Cristiano Ronaldo has missed two league games for United so far this season and is set to miss his third when we take on Liverpool tomorrow.
Reports back in August claimed that Ronaldo would be playing by the end of September, with the Bolton game set to be his return date.
He has today said that he is counting down the days to his return, as he wants to prove himself as the best player in the World. Strange, because I thought he’d done that already…
“I hope I’ll be back to playing football soon,” Ronaldo said. “I already count the days to my return and the recovery process is going perfectly. Right now my plan is playing, scoring lots of goals and helping Manchester United and Portugal win titles this year. My dream is being the best footballer in the world but I haven’t made it yet. This is the first time I’ve been out for such a long time and it’s a tough experience. Watching the games from the stands hurts me a lot without being able to do anything to help my team-mates.”
It’s strange to hear Ronaldo be so modest, after usually being more than happy to sing his own praises.
Just this week, Kaka claimed that Lionel Messi should be crowned the best player in the World in December. “Messi is a truly great player,” he said. “Cristiano Ronaldo is also very good and deserves the prize, but I want Leo to be my successor. He has incredible ability and can control the ball superbly and that makes him one of the best players in the world. I think he is the sort of player that you would always want in your team.”
This brings about the question of how do you decide on the greatest player in the World. For all his ability, Messi was out injured for chunks of last season, and had a trophyless season with Barcelona. Messi’s team were beaten by Ronaldo’s team in the Champions League, a competition which Ronaldo scored his team’s only goal of the game in the final.
Ronaldo scred 42 goals in 48 games, he scored against our biggest rivals, as well as being the highest scoring player in the Premiership and in the Champions League.
Some might argue there are qualities in Messi that are better than Ronaldo, but essentially, is that what it’s all about? Is the best player in the World the one with the most ability, or is it the one that has shown his ability on the greatest level? You could argue Paul Scholes is a better footballer than Cristiano Ronaldo, but you could never argue that Scholes should be named the best in the World in December.
For me, this award isn’t about who has got the best ability, rather who has had the best year. Who has the best ability is totally down to opinion, who has had the best season is a little easier to prove.
Last season, Ronaldo won the league and the Champions league, as well as scoring 42 goals in 48 games. In contrast, Lionel Messi won nothing, scoring 10 goals in 40 games. Surely it’s not even a contest? However, considering 1968 was the last time a United player won the Ballon D’or, it’s not totally outlandish to imagine Ronaldo missing out on this award as every other United great has done in the past 40 years.
Does Ronaldo deserve to be named the best player in the World?
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They say that not only do you have to be an amazing talent with an end product… you always have to win trophies as well……
Ronaldo has done this last season…….and i think he deserves it… 42 goals in all competitions for a wide player.
Yes hes a big head….think i would be to if i was that good at football and earning 140k a week…
I would imagine its hard to be modest… when the media and everyone around you is telling that you are so brilliant all the time.
But…. i do also believe that there is more to come from his game…. and also … which is probably the most important factor what Ronaldo needs to realise if he gets this award…..
Rooney and Tevez…. helped him a hell of a lot last season to be the player he was… and should be humble enough to recognise that fact.
I know the boy has a habit of defying expectations but it would be EXTREMELY impressive if he managed to help Portugal win a title this year, given that they’re not actually competing for one!
erm.. didn’t scholesy score for us in dat semi instead of ronaldo?
aaron, the article says final mate… not semi final.
Let you off though its friday !!
In 180 minutes of football against United in the CL semis, Messi had plenty of fancy footwork, but he didn’t really effect the games in the outcome. Maradona is saying the same about Messi in recent press interviews. That Messi is NOT Argentina’s most necessary player, but Mascherano is.
Ronaldo, was top scorer in PL and CL, he was very important in getting us both trophies. He played through injury for United and Portugal, needing painkilling injections all the time. None of us knew this did we?. He did sacrifice himself for us. It truly wasn’t his fault that Portugal were knocked out of the Euros. The strikers for Portugal were not the best, and Ronaldo was heavily marked in comparison to other players.
Modest or not, does he DESERVE to win the Ballon d’or, you all feckin know he does. Unless you are so bitter about him wanting to go to Real M, that you are in denial!.
Of course i want him to win it……….. Im glad that he isnt going …. i think we are a better when he is playing.
He could have handled the Real thing better… but you just dont know what people have been putting into his head…
I think what we all forget with Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Nani, Anderson etc etc etc ……….. they are only kids… 21, 22, 23, 24…. really young… and easily led.
Lets face it… the majority of footballers aint the brightest of buttons are they…
Ronaldo… should and i think will win the European and World Player of the year awards…
If he doesn’t win it there should be a stewards enquiry, scoring 42 goals for a midfielder in a season is well just amazing, and winning the double to boot should be a gimmie.
Spot on Scott. Im puzzled why so many ronaldo critics keep saying ‘yeah but messi has such good control etc etc’. Who gives a s***? The World Player of the year isnt about who is the ‘best player’, its about who had the best year. Statistics dont lie.
I couldnt care less if everyone thinks Messi is a ‘better player’. But there’s no way in the WORLD messi deserves it more than ronnie. Hell, torres deserves it more than messi!
Anyone that thinks ronnie doesnt deserve the Ballon D’or is just jealous, bitter or in denial. Saying that, judging by our history with this award, i fully expect those twats to give it to anyone but ronnie. If they do, id love to hear their pathetic reasoning…
Fucking oath he is the best.
Messi has more talent and is regarded as the best player in the world now with Kaka 2nd and Ronaldo 3rd.
However, going on last season, Ronaldo deserves the award for having a better season that his 2 main rivals.
ROONEY
as long as our lads don’t split the vote letting that bastard ginola win.
Jemima… are you scouse or cockney love?? As i aint heard you say anything positive about United on any of the forums…
Messi is probably better with ball control…… but who is the most effective… Ronaldo is……….. but i honestly think that Ronaldo when he does win this award… does indeed say a little thank you to Tevez n Rooney, as it was them 2 dragging defenders all over the show last season that opened a lot of room for him to run into.
I dont even believe myself that Kaka is in the top 3 players in the world at the moment…
Im biased but i would personally have Anderson over Kaka any day of the week…
My top 3 players are :
1. Ronaldo.
2. Messi
3. Anderson (totally underated… and believe he would be in the top 3 if he was to bag a dozen goals a season)…
The UEFA player of the year usually wins the Golden Ball. As for Anderson over Kàkà..certain man are on crack. I think people have the idea that Messi carries Barça and say he’s better than Ronnie for that reason.
Messi undoubtedly is genius…more raw talent…more natural. But stats and records dont lie. Yes federer has some amazingly genius shots and is so natural on the eye. but even though a semi exit at the US…you cannot argue that rafa nadal does everything with sheer consistency and volume and quality. Ala Ronaldo he is a machine and both guys this PAST season and YEAR have broken alsorts of records..won loads of things…championships, trophies etc etc etc etc. So as Scott said…it isnt about opinions on ability..
as most people may pick feds before nadal or messi before ronaldo. BUT who’s done the most, whos achieved the most, whos contributed the most, who’s been mr consistency delivery endlessly. And that people you cannot argue…small games big games..clge, prem lge, scrappy goals wonder goals, free kicks or penalties, dribbles or off the thighs, left foot, headers or right foot. He’s done IT all and done it with style panache and his own genius too…maybe not as natural a leo..but genius of a player nonetheless
Hence should ( should being the operative word) be named the ballon d’or winner
Umm i think Federer has won a lot more than Nadal….
And maybe the lad meant Anderson will be number 3 in the world four years from now….I can see that happening. But at the moment, thats a tad steep even through the most red tinted glasses
What i was saying through my devlish red goggles, is that if Anderson could add a dozen or so goals to his performances each season, then he would be classed as a truly world beater midfielder.. thats what i was saying.
Anderson for me has got all the characteristics which you want in a United player… Gutsy, skilful…..is not scared or bothered in the slightest about reputations…
If i remember rightly, he had both Fabregas and Gerrard stitched up tight in his back pocket..
I have seen lots of Anderson videos (pre united)… and i know he didnt score last season (except for penalty in CL final)… but the kid is actually a really good finisher… look on You Tube…
2-1 against the scouse……..(roonster and berba to score)….
Plus all the scummers houses to be robbed whilst the match is on lol…
Jemima… your knowledge of football is priceless… so do us a favour and go do your nails or sommat..
Jemima: I detect scousery in him/her.
OTRed defo mate……. i detect bullshit in him/her lol……… mind u bullshit=scouse ha ha!!!
I hope Ronaldo doesn’t get it even though it would be outrageous if he didn’t simply because he’s always said that he wanted to be the best and that’s his motivation, if he gets the award it’s possible he might loose motivation, but if he doesn’t get it he will work his ass of to play even better this year.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is also very good and deserves the prize, but I want Leo to be my successor.” Does it really matter who Kaka wants as his successor? Do we really care who he wants? No. The player of the year comes down to a couple of things. 1. Which player had the best individual year? Statitically, that was Ronaldo. 2. Which player’s team achieved the most,obviously helped by their contribution? United and Ronaldo=Champion’s League Champions,Premier League Champions. Barca and Messi=Champions of sweet f**k all. Without a doubt, Messi is one of the best of in the world, but player of the year? That award should go to Ronaldo in a landslide. Is he the best player in the world? Debatable. Was he the best player during the course of the season just past. Unquestionably Yes.
Well i don’t like him, but he must win it this year.
I think when people say Messi should win player of the year over Ronaldo because they believe he has better ball control, they are fooling themselves. Not that I am saying he hasn’t but thet are just trying to find a valid reason to put him ahead of Ronaldo. Player of the Year isn’t ‘ball controller of the year’, ‘passer of the year’, ‘tackler of the year’, or ‘best caberet with 3 cabbages and a sheep of the year’. Surely it’s about who the best player is that year. With all things considered, as a complete package the most effective, influencial, significant and successful player was Ronaldo. He may be ugly (thats not important) he may be disloyal (not important) he may play in England (okay the judges don’t like that) but as a footballer there is no one close.
Messi? A good but distant second place.
Drew vader..if you read my comments properly..my analogy was on the recent year..messi v ronaldo..feds v nadal. NOT on previous years or what they did then
Hence on the years..yes THIS years analogy…there is only 1 winner..on what that person has achieved this year = nads and ron best players in their respective sports THIS YEAR.
bye