Rank these players according to their peak impact?

[5DOM]

You can't penalize a player for having an incredible work ethic. I also think Cristiano's natural abilities tend to get underrated. You cant have the goal scoring records he has by simply being stronger and faster than others. He isn't all about athleticism. And even if it were, that doesn't diminish the impact he has on games.

[cgf]

One of these is not like the other, but:

Fat Ronaldo - I've still never seen anyone come close to him since he got fat.
Ronaldinho
Messi
Zidane
CR7



Ibra

[ardee]

I'm particularly surprised at people putting Zidane over Cristiano.

If you're talking about sheer helping your team win a game, I don't see how Zidane comes out on top here. His highs were ridiculous, but he spent most of his prime performing to that ridiculous level once in a while. As a central midfielder, he simply was not in a position to impact the game as much as Ronaldo can.

Put it this way. Zidane in his 2002-03 Ballon D'Or season was playing on arguably the most loaded team ever. This was Madrid before they made stupid buys like Beckham and Owen and ruined the balance of the team. Hierro still playing, Carlos in his pomp, Ronaldo coming off his own Ballon D'Or, Makelele playing great, Raul, Figo, Guti and Casillas, it was ridiculous. They had only 78 points in a league even weaker than today's league, and lost to a decent but not exactly rampant Juventus side.

Ronaldo in 2011-12 had a very good but nowhere near as legendary as Zidane's. Ramos, Alonso, Benzema and Ozil are great, but they're no Makelele, Figo, Fenomeno, etc. Yet what did CR do? Led them to 100 points and beat arguably the greatest team ever to the title.

More importantly, the strongest point in Ronaldo's favor is his big match performance. And conveniently forget that he's been one of the most ridiculous big match players we've ever seen over the last year or so. He's scored in 6 straight Clasicos. That's right, against Barcefreakinglona. He's scored 3 title winning goals over Barca since 2011, in the Liga, Copa del Ray, and Spanish SuperCup. In the '12 CL knockout stages, in 6 games he scored 1, 2, 0, 2, 0 and 2 games. In the CL KNOCKOUT stages.

He's continued it this season. He scored against Dortmund and City and a hat-trick against Ajax. In RM's biggest non-Clasico game in a long time, against Atletico, with Barca waiting to cut the gap to just a point, CR scored a hat-trick. Ridiculous. Scored twice against United, who are 15 points clear at the top of the PL. Thrice against the Turkish champions.

Zidane's record against the 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams + Barcelona (yeah, they were SIXTH that year, gives you an idea how bad the league was): one goal in six matches. One goal against Juventus in a losing cause. That's basically his big match record. Doesn't compare to Ronaldo's.

Basically, CR scored ≈65 goals, led a record breaking team, and was two penalty kicks away from winning the La Liga, Champion's League and European Championships. It's almost impossible to play better.

In the modern era the only players I'd put above him peaks wise are Maradona and Platini.

[cgf]

You are seriously under-rating the impact of an absolutely brilliant playmaker and how he runs the team. And while Zidane always had plenty of help, so has CR7 and every other great player who's ever accomplished anything. Zidane's big moment goals have warped how people remember him. He wasn't the player who scored many goals, he was the guy who ran the team and pushed it forward, who set up the brilliant players he played with in dangerous positions. Then stepping up and scoring himself when the guys he was feed weren't able to get it done and the team needed a goal.

Now this may well come down to personal preference, as I've always had a warm spot for game controlling passers cause my favorite players of all time are Netzer and Beckenbauer, two guys who were absolutely brilliant at taking the ball in a deep position, driving play forward with either a marauding run or a brilliant pass to put the attackers in position to have numerous chances to get it done. And Zidane was that kind of player, like Iniesta or Ozil now, except he scored a lot of big time goals that people remember. That's why he nudges in ahead of CR7, although both are spectacular and should be considered essentially equals, with neither really far from Messi at all either. In their primes Ronaldinho and Fat Ronaldo were just on a different level. The things they could do, with the control of the ball that they had, it was literally unbelievable.

PS 2002-3 wasn't Zidane's best. Although he was still fantastic, his best years IMO were before he left Juve, his position in the team and responsibilites were more clear there, and that let his brilliance glow its brightest. In Madrid he could just set up the insane talents he played with so much that he never had to be as consistently great as he did when he and Nedved were working magic for Juve.

[Gregoire]

Impact in football isnt measures by stats. No even close. Maybe in bbal or hockey stats could tell something (through not all), but in the game of soccer - no way. You can scores 0 goals and be best player of the game each game (like Zidane). All you need its only watch the game of these guys and do not garbage your head with useless stats. If you watch the skills, first touch, dribbling, passing, desicion making ect its clear, than even Ibra in tese department better than CR7. His game more naturaly talented, through CR7 had more impact. And other guys were either more talented and more impactful than Crish. Messi and Zidane - Mozarts, CR7 - Salieri.

[5DOM]

It's true that stats don't mean everything and they matter less in soccer, but you can't ignore Cristiano's 141 goals in 130 games for Real. Goals matter.

[cgf]

Goals matter, and they're why he and Messi are being compared to great players like Zidane, Ronaldinho and Fat Ronaldo, goals are just part of the equation.

[Gregoire]

Goals matter, and they're why he and Messi are being compared to great players like Zidane, Ronaldinho and Fat Ronaldo, goals are just part of the equation.

Agree. But Messi have something Cristiano lacks - fluidity, he can run through entire teams to get opportunities for the team, and he is unselfish... like others in these list, CR7 in lesser degree. CR7 in analogy with basketball is Kobe Bryant - great ego, trying to do ia all for himself and bad bad shot selection. But in football to do in all by yourself is impossible - 11 players.

[ardee]

Goals matter, and they're why he and Messi are being compared to great players like Zidane, Ronaldinho and Fat Ronaldo, goals are just part of the equation.

Agree. But Messi have something Cristiano lacks - fluidity, he can run through entire teams to get opportunities for the team, and he is unselfish... like others in these list, CR7 in lesser degree. CR7 in analogy with basketball is Kobe Bryant - great ego, trying to do ia all for himself and bad bad shot selection. But in football to do in all by yourself is impossible - 11 players.

Ronaldo is very capable of scoring absurd solo goals himself.

And I don't see the logic in the post there. You prop Messi for being able to dribble through multiple players, and you peg Ronaldo down for the same thing

Ronaldo's shot selection is fine. He's scored over 110 goals in the last two seasons alone. If Ronaldo is on your team and doesn't shoot that much, you're wasting his talent.

Your entire argument about Ronaldo seems to be the regurgitated crap from the media years ago. Everyone agrees now that Ronaldo is an amazing team player.

[Gregoire]

Goals matter, and they're why he and Messi are being compared to great players like Zidane, Ronaldinho and Fat Ronaldo, goals are just part of the equation.

Agree. But Messi have something Cristiano lacks - fluidity, he can run through entire teams to get opportunities for the team, and he is unselfish... like others in these list, CR7 in lesser degree. CR7 in analogy with basketball is Kobe Bryant - great ego, trying to do ia all for himself and bad bad shot selection. But in football to do in all by yourself is impossible - 11 players.

Ronaldo is very capable of scoring absurd solo goals himself.

And I don't see the logic in the post there. You prop Messi for being able to dribble through multiple players, and you peg Ronaldo down for the same thing

Ronaldo's shot selection is fine. He's scored over 110 goals in the last two seasons alone. If Ronaldo is on your team and doesn't shoot that much, you're wasting his talent.

Your entire argument about Ronaldo seems to be the regurgitated crap from the media years ago. Everyone agrees now that Ronaldo is an amazing team player.

Ronaldo really rare create solo goals with passing multiple defenders.I peg Ronaldo not fordribbling, but for dribbling without flow ofoffense, unlike Messi.
Ronaldo shoot veryvery big amount of shots ans his convertion rate is low.In comparison to greats of course. No, the media loved Ronaldo a lot as you know, but my arguments is from watching his game. He is amazing player, but... wecompare him to greats.

[Man of Steel]

How do people still paint Ronaldo as the guy that only looks for his own shot?
Just look to the game we just played against Levante. He was 1v1 with the goalie but opted to pass to Ozil who was undefended, and we took a 3-1 lead.

Like Ardee said, if CR is on your team (specifically this RM squad) and he isn't taking the shots he takes, then that's a waste. He's good at converting. The rate may not be the highest, but 9 times out of 10 it's a better shot than anyone else can take. It's not like he just fires away when there's an open teammate at closer range.

Blame his height, his speed, or call it dumb luck. However you spin it, the guy has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. From headers at ridiculous heights, to sprints all across the field, he gets to where his teammates need him to be. As has been stated, he's not one to fall asleep in a big match, and he hasn't been for a long time. Don't think there's a better measure of a players impact than how they perform in big matches.

[ardee]

Ronaldo really rare create solo goals with passing multiple defenders.I peg Ronaldo not fordribbling, but for dribbling without flow ofoffense, unlike Messi.

That is a rather arbitary criteria. Give me at least 5 examples this season of Messi dribbling past 5+ players and getting the assist.

Ronaldo shoot veryvery big amount of shots ans his convertion rate is low.In comparison to greats of course. No, the media loved Ronaldo a lot as you know, but my arguments is from watching his game. He is amazing player, but... wecompare him to greats.

That is the most hilarious statement I have ever heard. Ronaldo is the most ruthless finisher in Europe other than maybe Messi.

I'll compare his shooting accuracy to the best strikers in world football.

Player % Of Shots on Target.
C. Ronaldo 45.3
Van Perise 44.3
Suarez 35.6
Cavani 46.7
Falcao 45.2

So, the only one who's better than him is Cavani..... Cavani has 33 goals in all competitions this year, which is
great... Ronaldo has 55. I think the trade-off works pretty well for Madrid.

Don't say Ronaldo has a poor conversion rate, it just ruins your credibility because he's among the best in Europe.

And just for **** and giggles, take a look at Zidane's conversion rate in the last season we have such stats available:

*drum roll*

25%.

[and1GS]

And Cristiano compares favorably...they can both create goals on their own, silly claim to say differently. I was originally annoyed by the pure volume of Ronaldo's shots but as someone else mentioned, it's acceptable to have someone that great shooting that often. Especially when he can score from almost anywhere at any angle.

I rank them:

Ronaldo
Cristiano
Messi
Ronaldinho (didn't he only have one amazing year?)
Zidane (I think his impact was overstated)







Ibra (lol)

[Slava]

If you are pretty and ambitious, you get labeled Selfish pretty easily.

[J-Mezzy]

Falcao's conversion is pretty damn good and he has been playing injured for a good while now. I wonder how high it was earlier on the season.

In regards to CR7. I actually always thought he was a more gifted player than any other player in the world. He is faster, stronger, better at headers, better from distance than Messi. He is a special talent. I don't understand using his attributes against him. What is even more amazing to me is how I still find Messi to be the better player despite CR7 having more natural gifts. I guess what separates Messi from CR7 is his vision. He is a genius.

[Ted Lasso]

Messi
Cristiano
Zidane
Ronaldo
Ronaldinho
Ibrahimovic

[Gregoire]

Ronaldo really rare create solo goals with passing multiple defenders.I peg Ronaldo not fordribbling, but for dribbling without flow ofoffense, unlike Messi.

That is a rather arbitary criteria. Give me at least 5 examples this season of Messi dribbling past 5+ players and getting the assist.

Ronaldo shoot veryvery big amount of shots ans his convertion rate is low.In comparison to greats of course. No, the media loved Ronaldo a lot as you know, but my arguments is from watching his game. He is amazing player, but... wecompare him to greats.

That is the most hilarious statement I have ever heard. Ronaldo is the most ruthless finisher in Europe other than maybe Messi.

I'll compare his shooting accuracy to the best strikers in world football.

Player % Of Shots on Target.
C. Ronaldo 45.3
Van Perise 44.3
Suarez 35.6
Cavani 46.7
Falcao 45.2

So, the only one who's better than him is Cavani..... Cavani has 33 goals in all competitions this year, which is
great... Ronaldo has 55. I think the trade-off works pretty well for Madrid.

Don't say Ronaldo has a poor conversion rate, it just ruins your credibility because he's among the best in Europe.

And just for **** and giggles, take a look at Zidane's conversion rate in the last season we have such stats available:

*drum roll*

25%.

Messi scored a ton of solo goals, not in these season. You knowit, whytry you to ask obvious things?)
Convertion rate is about goals, not shots in target, youinterpret it like you want to defend your guy CR7.
And to compare 36 years old Zidanevs peak Cristie... its good

[Man of Steel]

To be fair, Messi has one physical attribute on CR, and that is acceleration. Don't think I've ever seen a player go from hovering over the ball to bursting down the field quite so quickly.

CR scores plenty of great solo goals. Every time he scores a goal from outside of the box, it's him skipping through a defender or two and firing a shot that few other players would even risk taking. But he shoots them, and they have about as much chance of going in as not.
He's already scored 3 like that this calendar year, and that's not even considering free kicks. Still 8 games left in la liga, 2 games minimum left in CL, and a CdR final to add to that tally for this calendar year, plus any summer + national team + late 2013 fixtures. And if you make the argument that his goals come against weak opposition in La Liga, look at his CL campaign this year. 11 goals (three clear of the rest) against teams like Dortmund, City, Ajax, United, and Galatasaray. He needs two more to surpass Henry for 4th overall in UCL goals.

And his six assists thus far have him tied for 10th overall in La Liga assists. Not great, but not the selfish guy you paint him to be.

As for "flow of offense", there's much less of that when you run counterattacking football. Less about how well you dribble past defenders, and more about whether or not you get from defensive box to offensive box before your defender. CR rarely needs to dribble past multiple defenders because more often than not, there's a max of two defenders anywhere near coverage of him on the counter. And in the rare case where we run build up play, he's more than willing to pass it off to the open man when, inevitably, several defenders try to pressure him off the ball.