How good is Cristiano Ronaldo?

[Victor Meldrew]

I like Ronaldo and his running with the ball and shooting is outstanding in English football and a pleasure to watch.
Why though does everybody the have to say that he is the best footballer in the world?
Why this fixation with "the best?"
For all we know there may be some kid playing in Brazil or Argentina who can do everything better than anybody we see on TV.

From what I have seen he is currently one of the best goalscoring wingers around but he isn't (probably):-
The best keeper
The best full-back
The best centre-back
The best holding midfielder
The best central striker
The best passer

He may not even be the best free-kick taker,what about Juninho?

Imho Messi(in terms of goalscoring wingers) is as good as if not better than Ronaldo,is as good a finisher and a better passer(he does actually pass).He also plays in the best league in the world against the best defenders other than those in Serie A and he is much less of a diver but not as good a header of the ball.He is also better behaved.

Let us just enjoy what great young players like Fabregas,Ronaldo and Torres bring to our football rather than keep on about "the best in the world"

[The Wang Meister]

Ronaldo>Messi

[Victor Meldrew]

Ronaldo>Messi

Messi>Ronaldo.
Score draw eh?

[jumpers for goalposts]

Poor man's Glen Little, end of.

[TheMaraudingDog]

Viva Ronaldo

[Gordons Cumming]

VERY

[Wycombe Royal]

24 goals in 24 league games.
6 goals in 7 Champions League games.
8 goals in 12 Euro 2008 qualifiers.

He's equalled David Beckhams record of most free kicks in a season (5) for Man Utd and beaten George Bests record of 32 goals for a winger.

[soggy biscuit]

beaten George Bests record of 32 goals for a winger.

That always makes me lol, I mean seriously who keeps records of your top goalscoring wingers??? Someone only dragged up that statistic so that they could then claim Ronaldo had something to beat.

[Ark Royal]

To be a true great and be mentioned in the same breath as Pele, Platini and Zidane he needs to learn some humility and honour. I think his game still has a cheating edge, and he fancies himself a bit too much. I will always consider Maradona a level below those I have mentioned for exactly these reasons.

Exactly my sentiments. I also cannot stand his "...how dare you tackle me that hard. Wahhh! Don't you realise who I am..." attitude.

[Row Z Royal]

In answer to the initial question: Very.

I agree with Royal Fleet as well though.

[sucatraps]

With the cheating factored out, excellent!
With the cheating factored in, average!

[rg6royal]

Class

[Gordons Cumming]

In answer to the initial question: Very.

I agree with Royal Fleet as well though.

My thoughts exactly.

[shadesrwrf]

My wife complained about how arrogant he is today. I pointed out that, as the best footballer in the world, he had a fairly good reason to be arrogant.

[Dirk Gently]

My wife complained about how arrogant he is today. I pointed out that, as the best footballer in the world, he had a fairly good reason to be arrogant.

Maybe, but that doesn't make it either excusable or acceptable.

[shadesrwrf]

My wife complained about how arrogant he is today. I pointed out that, as the best footballer in the world, he had a fairly good reason to be arrogant.

Maybe, but that doesn't make it either excusable or acceptable.

Sorry, I don't agree. Whilst it doesn't make him particularly endearing I still think he has every right to give it the big one. It hardly hurts anyone does it?

[Dirk Gently]

My wife complained about how arrogant he is today. I pointed out that, as the best footballer in the world, he had a fairly good reason to be arrogant.

Maybe, but that doesn't make it either excusable or acceptable.

Sorry, I don't agree. Whilst it doesn't make him particularly endearing I still think he has every right to give it the big one. It hardly hurts anyone does it?

It's just that it's all so unnecessary - why does he need to give it the big one when he could just as easily let his perfomances on the pitch do the talking, a la Bobby Moore.

No it doesn't hurt anyone, but it offends people and makes them not like or admire him, and the people he pisses off now with his arrogance are the same people who he may depend upon in 10 or 15 years' time.

And there's also such a thing as karma - they way you behave to others comes back one day to haunt you. And when it does, an awful lot of people will have little sympathy for him.

[papereyes]

For all we know there may be some kid playing in Brazil or Argentina who can do everything better than anybody we see on TV.

Given how ubiquitous TV cameras at games are, I'd imagine that some people would have heard of 'some kid' - Argentinian league at least is shown on terrestrial TV in UK, and there's also some Copa Libertadores. Magazines and decent news websites would also probably mention the player.

Lastly, they'd be in Europe within 1, maybe 2 seasons.

[Baines]

Agreed. The money involved means that the scouting system is as close to perfect as is possible. If someone is any good, and they're playing football, they'll be found.

[Ginger Ninjas]

IMHO, that was one of his best goals this season - came from absolutely nowhere to power the header in.