Let me start by saying this: Cristiano Ronaldo has twice been accused of rape. While neither of those accusations ended up in court, this means that he is an alleged rapist, and more than anything else, I believe that we must protect women from rape. All should be done to bring these accusations to court so that justice can be served. Nevertheless, regardless of that issue, I think the footballing career of Cristiano Ronaldo is a separate subject which can be discussed without every element of it being placed in relation to the rape allegation(s). So - of course this is subjective - and also pointless. And of course I am biased. And of course, it is actually just plain wrong to focus even more attention on professional footballers. So with all that out the way, let's continue.
1. On September 1, 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 110th and 111th International goals becoming outright the world's leading male international goal scorer. He broke a record that most thought could not be broken because it was made up of hat-tricks against Samoa and Micronesia, and goals scored in 32-0 wins. His goals include those scored against the world's best teams. Lionel Messi has scored 76 international goals and is unlikely to score another 35.
2. Ronaldo started off in Portugal but chose a challenge and went to Man United, then Madrid and then Juventus. He won the league in three of the four biggest leagues in the world. He constantly sought new challenges. Messi spent his whole career until this summer in Barcelona and has won nothing with any other club.
3. Until this past summer, Messi had never turned it on for Argentina. For Barcelona he was wonderful, but until this past summer he had never won a trophy with Argentina. And while he has finally won an international trophy, the fact that Argentina have won the Copa America after six attempts with him in the team is simply a reversion to (below) their normal standard. Argentina are expected to win the Copa America at least once every six times, being the second best team on the continent and the tournament being played only between 10 teams. Ronaldo on the other hand has led Portugal to be European Champions (ahead of 55 other teams), for the first time in their history. Argentina had won the Copa America 14 times (more than any other country, even Brazil) before their longest dry spell of 28 years, most of which corresponded with Messi's international career). He also led Portugal to win the inaugural Nations cup and while still a youngster was part of the team to reach the final in 2004.
4. Ronaldo scores when it really matters. Messi is a flat track bully. All 9 of Ronaldo's international hat-tricks have come in competitive games. Only 2 of Messi's 6 international hat-tricks have come in competitive games. In international friendlies, when it barely matters, Ronaldo has scored only 19 goals in 51 matches (a little over once every 3rd game). Messi on the other hand has scored 34 goals in 47 games (about twice as high a conversion rate than Ronaldo in FRIENDLIES). In World cup qualifiers on the other hand, Ronaldo has scored 33 goals in 43 matches (about 3 goals every four matches) while Messi has scored 23 in 51 (less than one every 2 games). While Messi has a higher conversion rate than Ronaldo in league games against the likes of Real Betis and Osasuna and Elche, Ronaldo far outstrips Messi in the Champions league games against the likes of Bayern Munich, Milan, Liverpool and Chelsea.
5. Perhaps most significantly though - more than all the analysis of the statistics is the simple fact that Ronaldo is the product of exceptional hard work (allied with natural athleticism and skill, obviously). Messi on the other hand would never have made it to be a professional footballer if he hadn't been pumped full of human growth hormones by manipulative parents and managers. Yes - Messi has incredible skill, but his fame and fortune is built on the use of drugs. Ronaldo is renowned for staying late in training and obsessively practicing. As someone 10 cm (4 inches) shorter than Leo Messi, I thoroughly resent the idea that Messi's growth hormones were "medicinal". They were an aid to his athleticism, and as such should have been banned. He is not to blame - he was only a kid, but it unquestionably taints his whole career. Would he have been the player he is without them - we don't know, and whether the answer is yes or no - either way, it takes away from his achievement that his performances rely on drugs rather than his own skill and hard work.
For all these reasons, I am convinced that CR7 is a better footballer than Leo Messi, and I think it would be a tragedy if this year, after Ronaldo won the golden boot at the Euros (despite being knocked out in the second round) AND passed the record for the most international goals by a male footballer that he should not win his sixth ballon d'or to take him level with Messi.
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