Messi or Ronaldo? Who is better

Before that let us consider some stats

Leo Messi
Age : 25

Club appearances : 346
Club goals : 273

Country appearances : 75
Country goals : 31

Cristiano Ronaldo

Age : 27

Club appearances : 484
Club goals : 288

Country appearances : 100
Country goals : 37

To start off, I think both Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of the most extra-ordinary players currently playing. Considering the stats, Messi at the age of 25 and Ronaldo at the age of 27 are both in their  prime. When you see the club stats, it comes to one's notice that Messi has a better Appearance to goal ratio compared to Ronaldo, while it's more or less even when it comes to country stats

Now when to look at the club careers, it more suits Messi because he has only played for one club all his life, so there doesn't arise a question of adjustment, secondly, Messi has always played for an established team and always in his preferable position. Hence, it has only aided his and therefore has never been on the back-foot  At the same time when you look at Ronaldo's club career, he has played in total for 3 clubs, Portugal's Sporting Lisbon, then Manchester United and later on for Real Madrid. This also includes 3 different countries, Portugal, England and Spain. But whichever place he has played his trend, he has always impressed. Secondly, he is also used to playing in many positions. I remember him playing on the right wing, left wing as well as a striker. That shows his versatility.

When it comes to proving one's self, both Messi and Ronaldo have done it in their own ways. Messi has won many individual trophies and team trophies too. But what I think is the highlight of his game is that he understands the game around himself. His dribbling in combination with his passing has made him impeccable. When it comes to playing with Barcelona, he has played always in compliance of his team's style of play. Xavi, Iniesta have always been auxiliary to his game. Over the last few years he has also improved his finishing which is why he has been the top scorer in the last couple of years. And more importantly he has always delivered when needed. 

Ronaldo on the other hand has won lesser individual and team trophies compared to Messi, but that doesn't take anything away from him. Ronaldo is a player who can carry an entire team on his shoulder. I remember when he played for Manchester United and at times he won games single handed, something which Messi can do, but to a lesser extent. Considering his playing attributes, one can say the he is one of the best headers of the ball, I've never seen anyone better. He has slightly more speed than Messi, which usually helps on one on one situations.

What personally I feel is that Messi is the most naturally talented footballer on the planet currently, where as Ronaldo has up-ed his game through his dedicated hard work as also proved himself as an on field leader. Nevertheless, both are great footballers and can easily be said that any one of them could easily dominate the world of football, if the other one wouldn't exist. Another important thing is that both of them have been injury free for most of their careers. Both deserve to be where they are and currently play for the world's best two club - Barcelona and Real Madrid, and rightly so.

Club stats for previous 5 seasons

Leo Messi :

2008-09 - Apps : 51  Goals : 38

2009-10 - Apps : 53  Goals : 47

2010-11 - Apps : 55  Goals : 53

2011-12 - Apps : 60  Goals : 73

2012-13 - Apps : 17  Goals : 20 (ongoing)

Cristiano Ronaldo :

2008-09 - Apps : 53  Goals : 26

2009-10 - Apps : 35  Goals : 33

2010-11 - Apps : 54  Goals : 53

2011-12 - Apps : 55  Goals : 60

2012-13 - Apps : 17  Goals : 19 (ongoing)

So it is upto you to decide who is better than the other..

Wayne Rooney - Already a Legend?

I have been a Wayne Rooney fan ever since I have started watching football, and after all the football he has played over the years, it's surprising to know he just turned 27 on the 24th of October 2012, Even at 27, he is regarded as one of the all time greats for club and country.

Somethings that many people wouldn't know is that Wayne Rooney is of Irish descent, but born in the city of Liverpool. He grew up supporting the blue half of Liverpool, that is Everton. When aged 9, playing for Copplehouse boys' club, he scored a record 99 goals in that season. Later was spotted by an Everton scout. As a 11 year old he even stood as a mascot for the Everton-Liverpool derby.

Wayne is such a talented footballer that at the age of 15 played for the Everton under 19s. He even led the Everton youth team to the FA youth cup final in 2002 In the same season he was an unused substitute for the game against Southampton. Next season, at the age of 16, was promoted to the first team and made his debut against Tottenham, becoming the second youngest player to play for the senior Everton side. He scored his first ever goal against Wrexham in the League Cu, but it was against Arsenal in the Premier League that he announced himself when he scored the last minute winner, ending Arsenal's 30 game unbeaten run and also becoming the youngest Premier League scorer at that time. Incredible, isn't it?

Later in 2004 he joined Manchester United for £25.6 million and again announced himself in great style with a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League. Since then with many ups and downs he has gone on to win 4 Premier League titles, 1 Champions League title(including 3 finals), 1 Club World Cup and 2 League Cups. During this process, he has already made more than 450 club appearances(both Everton and Manchester United) with over 200 goals. He also won 3 'goal of the season award', with the latest one coming in the 2010-11 season when he scored that incredible over-head kick against Manchester City in the Premier League at Old Trafford. Although my favorite Wayne Rooney goal is the volley against Newcastle in April 2005. He also has made 78 appearances for England with 32 goals. Wayne's also been nominated for the 2012 FIFA Ballon D'or making him the only Englishman on the shortlist.

Wayne ranks 5th in the all time top scorers for England and 4th in the list for all time top scorers for Manchester United.

Currently, I think both Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie share a great partnership up top for Manchester United. #Deadly. And his new role of playing deeper in the midfield excites me too. The good thing is that both of these players are interchangeable and that only aids his game. A versatile player and even tracks backs once he loses the ball - not many players are that dedicated. One word to describe Wayne? - ' Warrior'.

Another fact is that both Wayne Rooney's son Kai and Leo Messi's son Thiago share the same birthday - 2nd November. #Legends.

Ballon D'or?

The Ballon D'or literally means 'Golden Ball'. Its inception was in the year 1956. The award was conceived by France Football's chief magazine writer Gabriel Hanot, who asked his colleagues to vote for the player of the year in Europe in 1956. Hence at that time this award was only presented to European players playing for a European club and hence players of Non-European nations were ineligible for this award. This however was changed in the year 1995 when it allowed non-European players to be eligible for the award if they played for a European club. While later in the year 2007 any player in the world became eligible for this award. Another noticeable thing is that the selection is done by football journalists

The first person to win the Ballon D'or was an English footballer Stanley Matthews who played for Blackpool. After the rule change in the year which allowed Non-European players to be eligible, it was a Liberian player George Weah who won the Ballon D'or while playing for AC Milan. Three players have won the award three times each - Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten. The last Premier League player to win the FIFA Ballon D'or was Michael Owen

Later in the year 2010, Ballon D'or and FIFA player of the year were merged, and came to be known as the FIFA Ballon D'or. Leo Messi became the inaugural winner and won it again in the following year. The FIFA Ballon D'or for 2012 is scheduled for January 7th, 2013 in Kongresshaus, Zurich (Switzerland)

Like every year, 23 player shortlist is made. The shortlist for the 2012 FIFA Ballon D'or includes -

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City/Argentina), 

Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid/Spain), 

Mario Balotelli (Manchester City/Italy), 

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/France), 

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus/Italy),

Sergio Busquets (Barcelona/Spain), 

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid/Spain), 

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal), 

Didier Drogba (Shanghai Shenhua/Ivory Coast), 

Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid/Colombia), 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Germain/Sweden), 

Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), 

Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina), 

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany), 

Neymar (Santos/Brazil), 

Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid/Germany), 

Gerard Pique (Barcelona/Spain), 

Andrea Pirlo (Juventus/Italy), 

Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid/Spain), 

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United/England), 

Yaya Toure (Manchester City/Ivory Coast), 

Robin van Persie (Manchester United/Netherlands), 

Xavi (Barcelona/Spain)

Neymar and Drogba are the only players playing for a Non-European club in the shortlist, while Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba the only Africans that make the shortlist. Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer are the only goalkeepers that make the shortlist. Rooney, the only player representing England, while the same applies to Van Persie win Nederlands
So, what do you make of this?