The seemingly everlasting debate over who is better out of Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged again amid the opening matchday of the new season's Champions League campaign.
Ronaldo dealt an early blow by scoring a hat-trick in Real's 4-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk to take him three goals clear of Messi in the Champions League's all-time goalscoring list, per BBC Sport's Mandeep Sanghera.
The treble prompted new Real boss Rafael Benitez—who recently declined to name Ronaldo as the best player he'd ever coached, per MailOnline's Pete Jenson—to suggest the Portuguese as the best player in the world, per Sky Sports: "What surprises me is that the media beat around the bush about what is said rather than what is done on the pitch. There is no debate, he is the best in the world. I have great admiration for him."
To nobody's great surprise, and despite the vehement assertions of Benitez, Barca coach Luis Enrique has a different view.
When asked whether Messi was the best player he'd ever coached, Enrique went as far to suggest that the Argentine is the best player in history, per Spanish outlet Sport: "Yes, easily. That's very easy [to say Messi's the best I've ever coached]. Messi is not just the best player in the world, but he is the best player in history, although I respect the opinions of others and try not to compare him with any other player."
Messi and Ronaldo had uncharacteristically slow starts to the new season as neither netted in the opening two games.
But the 28-year-old came off the bench to score for Barca against Atletico and Ronaldo netted five against Espanyol, prompting Bleacher Report's Graham Ruthven to name him in his team of the weekend:
For Barca left-back Jordi Alba, deciding between Ronaldo and Messi is an easy task, as the Spaniard believes his club team-mate is streets ahead of anyone else, per Spanish outlet Marca: "No one does nor will ever do what Leo does. When he's on the pitch, everything changes for the better for Barcelona. Leo is a step, or five steps, ahead of other players. If we're honest and leave aside the teams we support, there is no comparison. I think Leo Messi is the best player in the world."
However, it is largely an impossible task for most others. Their respective records are astounding and their consistency across the last few seasons is unmatched.
Ronaldo pipped Messi in the La Liga goalscoring charts last term—48 to 43 per WhoScored.com—but the Barca forward inspired his side to treble glory.
In a team game, many would argue that Messi thus had the better season, but then the Portuguese was similarly effective in inspiring Real to Champions League glory in 2013-14.
The debate over who is better will rumble on and on until long after they have both retired as they rack up more and more records. In the long-run, though, they will both go down in history as legends of the game.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2567547-cristiano-ronaldo-vs-lionel-messi-debate-divides-rafa-benitez-and-luis-enrique
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