It's well deserved. His play last season was the best I've seen since Ronaldinho decided to be fat. C. Ronaldo shouldn't have been #2, though. The correct order is Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, everyone else.

Also, Ronaldo is one of the all-time great players and was completely unstoppable in his prime. Can we agree to use C. Ronaldo when referring to the Portugese ladyboy as to avoid confusion with the immensely superior Brazilian version?

Messi is a hell of a player, making my INTER look like a bunch of chumps last week.

Congrats, dude.

SigmaAlgebra:

Also, Ronaldo is one of the all-time great players and was completely unstoppable in his prime. Can we agree to use C. Ronaldo when referring to the Portugese ladyboy as to avoid confusion with the immensely superior Brazilian version?

Round my way the inferior one is referred to as 'the Gelled Tumbler'. Good for Messi, but the real accolade is the Fifa world player that he should pick up in January.

c-ron jab just as obvious as messi win

/obvious

He's not exactly held in the highest regard at home these days

Pecho Frio? (new window)

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Messi is phenomenal.

I just can't help myself.


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I can't farking wait for World Cup next year. I'm working from home both weeks.

foo monkey: I can't farking wait for World Cup next year. I'm working from home both weeks.

Both weeks? It lasts a month.

He should have won it last year as well.

Here's an interesting statistic. C. Ronaldo, Kaka, and Benzema, Madrid's 3 big summer signings, have played a combined 13 matches against Barcelona in their careers and have 0 goals and 0 assists among them. Messi has played Madrid 7 times and has 6 goals and 3 assists.

Drogba for next year's award.

Glasgowsfinest: foo monkey: I can't farking wait for World Cup next year. I'm working from home both weeks.

Both weeks? It lasts a month.

Depends on which country you support ;-)

/or how quickly you get tired of the vuzuvellleuvuvulvas

Congrats to him, but he did not deserve it last year. Sigma is a huge Barca homer, so I'll cut him some slack with the list haha. Congrats to Messi, we'll see what he can do as time goes on.

Congrats to Messi and the other Barça players that made it into the top ten.

VISCA BARÇA I VISCA CATALUNYA!

/my first sports greenlight evar

Glasgowsfinest: foo monkey: I can't farking wait for World Cup next year. I'm working from home both weeks.

Both weeks? It lasts a month.

Second stage.

Messi is god. Watching him progress over the last few years has been bittersweet though. Seeing someone a few years younger than me taking over the world with phenomenal talent always brings out a bit of jealousy:)
I think his temperament puts him above Ronaldo. He's less prone to huffs, moods and irrational behaviour. I hope he spends forever at Barca and wins a lot more (god knows he'll win fark all under Maradonna).
Here's a video of someone just a bit crazier about Messi than myself.

I hope this kid gets at least one world cup before his career is over. well deserved

apacheco: I hope this kid gets at least one world cup before his career is over. well deserved

Unless they fire Coca Maradona, it ain't going to be next year.

MugzyBrown: He's not exactly held in the highest regard at home these days

Pecho Frio? (new window)

Pura envidia.

NicoFinn: Pura envidia

I like Messi, but he's getting the same reputation in Argentina as Riquelme. Riquelme would be great for Boca but couldn't play for the Albicelestes. Same thing is going on with Messi.

I personally think it's because he has a horrible coach and they're missing a playmaker like Riquelme.

GQueue: apacheco: I hope this kid gets at least one world cup before his career is over. well deserved

Unless they fire Coca Maradona, it ain't going to be next year.

that ass ruined them. id be beyond shocked if they even come close to being in the worldcup.

Suck it, Ronaldo

I see what subby did there.

Messi only appears to be so good because everything at Barcelona is set up to get the best out of him. Alves bombing down the right creates space for him, the brilliant Xavi and Iniesta make the bullets and he had Eto'o and now Zlatan to link up with. Most players would flourish in that set-up, including C.Ronaldo.

Even in that set-up he can be made invisible by good defensive and tactical play, as shown by Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd in recent years. Unfortunately, good defensive play is not common in La Liga and Messi is allowed to run riot and then people wank themselves silly over "wonder goals" against the likes of Getafe and other shiat teams. Even Real Madrid have no clue defensively so you cannot even use his performances against them as an example.

Contrast his performances in La Liga with those in the Argentina shirt, where he does nothing and is invisible for the whole match. You can't blame it all on Maradona either, as his previous Argentina coach could not get good performances out of him either. Obviously this is because the Argentina team is not balanced right but it does prove the point that Messi would be nothing without great players around him in a great system - if he was as great as people say he is, he would rise above everything for Argentina and dominate games for them (like Diego did in a mediocre Argentina team in 86) - but he doesn't. Why doesn't he trouble the defences of Peru, Bolivia etc? Because he's not THAT good, that's why. Not saying he's shiat or anything, he is a good player, but he is way overrated. I'd take C.Ronaldo and Kaka over him any day.

You'd have to be the worst coach ever to blow it with such a talent-packed team as Argentina. I'm looking at you Maradona.

brapbrapbrap: Snip.


Gold Medal in the olympics, 9 goals in 10 games in UEFA last year, he played very well in the '07 Copa America.

Suck it, Ronaldo


I'm sure he would like to.

brapbrapbrap: Ronaldo only appears to be so good because everything at ManU/RM is set up to get the best out of him. Evra bombing down the left creates space for him, the brilliant Tevez and Carrick make the bullets and he had Rooney and now Kaka to link up with. Most players would flourish in that set-up, including Messi.

Even in that set-up he can be made invisible by good defensive and tactical play, as shown by Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona in recent years. Unfortunately, good defensive play is not common in the EPL and Ronaldo is allowed to run riot and then people wank themselves silly over "wonder goals" against the likes of Portsmouth and other shiat teams.

Contrast his performances in La Liga/EPL with those in the Portugal shirt, where he does nothing and is invisible for the whole match. You can't blame it all on Queirós either, as his previous Portugal coach could not get good performances out of him either. Obviously this is because the Portugal team is not balanced right but it does prove the point that Ronaldo would be nothing without great players around him in a great system - if he was as great as people say he is, he would rise above everything for Portugal and dominate games for them (like Figo did in 04) - but he doesn't. Why doesn't he trouble the defences of Malta, Bosnia etc? Because he's not THAT good, that's why. Not saying he's shiat or anything, he is a good player, but he is way overrated. I'd take Messi and Zlatan over him any day.

See why you're an idiot now?

Messi won by the biggest margin ever and deservedly so, he was far and away the best player in the world last year.

C.Ronaldo did not have the talent surrounding him at Man Utd that Messi does with Barca. There is nobody in Utd's squad comparable to Xavi and Iniesta. Evra and Alves is a fair comparison but Ronaldo did not start many games on the left for Utd so that comparison is moot. Ronaldo also does not have the same level of talent to play alongside with Portugal as Messi does with Argentina. Argentina have about 10 strikers, Portugal have 1 (a naturalised Brazilian), for example.

Also, only an idiot would suggest that defences in La Liga are better than Premiership defences, even the smaller teams in EPL play more defensively than their La Liga counterparts.

Ronaldo's performances in the 2006 World Cup totally outshone anything Messi has done in an Argentina shirt. Ronaldo pretty much carried that Portugal team to the semi's at such a young age. I didn't think he got enough credit for that tournament.

If Messi has a good WC and leads his Argentina side to the semi's, I'd then admit he is on a par with Ronaldo. I doubt that will happen, however, and until it does, Ronaldo has the edge over him in every department.

brapbrapbrap: Ronaldo has the edge over him in every department.

As a ManUtd supporter who enjoyed seeing C-Ron grow from boy to man under SAF and win just about everything, I'm afraid that I have to disagree with you here. These player of the year awards serve to highlight the accomplishments of a footballer over the previous year. C. Ronaldo certainly earned it last year, as Messi earned it this year.

Just like how the World Series MVP 99.9999% goes to the player on the team that actually won the WS, the same goes for these awards - the winner is usually on a team won a major trophy. A player on paper is one thing, but form is form is form.

SigmaAlgebra:
Also, Ronaldo is one of the all-time great players and was completely unstoppable in his prime. Can we agree to use C. Ronaldo when referring to the Portugese ladyboy as to avoid confusion with the immensely superior Brazilian version?

A million times this. At his best, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima made mincemeat of any defense you got in front of him. It was the amazing combination of speed + body mass + skill with the ball that made magic. Most players have to make do with one of those attributes, but he had them all in spades.

Ronaldo FTW, CRonaldo FTF.

MugzyBrown: He's not exactly held in the highest regard at home these days

Pecho Frio? (new window)

A common argentine sentiment recently. "Messi is making what, how many million euros a year? You think he gives a shiat, he's flying here to give his all for the white-and-blue? [argentine uniform shirt]. Suuuuuuure"

NicoFinn:

Your profile just screams "EGO". How ironic, the girl who can't get over herself has to take shots at football players who are also attention whores.

sotua: A million times this. At his best, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima made mincemeat of any defense you got in front of him. It was the amazing combination of speed + body mass + skill with the ball that made magic. Most players have to make do with one of those attributes, but he had them all in spades.

Unfortunately, the "Body Mass" part of that equation then increased quite a bit, robbing him (along with injuries) of a lot of the "speed" aspect.

Did you watch the Champions league final last year? Man Utd, the "best team in the Premier League" were abused by Barca. Messi ran circles around the competition, while CR , even against the "vastly inferior" defence of Barca, was relegated to throwing a pity party for the majority of the match.
And to say that Ronaldo had no help during the 2006 WC is an insult to Figo, Simao, and Deco.
Ronaldo is a shameless AW.

GQueue: sotua: A million times this. At his best, Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima made mincemeat of any defense you got in front of him. It was the amazing combination of speed + body mass + skill with the ball that made magic. Most players have to make do with one of those attributes, but he had them all in spades.

Unfortunately, the "Body Mass" part of that equation then increased quite a bit, robbing him (along with injuries) of a lot of the "speed" aspect.

Yeah, it was sad to see "Ronaldo" turn into "Gordaldo"...

Seems to be a problem with some of the best Brazilian players. Although, Ronaldinho is having a resurgence as of late. He's managed to transform himself into a Totti-esque player. I'd love to see him make the squad for South Africa.

foo monkey: Glasgowsfinest: foo monkey: I can't farking wait for World Cup next year. I'm working from home both weeks.

Both weeks? It lasts a month.

Second stage.

Amateur. I took my five week vacation for the last one.

Halli: foo monkey: Glasgowsfinest: foo monkey: I can't farking wait for World Cup next year. I'm working from home both weeks.

Both weeks? It lasts a month.

Second stage.

Amateur. I took my five week vacation for the last one.

I'm going all out and upgrading to Tivo.

foo monkey: Glasgowsfinest: foo monkey: I can't farking wait for World Cup next year. I'm working from home both weeks.

Both weeks? It lasts a month.

Second stage.

Ah. I will definitely have to watch the first stage as well as the elimination rounds, as I quite like the USA and want to see them play.

/I kid. A bit. Though in truth I would be pleasantly surprised to see them get past the group stages.

/unrelated.

brapbrapbrap: C.Ronaldo did not have the talent surrounding him at Man Utd that Messi does with Barca. There is nobody in Utd's squad comparable to Xavi and Iniesta. Evra and Alves is a fair comparison but Ronaldo did not start many games on the left for Utd so that comparison is moot. Ronaldo also does not have the same level of talent to play alongside with Portugal as Messi does with Argentina. Argentina have about 10 strikers, Portugal have 1 (a naturalised Brazilian), for example.

Also, only an idiot would suggest that defences in La Liga are better than Premiership defences, even the smaller teams in EPL play more defensively than their La Liga counterparts.

Ronaldo's performances in the 2006 World Cup totally outshone anything Messi has done in an Argentina shirt. Ronaldo pretty much carried that Portugal team to the semi's at such a young age. I didn't think he got enough credit for that tournament.

If Messi has a good WC and leads his Argentina side to the semi's, I'd then admit he is on a par with Ronaldo. I doubt that will happen, however, and until it does, Ronaldo has the edge over him in every department.

You really aren't the futball expert you see yourself as.

we did a good laugh out of some of your comments, so don't let it dissuade you from posting your "analysis."

SigmaAlgebra: The correct order is Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, everyone else.

Gee, you don't happen to be a Barca supporter, do you?

Those of you referring to last year's Champions League final...If you actually think United even showed up to play at 10% of their potential in that match, then you're an idiot. Barca played great, but it wasn't because they played great that United stunk, United just shiat the bed on their own.

On the other hand, it looks like our song came true...

"See ya Ronaldo!
See ya Ronaldo!
Thanks for all you did,
But you'll be shiat in Madrid,
See ya Ronaldo!!"

/Still thank him for what he did at United, but Messi is the better player.

TonnageVT: Those of you referring to last year's Champions League final...If you actually think United even showed up to play at 10% of their potential in that match, then you're an idiot. Barca played great, but it wasn't because they played great that United stunk, United just shiat the bed on their own.

I've always been of the mind that a large percentage of the time it's not that a team is having an "off" game, it's that they're being outplayed.

ManU weren't having an "off game", they were quite simply completely outclassed, especially so in the middle of the field. No real shame in that, they have the best midfield in the entire world. Barca was a buzzsaw of a team last year and completely outclassed nearly every single opponent they played.

The only reason Messi was chosen is 1) he plays for everyone's favorite club, 2) he isn't Cristiano Ronaldo, and 3) the French can't bare to concede soccer superiority to any Spanish player; notable in the complete absence of David Silva.

Iniesta, right now, is probably the best player on the planet. Xavi is only bested by his teammate because he can't function well away from the middle. Casillas; everyone laughed at CR missing that goal in the Clasico, no one thought to focus on how Casillas denied Golden Boy, point blank, to keep the game close.

/Real is still going to take the Liga and the Champions... //Farcelona blows.

bwesb: The only reason Messi was chosen is 1) he plays for everyone's favorite club, 2) he isn't Cristiano Ronaldo, and 3) the French can't bare to concede soccer superiority to any Spanish player; notable in the complete absence of David Silva.

Well, Messi did have 38 goals and 18 assists in only 51 games played. That means he created 56 goals in 51 appearances. That's amazing regardless of what team and league you play in.

Iniesta, right now, is probably the best player on the planet. Xavi is only bested by his teammate because he can't function well away from the middle. Casillas; everyone laughed at CR missing that goal in the Clasico, no one thought to focus on how Casillas denied Golden Boy, point blank, to keep the game close.

I love Iniesta, he's amazing to watch. He just didn't have nearly as good of a year nor the impact that Messi did.

Everyone messes up shots. The year that C.Ronaldo scored so many goals he also took the most shots, was he a bad player because he missed some sitters? No. Making a comment insinuating that Messi isn't very good because he didn't beat Casillas on one occasion is simply ignorant.

CaptMacMillian: ManU weren't having an "off game", they were quite simply completely outclassed, especially so in the middle of the field. No real shame in that, they have the best midfield in the entire world. Barca was a buzzsaw of a team last year and completely outclassed nearly every single opponent they played.

They were definitely outplayed, outclassed on every level, however, that wasn't United playing for the final 80 minutes. Barca's good, but not that good that they would destroy a team like United that badly. I mean, the same team that barely made it through against Chelsea did not dominate United like that. United certainly had an off game, and Barca completely capitalized on it. Barca did what should be done, and not play down to the level of their opponent, but rather took advantage of United's poor performance.

TonnageVT: Barca's good, but not that good that they would destroy a team like United that badly.

Yet, they did. :)

TonnageVT: CaptMacMillian: ManU weren't having an "off game", they were quite simply completely outclassed, especially so in the middle of the field. No real shame in that, they have the best midfield in the entire world. Barca was a buzzsaw of a team last year and completely outclassed nearly every single opponent they played.

They were definitely outplayed, outclassed on every level, however, that wasn't United playing for the final 80 minutes. Barca's good, but not that good that they would destroy a team like United that badly. I mean, the same team that barely made it through against Chelsea did not dominate United like that. United certainly had an off game, and Barca completely capitalized on it. Barca did what should be done, and not play down to the level of their opponent, but rather took advantage of United's poor performance.

100% this. Not to take anything away from Barca, they did play excellently and even as an oppositoin fan Iniesta was a joy to watch. He was the main threat and he mangled a distinctly sub-par United midfield. But to suggest that United played anywhere near as well as they could have is simply ignorant. Look to the defeat of Arsenal to get to the Final, that performance was far superior. For the first ten minutes we bossed Barca but then you could literally see it slip away with Barca's first spell of posession. Fair play, they capitalised mercilessly on United's shortcomings that night, but they weren't the sole cause of them by a long way. United played poorly.