is “a
good boy ... and that's what makes him so
popular.”
The Fifa president unwittingly underlined that
while the Portuguese may be an advertisers'
dream, he has long since lost the Public Relations
battle in the war for the title of the greatest player
of the 21st century. In the eyes of his critics,
Ronaldo's greatest crime appears to be that he is
not Lionel Messi.
Even when it comes to comparing their
respective capabilities on the field, it is often
claimed that the Argentine has the edge because
of a mysterious ‘X factor’. Diego Maradona even
wrote last month that "Cristiano can do what
Lionel Messi does ... well, almost” - without
offering any clarification as to what exactly it was
that Ronaldo is incapable of doing.
The suggestion that the Madeira native is lacking
something seems particularly ludicrous after a
season in which he scored 51 goals, 11 of which
came either via his head or his ‘weaker’ left foot,
and ended with him placing a Champions League
winners’ medal in his trophy cabinet alongside
the Ballon d’Or for 2013.
We are talking about a serial winner who also
happens to be the perfect footballing specimen;
an ideal blend of physique and technique; a player
of both style and substance. As Michael Owen
says, Ronaldo has it all.
"As a complete player, I will say he is probably
the best ever,” the former England international
told Goal.
“He is fast, scores goals, he is both footed, he has
skills and can score with his head. He is also
strong and plays every game, so he is durable.
“There isn’t anything he can't do."
Of course, being complete does not necessarily
equate to being the greatest of all time. George
Best once claimed: “I’m better than Pele. I can kick
with both feet.” But, while there are some who
would argue that the enigmatic Manchester
United winger was more naturally gifted than the
Brazil legend, nobody would claim that Best
deserves to rank alongside a player who proved
himself as strong mentally as he was physically
during a far longer and far more illustrious
playing career.
Ability is not the only factor when it comes to
determining true greatness. Physicality,
versatility, mentality and footballing intelligence
must also be considered. However, Ronaldo
undeniably ticks many of the boxes.
Physically, he is almost beyond compare. At 1.85
centimetres tall and weighing 80 kilograms, he
boasts the optimum fusion of power and speed
that comes with the frame of super-middleweight
boxer. His upper-body strength is such that he
only ever goes down of his own accord, while
his sprinter-like thighs not only generate sufficient
force to strike the ball just as explosively with
either foot, but also provide the springboard for
leaps of astounding height and sustained hang
time. That he is also one of the most
accomplished headers of a ball in world football is
testament to another attribute, and this time of
the mental variety: his dedication to his
profession.
Ronaldo was unquestionably blessed with talent,
however, he has harnessed his ability to the
absolute maximum degree. Thierry Henry once
admitted that while he feels that “Lionel Messi is
the best player in the world, I respect the amount
of work Cristiano has put into the game”.
Ronaldo has certainly come a long way since he
first made a name for himself with Sporting 11
years ago. He is no longer the skinny kid with the
endless repertoire of flicks and tricks that
terrorised Manchester United during a friendly in
Lisbon during the summer of 2003. At 29, he is
now a true athlete. The evidence of the hard work
to which Henry referred is there for all to see.
As Ronaldo underlined by taking off his shirt to
celebrate a largely inconsequential penalty in the
final seconds of Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over
Atletico in the final of the Champions League, he is
incredibly proud of a physique that has even
drawn praise from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

watever!

Op..nice piece..Cristiano is a phenomenon.

chacoonder: Op..nice piece..Cristiano is a phenomenon.

indeed he is

Not just the most complete player ever, but one of the greatest player of all time.