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Football

5 Reasons Why Lionel Messi Is Not the World’s Greatest Footballer 

September 7, 2023Updated:September 11, 20236 Mins Read
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Who is the World Best Football Player
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Who is the World Best Football Player: Messi vs Ronaldo- the debate has been a significant topic over coffee for the footballing world since both legends emerged at the top of the game. And more often, the discussion ends without a solid conclusion, as the followers or the pundits who like them are not highly malleable. Some say Messi, and some say Ronaldo. But in reality, both players have solid reasons to hail them as the GOATs. 

Who is the World Best Football Player
Photo: Getty

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • 5 Reasons Why Lionel Messi Is Not World’s Greatest Footballer 
    • A Complete Footballer 
      • Magic on Both Feet 
      • Headers 
      • Penalties 
      • Long-range bombs 
      • Versatility 
    • Success in Multiple Leagues 
    • King of the Champions League 
    • An Unstoppable Goalscorer 
    • An Inspiring Personality 

5 Reasons Why Lionel Messi Is Not World’s Greatest Footballer 

Well, who is better than whom here is highly subjective. Both players have dominance in their respective domains. But here, we will try to portray, overall, who is a better footballer. 

A Complete Footballer 

Messi is a magical dribbler. The Argentinian plays beautiful football, which makes people say that his football came from God. But is he a complete player? The answer would be no. What about Ronaldo? Well, we will discuss. 

Magic on Both Feet 

Ronaldo can play with both feet. He can blast the goal net using his left and right feet alike, which makes him the most lethal goalscorer ever. Wessi cannot do it. His left foot creates magic, but the right isn’t as effective as its counterpart. 

Also READ: Who is the World Best Football Player 

                     5 Reasons Why Lionel Messi Is Not World’s Greatest Footballer

Who is the World Best Football Player
Getty Images

Headers 

Headers are also a prominent part of football. Ariel’s balls are one of the most important attacking tactics for any counter-attacking team. Ronaldo has this rare ability to jump higher, hang himself in the air more than normal people do, and drive the ball into the net. His header goals are considered some of the best in the world. Messi, on the other hand, lacks greatly in this aspect. Maybe you think that he is shorter. But a lot of shorter guys have been quite incredible headers in the game. It’s just that Messi lacks those skills. 

Penalties 

Who is the World Best Football Player
Messi after missing Penalty in Copa America Final. Photo: Twitter

A penalty has been considered a ‘free goal’ by many fans. But in reality, scoring a penalty is tougher than you think, especially if it’s a crucial match. If you bring your mind and your feet into equilibrium, you may miss the penalty. Messi has been heartbroken due to his penalty misses in highly important matches. The miss against Chile in the Copa America final in 2016 is one of them. Ronaldo, on the other hand, is the most clinical penalty-taker ever. His ability to succumb to pressure and rise when the team needs him the most is second to none, which makes him the greatest mind in football. 

Long-range bombs 

There isn’t an area where Ronaldo cannot score. He can try and score from every angle, regardless of the distance. His many long-range goals are listed among the best goals in history. His bicycle kick against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League is still a beauty to watch. 

Versatility 

Ronaldo can play for any team. If you have an average team or a talent-stuffed midfield, no matter what, you can place Ronaldo in your team. Messi can only flourish to his full potential when talented midfielders feed him. One important example is his downgrade since the Xavi-Iniesta and Neymar-Suarez eras ended. 

Also READ: Who is the World Best Football Player 

                     5 Reasons Why Lionel Messi Is Not World’s Greatest Footballer

Success in Multiple Leagues 

Who is the World Best Football Player
Photo: AFP

Ronaldo has won trophies in four different leagues. After his emergence as the best player in the world under Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, he ruled Spain and Europe with Real Madrid. Then he shifted to Italy, and with Juventus, he won many titles. After that, he returned briefly to Manchester United, and now he is playing in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, and with them as well, he has won a title. 

Messi wasn’t as successful at any other club as he was with Barcelona. His Parisian adventure with PSG ended badly as he fell out with the fans and the club due to his decline in performance. This is another disadvantage for Messi in who is the World Best Football Player debate.

King of the Champions League 

Ronaldo is the king of fierce competition. One example is his impeccable record in the UEFA Champions League. The Portuguese superstar holds the record for most appearances, most goals, most assists, and most titles by a player. And this plays a major part as the wind blows in Ronaldo’s favor in the debate about who is the World Best Football Player. Messi also had success in the Champions League, but only when he was playing with the legendary midfield players in Barcelona. 

Also READ: Who is the World Best Football Player

An Unstoppable Goalscorer 

Goals are the most important aspect of football. And it is also an important factor in deciding who is the World Best Football Player.

There is no one in history who has been as successful as Ronaldo in it. The Al-Nassr star is the leading scorer in history with 850 official goals. Messi comes second to him with 818 goals. 

An Inspiring Personality 

When people talk about who is the World Best Football Player, they often omit this factor. But personality is one of the most important things in an athlete

Ronaldo is a player whom people look up to. His work ethic and professionalism have made him a global icon. Many star players, like Kylian Mbappe and Marcu Rashford, came to football after getting inspired by Ronaldo. Messi is also a fan favorite. But as a personality to look up to, he falls behind Ronaldo.

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  • 5 Reasons Why Lionel Messi Is Not World’s Greatest Footballer
  • Reasons Why Lionel Messi Is Not World’s Greatest Footballer
  • Reasons Why Ronaldo’s Better Than Messi
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Sinan is a sports journalist and lead editor with more than four years of experience covering major developments, breaking news, and analysis across the world of sports. His work focuses on delivering accurate, well-researched, and timely coverage while maintaining high editorial standards. As Lead Editor, Sinan oversees content planning, editorial quality, fact-checking, and accuracy across the website. He works closely with writers and editors to ensure stories are properly researched, sources are verified, and published information is presented clearly and responsibly. His coverage spans cricket, football, MMA, boxing, tennis, and other major sporting events. Alongside breaking news, he specializes in match analysis, fighter and player profiles, tournament coverage, and stories that provide readers with context beyond the headline. With a focus on original reporting, reliable sourcing, and meaningful sports analysis, Sinan aims to provide readers with trustworthy coverage and fresh perspectives on the sports they follow.

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