Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the best soccer players in the world, are constantly compared and debated. Both have won numerous awards, including FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d’Or. While Messi has spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, Ronaldo has played for Real Madrid and Manchester United, showcasing their explosive skills on the pitch and their fashion choices off it. So who is faster messi or ronaldo? Today, let’s find out about these two superstars with Bestsoccertips through the article below!
Introduction to player Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi, born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, is one of the rare talents that world football has ever witnessed. Growing up in a family with difficult circumstances, Messi overcame health challenges from a young age thanks to his passion and perseverance with football. He joined Barcelona at the age of 13, and since then, the Catalan team has become Messi’s eternal home, where he has been attached for nearly 20 years to build a glorious career.
Messi is not only an excellent player, but also a symbol of humility and natural talent. He does not have impressive acceleration like many other players, but possesses the ability to dribble so enchantingly and skillfully that people can call it is “art”. Nicknamed “La Pulga” (The Bug), Messi can get past a series of defenders in just a few short strides. Throughout his career, Messi has won countless titles with Barcelona, including 10 La Liga, 4 Champions Leagues and 7 Copa del Reys, and is also the player who has won the most Ballon d’Ors in history with 7 times.
In addition to his successes at the club level, Messi is also the captain of the Argentina national team. After many years of waiting, he helped the team win the 2021 Copa America, marking an important milestone in his international career. Messi is a model of patience and determination, proving that success does not always come easy, but with talent and constant effort, anything is possible.
About football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo, born on February 5, 1985 in Madeira, Portugal, is one of the greatest players in the history of world football. He began his professional career at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2003, where Ronaldo quickly demonstrated his outstanding talent and became one of the club’s brightest stars. His years at Manchester United marked Ronaldo’s maturity, as he won many important titles, including three Premier League titles and a Champions League title.
After successful years in England, Ronaldo continued his career at Real Madrid, where he truly shined and affirmed his class. With 4 Ballon d’Or wins and 5 Champions League titles, Ronaldo is not only a symbol of Real Madrid but also the top scorer in La Liga history. His spell at Juventus was no less impressive, where Ronaldo won more Serie A titles, confirming his strength and consistency in his prime.
Cristiano Ronaldo also excelled in his international career, leading the Portuguese national team. He helped Portugal win the Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League, becoming a football legend for his country. With his impressive goalscoring ability, tenacity and leadership, Ronaldo has become an icon not only in football but also in sports in general.
Who is faster Messi or Ronaldo?
Both Messi and Ronaldo are known for their speed, agility and impressive dribbling ability, but who has the advantage in terms of sprinting ability? The answer depends on many factors, such as top speed, acceleration, average speed and speed on the ball. Let’s analyze these factors to find out who is actually faster between Messi and Ronaldo.
Top speed
Top speed refers to the highest velocity a player can reach in a single sprint. According to FIFA data, Messi’s top speed was recorded at 32.5 km/h (20.1 mph), achieved during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has a higher top speed of 34 km/h (21.1 mph), recorded at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This shows that Ronaldo is 1.5 km/h (0.9 mph) faster than Messi in terms of top speed. However, it is important to note that top speed only reflects one aspect of sprinting ability, and does not necessarily indicate who is faster overall.
Acceleration
Acceleration measures a player’s ability to increase or decrease speed from a standstill or while moving at low speeds. Studies using GPS data or video analysis comparing the acceleration of Messi and Ronaldo have shown that Messi is able to accelerate faster than Ronaldo. This is largely due to Messi’s low center of gravity, flexible legs, and excellent balance, which give him an advantage in accelerating from a standstill or changing direction suddenly.
Average speed
Average speed reflects how fast a player moves over a given period of time or distance. According to Opta Sports, Messi’s average speed in the 2020/21 La Liga season was 23 km/h (14.3 mph), while Ronaldo averaged 22 km/h (13.7 mph) in Serie A during the same season. Although Messi has a slightly higher average speed than Ronaldo in their respective leagues, this does not necessarily mean that he is always faster in every match or situation, as average speed can be affected by many factors, including the tactics and style of play of each team.
Speed with the ball
Speed with the ball measures a player’s ability to control and manipulate the ball when running at high speed. Messi has excelled in this area. According to Opta Sports, in the 2020/21 La Liga season, Messi completed 200 dribbles, of which he was successful 144, for a success rate of 72%. In total, Messi dribbled 3,629 meters (3,965 yards) with the ball at his feet. Meanwhile, Ronaldo in Serie A in the same season only made 113 dribbles, successful 63 of them, with a success rate of 55.8%. Ronaldo’s total distance dribbled was 1,847 meters (2,019 yards). These numbers show that Messi is far superior in terms of speed and ball control during dribbles.
Conclusion
The debate about who is faster messi or ronaldo, is complex. While Ronaldo has a higher top speed, Messi is superior to him in terms of acceleration and speed on the ball. Ultimately, their overall skills and achievements are what make them great players. Football fans around the world can cherish the privilege of witnessing two of the greatest footballers of all time in action, regardless of personal allegiances.
See also: Top 5 football match with the most goals: Shocking score 149-0
