The Sicilian

Mar 6 2010, 12:42 AM

@ Ted, who in your opinion was the better of the Brazilian Ronaldo and Ronaldinho? Both having been the best player in the world IMO without doubt. Both had more or less every attribute considered to be a true legend of the game. But who was better?

Inglorious BarcaTed

Mar 8 2010, 10:15 PM

The Sicilian

Mar 6 2010, 12:42 AM

@ Ted, who in your opinion was the better of the Brazilian Ronaldo and Ronaldinho? Both having been the best player in the world IMO without doubt. Both had more or less every attribute considered to be a true legend of the game. But who was better?

That's a tricky one to answer imo mate. It's easy to forget that Ronaldo at Barca and Inter wasn't the same player at Real. Back then he was full of trickery and individual skill. For example, he was doing that move Ronaldhino does where he shifts the ball to right with the outside of his right boot and then in one move pulls it back to the left with the inside of his boot. Ronaldo was doing that 12 years ago at Inter. Ronaldhino just expressed it more in terms of his demeanor, his movement coupled with the fact that he almost certainly benefited from the worldwide phenomenon that the global media outlets made La Liga and the CL in the last 7/8 years.

For me it's what each achieved and in that sense both have their pro's and cons. Ronaldhino was sensational in the 2002 world cup and words can't describe how incredible he was during 2004 to 2006. But he lost it quickly or wasted his talent and in that sense shows he isn't on the level of greats like Maradona, Best or Pele.

Ronaldo once again was brilliant in 98 and 02 world cups and at various stages in his career at Barca, Inter and Real. But looking back at his career he always got injured at the worst possible times and left a series of "what ifs". First at Inter, where he got injured when he looked like taking Inter to a league title, at Real after a phenominal season he gets injured before the CL semi's when imo he would have got them to the final and probably won it. Also the injuries and weight problems meant he had to change his game by the time he joined Real Madrid. He became more about pace and power and unfortunately ppl remember him more in the white shirt of Real or playing for Brazil. And yet, unlike Ronaldhino when he flopped, even when not at his vintage best Ronaldo could still be relied upon to run past players and score goals consistently. Given the choice in their worst periods, Ronaldo would still be more likely to terrorise defences and score goals.

I'm not trying to back one player more than the other, I think it comes down to the type of player you prefer, how long you've been watching both and who you enjoy watching more. In that sense I'm still undecided to be honest.