FCBARCELONA.CAT

20.05.2009 12:21

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the stars of the moment

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The Champions League final will bring together two of the best players in the world at the moment. Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been vital for Barça and Manchester United in their march to the final.

Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have the talent to turn a match around and to beat any opponent. They’re probably the two best players in the world and on 27th May they come head to head in a personal duel that will delight the fans.

The best forwards in the Champions League

They have been the most dangerous forwards in this season’s CL. Leo Messi is the competition’s top scorer with 8 goals, compared to Ronald’s 4 (along with Rooney and Berbatov).

Although Messi has scored more goals, Ronaldo has had more shots (53), 32 of them on target. This gives him a ratio of 13 shots for every goal scored. Messi’s record is rather more impressive. He has shot 34 times, 11 on target, giving him an average of 1 goal for each 3 shots.

Decisive in their leagues

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been equally decisive in their domestic leagues. Messi is Barça’s second highest scorer with 23 goals (behind Eto'o) and the fourth highest scorer in the competition. Ronaldo has scored five fewer (18) but remains the Premier League’s top scorer alongside Chelsea’s Anelka.

Silverware and recognition

Messi (aged 21) and Cristiano Ronaldo (aged 24) have an enviable record, both individually and also with their teams. They have both won the Champions League and three domestic league titles, the latest this season.

On an individual level, Ronaldo is the current holder of the Golden Ball and the FIFA World Player 2008, ahead of Leo Messi, who came second in both cases.