Recently Cristiano Ronaldo (CR 7) commented that the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Best Player awards were ‘losing their credibility.’ You guessed right! The recipient of both these honours was none other than Lionel Messi.

Let’s get it straight. The Ballon d’Or has been presented by the French Magazine, ‘France Football’ since 1956. 30 names of top performing footballers ‘in the last season’ are shortlisted by a jury of seasoned football correspondents. Then, senior, accredited football journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations select their top 5 players in order of ranking with 6 points being given to the top player. For Ballon d’Or 2023, 66 out of 92 participative journalists voted for Messi as their No 1 player. They represented major football powers like Germany, Italy, England, Spain, Belgium and Brazil and the world’s 2 most populous nations- India and China. Erling Haaland, the hero for Man City got 22 nominations as the best footballer in the world. Messi vs Haaland was 462 points to 357, a significant margin.

The FIFA Best Men’s Player 2023 trophy was a much closer affair with both Messi and Haaland tied at 48 points. An equal weightage of 25% is given to the deciding panels of Coaches, National team captains, Media and accredited fans. The National team captains’ votes swung it in Messi’s favour as per accepted practice and procedure.

The intense rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi over the last 16 years has taken the stock of European and World football through the roof. Not since the days of Pele and Maradona has the sport captured such global interest and fervour. To concisely wrap up the silverware won by these 2 Icons- Ballon d’ Ors, Messi 8- Ronaldo 5; Best FIFA Men’s Player, Messi 3- Ronaldo 2; European Golden Shoe for the top goal-scorer in all European Leagues in a season, Messi 6- Ronaldo 4; World Cup Golden Ball for the Best Player in the World Cup tournaments, Messi 2- Ronaldo 0. The Argentine maestro won the Golden Ball at the 2022 Qatar WC and earlier at the 2014 WC in Germany. Lionel Messi had carried an average Argentina squad to the finals which they lost in a 1-0 heart-break defeat to the hosts Germany.

As regards laurels at the highest levels, CR7 captained the Portugal side to a 1-0 win over France in the European Championships of 2016. In 2021, Messi inspired his team-mates to success in the Copa America final after beating arch-rivals Brazil 1-0 at Maracana.  His first international title since the Olympic gold medal at Beijing 2008.

Ronaldo is a goal-scoring phenomenon-128 goals for his country in 205 matches since his debut in 2003. At elite club levels with Man U, Real Madrid and Juventus – a staggering 696 goals in 918 games. A little-known fact is that more than 150 of his League goals have come through headers. The average vertical jump of NBA basketball players is 30 inches. CR 7 highest recorded goal-header jump was 41 inches in a Real Madrid vs Man U match in the 2012-13 season. Only ‘HIS AIRNESS’ Michael Jordan surpasses him with jumps of 48 inches.

A rare specimen of physical fitness, his 6ft 2’ frame and tremendous pace terrorise the defence of opposing teams. Add an almost unstoppable free kick to the arsenal. A unique feature of this champion player is the exhibition of the double scissors and drop moves which allow him to quickly change directions. In 2018, the Turin medical staff did medical tests on the super athlete and found that his condition at 34 was the same as a 20-year-old – with an incredible 50% muscle and 7% body fat. Ronaldo played for 4 seasons with the Italian club Juventus.

His handsome physique, sensational exploits on and off the field and his fitness regimen make him the most followed sportsperson on Earth. 618 million followers on Instagram and 100 million followers apiece on Facebook and X. To maintain peak fitness and endurance on the football field he engages in high-intensity interval training (HIIT), running, sprinting drills and cycling. The dedication is exemplified by 5 visits to the gym per week with workouts lasting 3-4 hours. HIIT is a complete physical regimen that combines aerobics, strength (resistance) exercises and targeted weight to increase muscle. However, it’s imperative to remove the misconception of CR 7’s speed. In the Sky Sport’s serial ‘Tested to the Limit’ in 2011 he was pitted against Angel Rodriguez, Spain’s fastest sprinter. Suffice it to say that the footballer would have run the 100 metres in 11.4 seconds.

French legend Zinedine Zidane, who managed Real Madrid, had this to say, “When you play with Ronaldo in your team you are already 1-0 up.” Over to Sir Alex Ferguson ( Man U), “We have had some great players at this club in my 20 years but he’s up with the best.” Portuguese great Eusebio’s observation hits home, “Ronaldo has great ball control and his technique is excellent. He believes that he can do anything with the ball and that confidence makes him very special indeed.”

Now to the controversies. The explosive TV interview with Piers Morgan led to his abrupt exit from Man U. He openly castigated Eric ten Hag, Manager, for benching him in some games and even blasted the owners of the hallowed club- the Glazer family. At the Qatar WC, Fernando Santos the Portugal Manager, substituted him in the match against South Korea, benched him in the match against Switzerland which Portugal won 6-1 and brought him on only in the 51st minute for the Q/F against Morocco. Possibly the lowest moment was when he claimed the 54th-minute goal against Uruguay in a group-stage match. The goal was credited to his team-mate Bruno Fernand and the decision was confirmed by Adidas Ball Technology. Unfortunately, CR7 continued to claim it over the next couple of days with support from his friend Piers Morgan.

The 5ft 7’ Lionel Messi with his ordinary looks and shy demeanour is a global football Icon only because of the magic he weaves on the football field. At the Qatar WC, he scored 7 goals and had 3 assists in 7 matches. But hold your breath! At age 36, he was one of only 3 Argentinian players to play every single moment of their WC winning campaign-690 minutes in total after 2 games went extra-time. Messi made 347 passes, 5 tackles and attempted 32 shots at goal.

The Argentine talisman has 106 goals in 178 caps for his country and 61 recorded assists. He spent almost his entire professional career with FC Barcelona (2004-21) where he won a record 34 trophies. His jaw-dropping club stats of 672 goals in 778 appearances with 269 Assists kicked in. A distraught Messi had to leave the Catalan club as they did not have enough of a wage budget left to offer him a new contract. Due entirely to financial profligacy and incompetent management. In his 2 seasons with PSG thereafter he scored 32 goals in 75 matches with a solid 35 Assists. Assists are what adds to Messi’s creative aura and mystique. Assist refers to that final, definitive pass to a team-mate or setting up a team-mate to take the goal shot. The stamp of the ultimate team player in the ultimate team sport. Listen to France and PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe, “I still miss not playing with him. For an attacker like me who likes to devour spaces, with him you can go with the certainty that you will receive the ball. It was a luxury that only he could give you. Playing with Messi was special.”

Messi, to millions of his fans across the world, transcends awards and stats. He is the modern maestro of The Beautiful Game. The biggest box-office draw even today. His artistry and ball skills have often been called ‘Insane’ and ‘Alien’.  His vision, balance, sudden turns and acceleration have stupefied both defenders and spectators. His saucy dribbles, sublime free kicks and the art of the chip finish have brought gasps, smiles and jaw-drops even from seasoned commentators and yesteryear greats.

He is adored by his national team-mates. They passionately worked hard and played hard to hold aloft the Holy Grail of football for their country, their team and especially for their captain. Angel de Maria who impressed and scored a goal in the final with a Messi assist has said, “I always dream of playing with him, having him by my side every day. Every time we go with the national team it seems very short.” Martinez, who won the Golden Glove award as goalkeeper of the tournament, is even more heartfelt, “I want to give him life. I want to die for him.”

Arsene Wenger, the famous Arsenal Manager, has observed, “Messi is a footballer from a PlayStation game. Things that are impossible to do he makes them possible.” Dutch great Frank Rijkaard says “Messi’s goals are a piece of art.” Former England star Wayne Rooney shouts out, “Messi is a joke, the best joke that my eyes have ever seen.” Radomir Antic, who managed several La Liga teams in Spain, stated “Messi  is the Mozart of football.” Let’s leave the final word to ex-Barca and now Man- City’s formidable Manager, Pep Guardiola-“I tried making Lionel Messi the best player in the world. He ended up making me the best manager in the world.” Argentina’s World Cup-winning manager, Luiz Scolari emotionally echoes similar sentiments.

Ronaldo playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and Messi turning out for Inter-Miami in US Major League Soccer are now at the twilight of their careers. The standards are much lower there than at the elite European clubs and leagues. At best, we can hope for ‘The Last Dance’ at the next European Championships and the Copa America.

CR 7 is undoubtedly in the pantheon of all-time football greats. What about MESSI? I wished that he had been honoured with the Super Ballon d’Or 2023. In recognition of being the best football player of his generation.  A title only and last conferred on the Real Madrid legend Alfred Di Stefano in 1989.