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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are about as straightforward to cease as a cheetah lined in child oil.
I imply, let’s face it, we’re speaking about two generational abilities with over 600 profession targets to their title they usually’re exhibiting no indicators of stopping regardless of edging in the direction of their fortieth birthdays.
Over time we have seen a number of the best defenders of all time failing terribly of their makes an attempt to cease Ronaldo and Messi, who boast an astonishing 11 Ballon d’Or trophies between them.
Messi vs Ronaldo
You solely have to have a look at how badly Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique struggled towards the respective superstars after they stood both facet of El Clasico battle-lines to get the purpose.
And if even that hasn’t satisfied you, lest we neglect that when Virgil van Dijk was competing to turn into the primary Ballon d’Or-winning defender since 2006, he nonetheless conceded a brace to Messi.
In the meantime, Ronaldo has casually smashed at least two Champions League hat-tricks previous Atletico Madrid, arguably the best all-round defence of our period, over the past half-decade.
Hardest opponents
Consequently, it is no shock that Ronaldo and Messi have been requested numerous instances about their hardest opponents as a result of even coming near stopping them is nigh on inconceivable.
And whereas neither of them would readily admit to having struggled an excessive amount of, naturally, they’ve each given solutions to that the majority fascinating of questions over time.
So, with out additional ado, listed below are the 2 gamers who’ve stopped Messi and Ronaldo the most effective, when so many legends have failed, within the phrases of the superstars themselves.
Lionel Messi
(Supply: DAZN via FourFourTwo)
“Man-marking would not hassle me – you already know that there will likely be powerful matches and it may be unusual to at all times have somebody round you.
“In fact it hasn’t occurred to me that always. It would not hassle me, however it’s unusual. Pablo Maffeo of Girona [was the toughest man-marker]. That was intense!
“I’ve by no means been one who complains. I believe bodily contact and kicks are a part of the sport.
“I get extra irritated after I play dangerous and I get just a little extra indignant. But when I am not [playing bad], it is not an issue, it is a part of the sport and I do not take it personally.”
Cristiano Ronaldo
(Supply: Coach Magazine via Sky Sports)
“Over time I had some nice battles with Ashley Cole, he doesn’t offer you a second to breathe. He was such a tenacious participant when he was at his peak, fast, powerful within the sort out.
“You knew it will by no means be a straightforward sport.”
Various decisions
Properly then, speak about a distinction.
It is admittedly fairly well-known that Cole is the participant who obtained beneath Ronaldo’s pores and skin essentially the most, giving him loads of powerful evenings throughout his time with Arsenal and Chelsea.
However whereas Cole is overtly revered as one of many best defenders ever, it is attention-grabbing that Messi cites a far much less well-known choice who, nicely, took a bit extra of an aggressive method to halting him.
However, it goes to indicate that even superhumans like Messi and Ronaldo have their kryptonite… it simply occurs that it impacts them a lot lower than any mere mortal.
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