Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? This has been the primary issue among football fans in the past decade. Everyone has an opinion and everyone has to have a favorite. In fact, for some, like Johan Cruyff, it is neither a legitimate debate.
"There is a big difference with just being a great scorer and be the best player," argued the Dutch legend. "Every person who understands football knows that. It is absolutely ridiculous to me that some people actually think that Messi is not the best. This is not about Cristiano at all. He's a fantastic player, one of the best scorers in history. Treatment is like Messi is ridiculously good. "
Good taste
However, for others, like Luis Figo, it's all a matter of taste. "It's like choosing between white truffles or caviar," said the former captain Portuguese.
What is beyond dispute is that the pair brought their best over the last 10 years, resulting in a a pair of football excellence, undoubtedly unprecedented. Messi and Ronaldo not only goals hit records, they broke them. They reached a consistent level of quality never before seen, dominating the Golden Ball since 2008 and winning every Goal 50 one by one.
It was truly a golden age for individual brilliance - but it raises the question of what will happen when the time finally reach Ronaldo and Messi. It is a fact, Ronaldo continues to have perfect physical, suggesting he could excel at the highest level for another four or five years. However, now 30, it is inevitable that their power may begin to decrease.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, is 28 years old, so is still reaching its peak in time the maturity must marry perfectly with his innate ability. Still, the Argentine player has been more susceptible to muscle problems than his great rival Ronaldo, and the question is how long these talents begin to decline.
So when Messi and Ronaldo finally reduce the level to mere mortals, who will take the responsibility of maintaining the standards by which the large double was judged so far?
The most obvious candidate and seemingly natural heir to his teammate Messi is Barcelona, Neymar. Since exploded in Santos, speedy striker has been touted as the next. Despite a somewhat slow start in his career at Barca, he has not disappointed.
Neymar carried the weight of the nation's hopes on his shoulders in the World Cup last year in Brazil. And even played happy and freedom of a seemingly relieved man, before being cruelly cut the quarterfinals in the match against Colombia, after input Juan Zuniga.
Of course, there are many doubts about the seemingly frail physique of Neymar. Former player and hero of Croatia, Zvonimir said last year: "Neymar can win the Ballon d'Or is unlikely he is not so good, so powerful He is an incredible talent, but is currently far from being part of?.. first class. It will never be Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic and Iniesta, and especially not be Messi. "
However, statistics show that Neymar is progressing at a remarkable pace. He scored only 15 goals in his debut season in Spain. At last, made 39. In addition, his recent great goal against Rayo Vallecano was significant because it came in the absence of the injured Messi, reaching 60 goals for Barcelona with 79 matches unless the aforementioned Cruyff.
Neymar is proving himself to be a man for big moments, as evidenced by the fact that he scored goals in every game from the 8th to the final of the Champions League last season. In addition, Thomas Vermaelen recently admitted that he and his fellow defenders of Barcelona has many problems to contain Messi and Neymar in training. "They leave us open-mouthed," said the Belgian. "They are two demons."
Distractions off the field
The only doubts about Neymar capacity to be the heir of Messi are the distractions off the pitch. Unfortunately, the captain of the Brazilian national team has been investigated in Catalonia regarding legal issues surrounding the transfer and Cruyff is concerned about the constant controversy.
"He is always in the center of the storm by things outside of football," opined the Barca icon. "Neymar needs to play football to improve and develop in many areas it will only get playing football. The problem is that it is constantly on the negative things."
In terms of pure talent, however, there should be no stopping Neymar, soon becoming the most lethal striker. However, it could face stiff competition for the title as the dominant football force.
In fact, Paul Pogba has been touted for greatness since he was a teenager. The only person who had reservations was his coach at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, who inexplicably authorized the departure of the French from Old Trafford for Juventus in 2013.
The legendary Scottish coach has since blamed the Mino Raiola agent on the transfer of Pogba to Turin, but it is clear that Ferguson remains totally unhappy about half of the amount, arguing earlier this year that Juve should have accepted the offer of € 80 million from Barcelona made to the 22 years in the summer.
However, while Pogba had a really quiet start to the new season, the French legend Zinedine Zidane has no doubts about the potential of his compatriot. "The word 'error' is not something you normally associate with Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, but I think it was a mistake to let Paul Pogba leave. He will continue to be one of the best midfielders in Europe and he was the natural successor to Paul Scholes, someone who could have built the team around. "
This is a view shared by Rio Ferdinand, who remains perplexed by his former club have not fought tooth and nail to hold Pogba. "I saw firsthand what he could do and the player he could become," said the defender retired recently. "He has the height and strength of Patrick Vieira and feet of a dancer. He loves the game and wants to play in the best way. I could say with confidence that since I remain injury free, Pogba will be the best player in the world the next four years. Yeah, it's very good. "
The goalkeeper of Juventus and the selection of Italy, Gianluigi Buffon, also knew from the moment she laid eyes on Pogba that he was a special player and believes the French can compete with Messi and Ronaldo.
"After only a few training sessions, we saw how good he was. It can not be the same player who saw in Manchester, we think they might need glasses. I've never seen a player who is so good at his age, he It is so strong, so gifted technically, has outstanding play throughout the field. Pogba can do things that can only Pogba, like Messi and Ronaldo. "
Only time will tell, of course, Pogba and Neymar can come close to competing with the achievements of Messi and Ronaldo. It seems highly unlikely, however. Even Eden Hazard, Jose Mourinho claimed to have performed better than Ronaldo last season, admitted he will never be able to score goals with the same regularity that the remarkable Portuguese.
"I often wonder what I can do to become like Messi and Ronaldo and do 50, 60 goals in a season," said the Belgian earlier this year. "I try, of course, but I realize that I will never be a true goalscorer It is not me is mainly the mental:... At 2-0, do not think it is enough, for example Sometimes, I still think after a goal 'that's enough'. I'm looking for records as some other players. If you can score 15 to 20 goals every season, I will be very happy, "he said.
The difference between Messi and Ronaldo and the rest is that they have no doubts about their own ability, and at the same time, have an insatiable desire for further success and more and more goals. So, for now, it is likely that it is better to take advantage to enjoy them fully as we can, as we were to never see again.
As former United striker Diego Forlan says: "We are fortunate to be able to watch Ronaldo and Messi at its best Enjoy them while they last, they are special talent.".
