Just an absolutely amazing video on how many people the Brazilian football legend has influenced. If you want to see the best part of the video (Ronaldo himself speaking to the English media), skip to 12:00 and tune in to the end. :)

Cheers! ~

I cried the day he got injured for the second time at Inter, the whole stadium felt shocked....
He could have done better things and achievements in his career, but in term of potential he is number 1 in History.

I was very upset too when he got his 2nd injury at Inter... The Brazilian Ronaldo was phenomenal. I agree with what the commentator said if there had been any social network or strong media influences like today, he would have been a even bigger star if that is still possible... He was strong, fast with brilliant feet, similar to Messi today, he had so many jaw-dropping moments, dribbling through bunch of defenders... Legend

@tuan did not want to start Messi argument , but I hate comparing Ronaldo de Lima to Messi because Ronaldo to me was better . This player has set the bar high for all the strikers and overall players . He had everything at his arsenal . You name it and he will do it . Truly phenomenal player . A player that every team would die to have . Messi , if you take him out of Barcelona , I doubt he will be just as good in other club . Messi is perfect player for the puzzle that was created in Barcelona .

Ronaldo would not just dribble defenders , he would humiliate them with incredible beautiful techniques and tricks. Ronaldo played in the era of bully defenders, taking so much beating and still skilfully going past them is truly phenomenal . Ronaldo was player that kept you at edge of your sit because every trick he made during the match we tried to repeat it when we played football . He influenced me and many of my friends style of play .

Before his injury, Ronaldo O Fenomeno > Lionel Messi.

Heck, he was better than Maradona and Pele too. It's such a damn shame that he had to be stripped of half of his potential and talent after those injuries.

Absolutely correct dynast. We are only talking in term of potential ( what a player is able to do, in training or in the street not obliged to be in a game).

I can explain you why : Ronaldo was unpredictible, 2 footed, he could drible in every position. Messi has a foot preference and when he dribles, its mainly in the left. So marking Messi is easier than marking Ronaldo.
You put a defender in front of Messi, and another to cover space in the left and you make sure Messi cant shoot or get any space. You couldnt do that to Ronaldo as you never know in wich direction he would take to the goal.

But, the diference is that Messi behaviour looks like the 1st student in the class, always serious, no night life and hard worker. We can add his unique hunger for scoring and his ability to play at 90-95 pr cent of his potential, Ronaldo all his career was just using 40 to 60 per cent. (Injuries,weight,night life, No big rivalry )
I always felt that he was able to do much better than he was doing... I think if he played actually with his 1995/96 level, with the presence of big rivals and with stats in his mind, he would destroy everything...

@Tiki

To be fair, he had a health problem that made him gain weight twice as fast as normal people. So it's not really his fault. He partied whenever he could, but never missed a practice or training because of partying. But of course, most good footballers practice in their spare time, and after a certain point in his life, Ronaldo stopped doing that. It's a shame really. The stories of Duncan Edwards, George Best, Garrincha, Ferenc Puskas, Marco van Basten, and Ronaldo really show us the sad side of football.

To me, both are incredibly unpredictable, you are right about Messi's dribble, but yet he beats 3 or 4 defenders from time to time. Althouth, I agree Ronaldo dribble is better with both feet. It's really ashamed he got injury, got in problem with night life and parties... like he said he loved to enjoy party but he never missed training. He was very unlucky with the injury and the health issue that causes high cholesterol and fat.

In overall, I personally think Messi is better. Doesn't matter if the system is built to suit him, his scoring rate is insane and his vision is madness too. Messi has all of it. He is the real model for kid to follow.

I m happy to watch him playing for years..

Ronaldo ♥ expect a video like this after about 10 years and it will be about Messi !!

Ronaldo used to go past 3-4 but with much more beauty and flair trickery against top clubs and top national teams. Also, the way referees protect Messi is amazing just like they protect C. Ronaldo . Ronaldo de Lima had to get kicked 7 times with heave double legs tackles before he could get himself yellow or simply drag the ball and score . Small Messi rarely gets injured and tough strong Ronaldo de Lima used to get injuries every year . You know Messi reminds me of Aguero who in La Liga would have clean seasons without injuries but in EPL gets injured after every 10 games, because EPL allows defenders to go more rough on players then other league referees do .

Media hyped Messi so much is just beyond my understanding . They made him look like he is the god of football ( I just can't believe it that anyone will be called god in anyway ... this world is going nuts ) .

Scoring goals in team like Barcelona is not difficult for top player : Neymar already proved it , just like Pedro did and Villa used to but was tossed aside because of his rift with Messi , even Fabregas hits hat tricks when Messi is not there and he is not even striker ...smh .

Ok ask yourself , Does Messi has a real competition in goal scoring area when he is on the field ? Well Just recently it used to be Villa and now slowly Neymar is becoming one . Neymar had to clarify on his twitter account and so many times in press conferences that he wants to make Messi better ( He just knows what happens to players who sets competition to Messi ) . Just watch how Neymar , just like Villa and Ibra did , will prevent Messi from having his previous high scoring seasons . Barcelona players themselves used to say, during Pep's management years ,so many times that they work hard to make Messi top scorer . ( Just search for articles )

It is not just assisting , it is creating space and movement of the team , so Messi can make his runs. You might think striker should create space himself , but I disagree . For example , Van Persie was furious with his teammates on Tuesday , because they were covering his positions and he had to shift from his usual positions to make his runs to goal .

Maybe I don't get it , but no one has giving me good argument about this . I have never heard rational argument . I look at Madrid and see 3-4 selfish strikers who like to score and has to score to prove their worth , but in Barcelona "competitor" Sanchez goes whole season with 10 goals in all competitions and club will be happy with him as longest Messi bagging goals . I bet when Messi is injured or sidelined , Alex is happy knowing that he will play and he will score . I also bet Messi is not so happy with Neymar starting competition as goalscorer, just like he was not happy with Ibrahimovic.

PS. Just want to highlight this because people confuse me : I am not Messi fan boy ( lol about Messi is clear ) or Cristiano fan boy . My favorite player have retired and If i am big fan of any player , it is usually midfielders, defenders or goalies , because for the past 7 years they never get enough credit or ever win best player awards simply because they don't score goals .

Marcus: Why are you always off topic ?? Messi was the one inviting Neymar to come to Barça, and Messi is intelligent enough to avoid injuries specially before world cup, if you look to his performence against City, he is making sure of avoiding every non important challenge, Ronaldo 9 admitted he didnt make that care of himself.
And i also think it logical to protect Football genius against Barbarian tackles, since we lost Van Basten and half of what Phenomeno could achieve.

@Marcus

That's gotta be one of the most pathetic attempts at demeaning Messi that I've ever seen.

This thread was meant to discuss about Ronaldo, not Messi.