“Cristiano Ronaldo is not only the best player in the world…but probably the single most gifted player to play in England since the Belfast Boy….What a *so and so* player. I am in awe…”
So wrote the curiously named Pimpy the Magic Elf on the RedCafe message board after Cristiano Ronaldo scored three of Manchester United’s six goals in Saturday’s second half demolition of Newcastle.
So just how good is Ronaldo? On current form, he must surely be the world’s best.
He’s always had the skill, talent, and particularly in the aftermath of that wink, the attitude to excel. Over the past season and a half however, he’s maximised these attributes to become more indispensable than any other player.
The statistics are staggering. His 25 goals in all competitions last season led him to an unprecedented clean sweep of England’s three major individual honours. This term he’s scored 22 in all competitions, with 16 coming in the league. And remember, he’s a winger and it’s still January.
Comparatively, it gets scarier. He’s already scored as many Premier League goals (51) as Steven Gerrard and is fast catching the league’s highest scoring midfielders Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes (95). His team mates took a combined 737 games to reach their totals. Ronaldo has almost averaged a goal every other game in his 112.
But the best since Belfast Boy George Best?
There’s still a bit to go. Question marks remain over a failure to yet light up the latter stages of the Champions League as Kaka did last season or indeed Best 39 years earlier. Despite performing well in major tournaments for Portugal, he was found wanting in both their Euro 2004 final and World Cup 2006 semi-final exits.
But you just get the feeling all that could change in the coming months. With United on course to crack the Champions League again and Euro 2008 on the horizon, he is on the verge of reaching the kind of heights last scaled by Zinedine Zidane 10 years ago.
First he must celebrate a birthday in February. His 23rd. That is perhaps the most frightening statistic of all.
Click here to read an envy-filled tribute to Ronaldo by Mitch Phillips, but please leave your comments about the Manchester United maestro below.
Padraic Halpin, London
PHOTO: Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his third goal in Manchester United’s 6-0 win over Newcastle United in the Premier League, Jan 12 REUTERS/Phil Noble
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[...] the 22-year-old is arguably the best player on the planet, wowing Old Trafford with another stunning brace against Portsmouth on Wednesday to give him 19 [...]
- Posted by Let Pato and co grow like Ronaldo - Reuters Soccer Blogronaldo is simply dazzling me at the moment - i thought i would never see a player to rival henry in the EPL but this is the one - if he stays at ManU for another 5 years he will become the biggest legend in our leagues history and will definately settle the comparisons with BEst debate. lets face it, it was so much easier to beat players back in 60s and 70s - there was so much space - ronaldo has everything - no weakness whatsoever and great courage (bigger than henry on this score) - PROBLEM IS HE’LL BE IN SPAIN NEXT YEAR - THE CAMP NOU AND BERNABEAU ARE BIGGER THEATRES THAN OLD TRAFFORD - i lived in spain for 10 years and us insular brits tend to get carried away by our own importance - the streets dont get deserted when arsenal play manu and this happens all around spain when barca play madrid - football is simply bigger and more important over there
- Posted by jono rolfe-ive only got one reservation about ronaldo - english defences are renowned as being the least organised and most naive - how would ronny fair playing italian defences week in week out?
Hi Ena. I think it all depends on how he does at Euro 2008. If he carries his current form into the tournament, and sees Portugal through to the final, say, I think there’s an excellent chance he’ll scoop the two big awards at the end of the year. He doesn’t look to have a lot of competition at the moment.
- Posted by Kevin FylanEveryone has their own but if you leave rivalry aside and tad jealousy out, Ronaldo is the best in the world for last year and half.
Wonder what he will get for this year’s statistics? May be 3in European player awards? and 10th in Fifa? YOu never know. Ridiculous he doesn’t get appreciated by the trophy outside England.
- Posted by EnaCRonaldo is the best right now….in some years from now people are going to look back and say woow, he was the best from that time. right now…people are in denial..they dont whant to believe his the best. people are waiting for rooney to be the best… but i got to say what my eyes see and rooney has a long way to go to get to ronaldo level. and theres no question let Best be the best from his time, like Maradona and Pele in theyr time. this is now 2008 and ronaldo is the best.
- Posted by Kevincheers
he goes missing in big games and has done nothing on the international stage. beckham was once getting these tributes and hes a posterboy not a footballer. he did nothing in facup final, champions league, games against arsenal and liverpool add to that he is arrogant. just look at his picture. aside from being mediocre he is not a good sportsman. do not ever compare him to ZIDANE, PLATINI, LUIS RONALDO, MARADONA, PELE, BAGGIO, MALDINI, CRUYFF & BECKENBAUER who are true greats.
by the way george best only played 7-8 years at manu and had a terrible lifestyle of the pitch and in between best and ronaldo was henry who was better than both and more gifted.
george best and ronaldo should not be praised as they are bad role models for kids.
PS: ronaldo is a one trick pony and no prizes for guessing the trick (~stepover~). he was boxed by maldini in 4 games against milan, oddo boxed him, abidal of france and on some occasions a cole did to.
- Posted by ahmadNow this is a post I (reluctantly) have to agree with. The most desirable player on the planet right now.
- Posted by davexRONALDO IS DEFINITELY THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD AT THE MOMENT AND THE BEST LOOKING HIS SKILL AND TRICKS ARE IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN AND THE MAN HIMSELF IS AN ABSOLUTE LEGEND!! HE WILL CERTAINLY ADVANCE TO BE KNOWN BY EVERYONE AS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD AND THE SOONER THE BETTER NO ONE CAN CIM NEAR HIM WITH HIS ABILITY THAT IS SHOWN IN EVERY MATCH AND MANCHESTER UNITED SHOULD THANK THEAI LUCKY STARS EVERY DAY MORE HE SPENDS AT THE CLUB. HE OWNS THE KEY TO MY HEART!!
FOREVER HIS
- Posted by abbieXXXXX
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[...] During a lively debate last week on whether Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world, one of our contributors, WSAS, raised the sort of question that’s hard to resist: “This is the BEST ManU team since….?” [...]
- Posted by The best Manchester United team since…? - Reuters Soccer BlogThanks for all the comments on this one. Whether he’s the best or not he certainly attracts a lot of strong opinions.
- Posted by Kevin FylanWSAS, the point you raised in comment number 43 is one we just couldn’t resist. Padraic has written another piece looking at the potential this United side has, and we’ll be posting it up in an hour or so on te front page: http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer
Bests
Kevin Fylan
Reuters Soccer Blog
Cristiano Ronaldo is indeed the best in the world right now. Is not a striker, is a winger and we scores with is right foot, left, head, free kicks, etc, and remenber he is only 22. PORTUGAL IS THE BEST
- Posted by JoaoWell, Ronaldo is a good player. But certainly, not up to the mark of soccer greats in anyway. He still needs to prove a lot in international matches and european competitions. He has been only performing well in EPL. However, his performance in the national team and european stage is not a match for the likes of Ronnie (Ronaldo in AC Milan),Zidane, kaka, ronaldhinio in any means. Its just over exergerrated.
- Posted by InfiniteGreatest in the world..
- Posted by MikeThere might as well be a new team.. FC Ronaldo or something… He’s quite repulsive in my opinion. Does not deserve the glory. The reason why everyone is after him is because he is marketable.. the reincarnation of Beckham-mania..
Nobody has mentioned Torres.. my vote goes to him… simply exceptional.
- Posted by koloAmazing individual, awful team player. Fabregas is not the same player; to compare him to Ronaldo is fantasy. Fabregas plays as a cog within Arsenal, creating a collective visual splendour as a whole.
- Posted by Elle KayThis reminds me of previous claims that Lampard, Ashley Cole, Rooney, and John Terry were the best in the world until Ronaldinho and co came around to show them what it meant to be the best in the world.
- Posted by VincentThe English are just too self-centered: they think whatever is best in the EPL is best in the world…
now KAKA is the NO 1 player in the word.ronaldo is a good player but KAKA playing very well.Ronaldo must be prove his own skill . Otherwise the real hero’s place give to kaka
- Posted by jamirNot sure how CR didnt win FIFA player of the year - let alone him finishing 3rd behind Messi! Baffles me!
Kaka - is good - but only played good during the Champions League, not during the Liga season.
And another Question begs to ask - this is the BEST ManU team since….?
I dont think the year of the treble was this good!
- Posted by WSASAnd to say he’s up there with Maradona and the like is just absurd, obviously.
- Posted by LondonIt’s such an anglocentric view to say he’s the best in the world. Here are five who are just as good or better: Messi, Kaka, Eto’o, Robinho, Casillas, Henry. Maybe not that last one.
- Posted by London