Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the Ballon d’Or for the second year in a row.
Ronaldo’s fifth has equalled the Ballon d’Or tally of perennial rival Lionel Messi and the debate continues to rage on over which of the two is the best player of this generation.
Ronaldo led Portugal to Euro 2016 success before scoring 42 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions last season, playing a huge role in their 33rd La Liga title and 12th European Cup.
The 32-year-old was not exactly humble with his response to the prize as he proclaimed himself the greatest of all time in an interview with France Football, the magazine that organises the award.
“I’m the best player in history, in the good moments and the bad ones,” Ronaldo said.
“I respect everyone’s preferences, but I’ve never seen anyone better than me. I have always thought that. No footballer can do the things I can. There’s no player more complete than me. I play well with both feet, I’m quick, powerful, good with the head, I score goals, I make assists. There are guys who prefer Neymar or Messi. But I tell you: there’s no-one more complete than me.
“No-one has won as many individual trophies as me. And I’m not speaking just of the Ballon d’Or. That says something, doesn’t it? It’s not just a result of the work I do in the gym, like some people think. It’s the sum of many things. Legends like Floyd Mayweather and LeBron James don’t get to their perfect level by chance. Many factors coincide. To be at the top and to stay there, you have to have more talent than the others.”
There’s no denying his quality but one person who remains unconvinced of the suggestion that Ronaldo is the greatest player of his era is Joey Barton.
The controversial footballer-turned-pundit has issued his take on the Ronaldo vs. Messi argument and has received plenty of praise for it.
I agree. He has done incredible things but is he the best player ever in the history of the game?
I don’t think he’s even the best in his era.
For me Lionel Messi is still ahead. https://t.co/2yM2NNx3wj
— 👑 Joey Barton 👑 (@Joey7Barton) December 8, 2017
You just need a working pair of eyes to see that Messi is the better. The touch,the control,the vision,the balance etc. Its Messi & Maradona,then the rest.
— ??Messidona?? (@Albiceleste_no) December 8, 2017
MESSI ALL DAY
— Josh (@Joshteaney5) December 8, 2017
Messi by a Mile
— sorin ionut Lates (@lsorin81) December 8, 2017
Yet again mr Barton I can’t disagree with a thing you said. Messi has more goals and assists the him. Messi is a team player and ronaldo is only out for himself.
— Carl O’Halloran (@YiDocArL84) December 8, 2017
Messi is a natural footballer born with god given talent, Ronaldo has worked very hard to get too where he’s at, very hard to call but for me Messi just edges it ⚽️⚽️⚽️
— Paul (@toonarmy2020) December 8, 2017
Think Messi is the better team player
— stuart tetley (@TetleyStuart) December 8, 2017
Lionel Messi is STREETS ahead. bit of humbleness wouldn’t go a miss..
— king of trainers (@samzi25) December 8, 2017
Messi all day for me.
I would pick Messi first in the playground everytime— Hywel Stokes (@stokes1927) December 8, 2017
Messi is the greatest ever and that’s a fact
— Prince Ngwezi (@PrinceNgwezi) December 8, 2017
