Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have both displayed their phenomenal skills, audacity in their style of play and their ability to change a football game in a matter of seconds. Both have been seen as the best player on the planet, both have displayed how deadly they are when attacking a defender and both have guided their club teams in Manchester United and Barcelona respectively to back to back domestic titles and the prestigious Champions league title. Both players are an asset to their respective clubs and both have been the centre of world cup controversy.
There isn’t much to separate these two major players in world soccer, however the Brazilian Ronaldinho has been named both FIFA World Player of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006, European Footballer of the Year in 2005, UEFA Club Footballer of the Year for the season 2005-06 and he won the coveted FIFA World Cup in 2002 with Brazil in Korea and Japan. In comparison the Portuguese winger, Cristiano Ronaldo has been named PFA Players’ Player of the Year in both 2007, 2008, PFA Young Player of the Year in 2007; he also placed third in FIFA World Player of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year in 2007.
In terms of accolades the Brazilian midfield maestro has the edge; however the Brazilian is in the twilight of his career at age 28, while the Portuguese sensation is still very much in the spring of his football career at age 23. The Portuguese also has the opportunity to be the most expensive footballer in the history of the game if he signs a contract with the galacticos, to play at the Santiago Bernabeu next season for a record transfer fee of 90 million pounds.
With the world at their feet both players will be looking to prove that they are without question the best player in the game when their respective season begins. After a terrible season at Barcelona plagued with injury problems which saw him missing most of Barcelona’s games in 2007-2008, the Brazilian will be looking to reassert himself as one of world football’s top players and erase any doubt that may linger in the minds of his fans. The Portuguese will be looking to repeat the form he showed in the season 2007-2008 and cement his skills in football history as the world’s best player.