The battle for supremacy between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has ruled on for many years now, and with the recent Ballon D’or triumph under the Portuguese footballer’s belt, the debate is hotter than ever.
Last week, we examined Messi’s – and Argentina’s – chances for a World Cup victory in Brazil, outlining some of the needs and the strengths of the side. In Part Two, we’ll take a look at Ronaldo and Portugal, how they stack up and what their chances are for a World Cup win in 2014.
Cristiano Ronaldo was 2013’s top player.
That was the sentiment issued by FIFA and by managers, players and media around the globe during the Ballon D’or ceremonies, where Ronaldo went head-to-head against Messi and Bayern Munich’s French winger Franck Ribery for the title.
His raw athleticism coupled with goals a plenty made Ronaldo a standout star last year, and the Real Madrid man will be hoping his top-level performances continue into the summer where Portugal is matched up against some pretty tough teams in Group G.
Group of Death or not, the fact remains that in order for Portugal to advance further into the World Cup, they will have to find results against Germany, Ghana and the United States. Each is a side capable of grinding out wins with efficiency, and are, perhaps, the top nations in their respective continents.
Read more on the 2014 FIFA World Cup
The old saying is that Ronaldo doesn’t turn up in big games. That saying is now a thing of the past.
Ronaldo has shown on numerous occasions his ability to perform under pressure. Gone are the days where he would find himself silenced on the pitch during an important match. He is an ever-present body on the field.
In Brazil, Ronaldo will face tough opposition but he will do so with a stronger overall core than Argentina. Portugal isn’t necessarily blessed with the best players in each position but the nation does have one thing Argentina is missing – consistency across the field.
Portuguese central defenders Pepe and Bruno Alves are of a much higher quality than Argentina’s offerings; Joao Pereira and Fabio Coentrao are strong, attacking fullbacks, the kind Argentina has lacked since Javier Zanetti retired.
In midfield, Portugal has a healthy mix of central defensive midfielders and clearly defined wingers; Raul Meireles and Joao Moutinho man the middle while Nani and Ronaldo attack down the flanks.
Hélder Postiga and Hugo Almeida provide a goal scoring touch up top for Portugal. It is in this regard that the Portuguese fall flat compared to Argentina, who have players like Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain and Messi to call on.
It is, in truth, a familiar line up, one that has established itself with regular faces and hasn’t seen much tinkering. Most of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of Ronaldo and Nani, but the overall 11 offers more balance in key defensive positions than Argentina’s.
This advantage is erased, though, with the toughness of the group Portugal faces and the ease in which opponents address Ronaldo’s presence on the field. Unlike Messi, Ronaldo is a very direct player, capable of burning defenders with pace. While his footwork can be fancy at times, he is a much more efficient forward when given space, something that enemy sides know all too well.
Marking Ronaldo means central forwards can expose space in the opposition’s back line, and this is where Portugal’s main needs lie – the squad is desperate for a mobile central forward, a player like the now-departed Eusebio, a Portuguese legend in his own right.
It’s tough to pinpoint just how well Portugal will do in the World Cup; certainly, this is a team that has done well enough in previous tournaments, usually escaping the group stages before falling short against another big European side.
If Portugal manages to top the group, their efforts will be rewarded in the Round of 16, but falling second to Germany could match Portugal against a strong side earlier in the tournament; playing three tough games in a row without break could tire the side.
As for Ronaldo, he can take comfort in the knowledge that head coach Paulo Bento has built a system that works for him, with clearly defined roles and balance, a luxury Messi cannot say he has in Argentina’s forward-heavy line up.
The scales tip slightly in Portugal’s favour for success in the World Cup, evened out only by circumstance of its group. If a bold man were to make a prediction this early, it would be a safer bet to say that Ronaldo has a better chance than Messi to lift the World Cup trophy at tournament’s end.
But, in football, as in life – anything can happen, and so very often does.
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