|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Lionel Messi ... at least when it comes to taking penalties
The Portuguese has fluffed just one spot-kick since joining Madrid, while the Argentine's failure to convert for Barca against Valencia on Wednesday was his seventh career miss
4 Feb 2012 10:39:00
Getty Images
ANALYSIS
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
The comparisons are constant, the debate ceaseless. But there is now little left to support the theory that Lionel Messi isn't the finest footballer on the planet. The astonishing Argentine is the main man in the best Barcelona side of all time, has been mentioned in the same breath as the game's greatest players and has just claimed his third successive Ballon d'Or.
Messi, then, is better than all of his contemporaries and, at the moment at least, a finer footballer than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. Except, that is, when it comes to taking penalties.
Messi missed from the spot for the seventh time in his career on Wednesday at Mestalla, when Valencia's Diego Alves dived to his left to repel the Argentine's effort in the sides' 1-1 draw. That's two this term over which the 24-year-old has erred and, in total, his conversion rate in all competitions is a rather mediocre 74 per cent.
Cristiano, by comparison, is virtually flawless from 12 yards out. The Portuguese has missed just one penalty since moving to Madrid in the summer of 2009. And that, too, was saved - coincidentally - by the brilliant Diego Alves, who has kept out an incredible 11 of 19 at Almeria and Valencia.
Ronaldo has converted 21 of 22 in La Liga, making him one of the top penalty-takers in the history of the Primera Division. His one blemish - in a game in which he also scored and was sent off - was smashed home by team-mate Karim Benzema anyway in a 4-2 win over Almeria, in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
One of Messi's misses, in the cup against Benidorm, was converted by the Argentine himself at the second attempt. In total, four of his failed spot-kicks have come in the Copa del Rey, with one in the Champions League and two in La Liga.
And those two misses - out of 14 league attempts - mean that the Argentine is outside the top 100 penalty takers in the history of the Spanish league, historically. In fact, his team-mate David Villa has a far superior record, having also erred twice, but netted 31 out of 33 in total.
And Messi's misses could be a concern for Barcelona. The Catalan club have continuously complained that they have been awarded too few penalties this term. But when they receive them, they should be putting them away.
The Argentine's Mestalla misdemeanour has handed Valencia a lifeline in Wednesday's return leg at Camp Nou, while failure to beat Javi Varas in the last minute at home to Sevilla earlier on this season saw the Catalans left with a frustrating goalless draw.
Messi, claims coach Pep Guardiola, always plays well, but the Ballon d'Or winner has looked well below his brilliant best in the last few games and, at the moment, Madrid have the edge in La Liga with a seven-point lead over their fiercest rivals.
So Leo may be the finer footballer, but Cristiano is converting from the spot. And penalties bring points, while points mean prizes.
Follow Ben Hayward on
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
The comparisons are constant, the debate ceaseless. But there is now little left to support the theory that Lionel Messi isn't the finest footballer on the planet. The astonishing Argentine is the main man in the best Barcelona side of all time, has been mentioned in the same breath as the game's greatest players and has just claimed his third successive Ballon d'Or.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
Messi, then, is better than all of his contemporaries and, at the moment at least, a finer footballer than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. Except, that is, when it comes to taking penalties.
Messi missed from the spot for the seventh time in his career on Wednesday at Mestalla, when Valencia's Diego Alves dived to his left to repel the Argentine's effort in the sides' 1-1 draw. That's two this term over which the 24-year-old has erred and, in total, his conversion rate in all competitions is a rather mediocre 74 per cent.
Cristiano, by comparison, is virtually flawless from 12 yards out. The Portuguese has missed just one penalty since moving to Madrid in the summer of 2009. And that, too, was saved - coincidentally - by the brilliant Diego Alves, who has kept out an incredible 11 of 19 at Almeria and Valencia.
| ON THE SPOT IN SPAIN | LEO VERSUS CRISTIANO |
 |
  |
 |
| 27 | PENALTIES TAKEN |
24 |
| 20 | PENALTIES SCORED |
23 |
| 7 | PENALTIES MISSED |
1 |
| 74% | CONVERSION RATE |
96% |
http://i1.goal.com/files/images/stats/goal/team-logos/1/451_48x48.jpg
Ronaldo has converted 21 of 22 in La Liga, making him one of the top penalty-takers in the history of the Primera Division. His one blemish - in a game in which he also scored and was sent off - was smashed home by team-mate Karim Benzema anyway in a 4-2 win over Almeria, in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
One of Messi's misses, in the cup against Benidorm, was converted by the Argentine himself at the second attempt. In total, four of his failed spot-kicks have come in the Copa del Rey, with one in the Champions League and two in La Liga.
And those two misses - out of 14 league attempts - mean that the Argentine is outside the top 100 penalty takers in the history of the Spanish league, historically. In fact, his team-mate David Villa has a far superior record, having also erred twice, but netted 31 out of 33 in total.
 |
LIONEL MISSES | LEO'S SEVEN SPOT-KICK SINS
|
 MORE ON LIONEL MESSI |
|
And Messi's misses could be a concern for Barcelona. The Catalan club have continuously complained that they have been awarded too few penalties this term. But when they receive them, they should be putting them away.
The Argentine's Mestalla misdemeanour has handed Valencia a lifeline in Wednesday's return leg at Camp Nou, while failure to beat Javi Varas in the last minute at home to Sevilla earlier on this season saw the Catalans left with a frustrating goalless draw.
Messi, claims coach Pep Guardiola, always plays well, but the Ballon d'Or winner has looked well below his brilliant best in the last few games and, at the moment, Madrid have the edge in La Liga with a seven-point lead over their fiercest rivals.
So Leo may be the finer footballer, but Cristiano is converting from the spot. And penalties bring points, while points mean prizes.
Follow Ben Hayward on
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 6-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.
Hosted by Joe Doyle
Hosted by Joe Doyle
21:38 BST
And it's now 3-1 to Turkey! An own goal from Pepe and we're into time added on. Do people think Portugal will qualify from their group?
21:34 BST
Into the final few minutes with Portugal still 2-1 down to Turkey. Cristiano Ronaldo missed his second ever penalty for Portugal earlier on.
21:12 BST
Elsewhere in Europe, Portugal are currently losing at home to Turkey. Not looking good for them at the Euros!
21:03 BST
As promised, here is the match report on Netherlands 6-0 Northern Ireland.
21:00 BST
And here's more from Roy Hodgson on the injury concerns in the England squad.
Inside Goal.Com
-
Welbeck convinces Hodgson he is the man to lead the line
England beat Norway 1-0 at Wembley, with the Manchester United man hitting an impressive winner to stake his claim for a starting spot at Euro 2012
-
The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday
-
Rodgers ushers in new Anfield era on his own terms
The Northern Irishman inevitably expressed his delight at landing the Reds job but evidenced plenty of the steely resolve which could see him become a success at Anfield
-
The definitive timeline of FSG's hunt for new manager
Kenny Dalglish's sacking at the end of the season sparked a massive hunt for the next Anfield boss, and the former Swansea man has been chosen after several turned the job down
