Lionel Messi said he could have won 15 Ballon d’Ors if he followed Cristiano Ronaldo’s strategy**
Lionel Messi, largely recognized as one of the best footballers of all time, has won an amazing eight Ballon d’Or awards. This extraordinary performance cements his place in football history. However, a recent allegation by a football legend says that Messi might have nearly quadrupled his total if he had followed a method similar to his longstanding adversary, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Ballon d’Or Legacy
Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or, which is presented yearly to the world’s finest player, for more than a decade. They have together won the prestigious accolade 15 times, with Messi recently collecting his record-breaking eighth championship in 2023. His beautiful style of play, vision, and consistency have gained him praise and love from both fans and analysts.
Despite this, one football icon feels Messi’s total could have been even higher—an historic 15 Ballon d’Ors—if he had taken a different approach, similar to Ronaldo’s.
The Ronaldo Strategy
Cristiano Ronaldo is famed for his tireless work ethic, physical conditioning, and goal-scoring ability, which has maintained him at the top of the game far into his late thirties. His technique of continuously seeking new challenges and pushing oneself to the maximum has garnered him five Ballon d’Ors and numerous other awards.
The football legend who made this daring claim says that Messi, while inherently gifted, could have benefited from some aspects of Ronaldo’s approach, notably in terms of staying in top physical condition and adapting his game to different leagues and playing styles.
“Messi’s talent is undeniable, but Ronaldo’s strategy of constant reinvention and maintaining his physical peak has allowed him to remain a dominant force for longer periods,” the football star said. “If Messi had incorporated some of these elements into his career, there’s no doubt he could have been holding 15 Ballon d’Ors by now.”
A Tale of Two Legends.
For years, the contrast between Messi and Ronaldo has dominated football headlines. While Messi is admired for his vision, dribbling, and playmaking skills, Ronaldo is praised for his agility, goal-scoring ability, and versatility. The two have taken different paths to stardom, with Messi spending the majority of his career at Barcelona before transferring to Paris Saint-Germain and then Inter Miami, whereas Ronaldo has played in several top leagues across Europe.
Critics of the assertion contend that Messi’s playing style and dedication to Barcelona were critical to his success, and that modifying his approach could have altered the direction of his career in ways that did not necessarily result in more Ballon d’Ors.
The Endless Debate
The debate over who is the best of all time—Messi or Ronaldo—continues to split both fans and experts. While this recent assertion adds fuel to the fire, it also emphasizes the differences between both players’ careers. Messi’s eight Ballon d’Ors reflect his consistency and brilliance on the field, whilst Ronaldo’s five demonstrate his ability to adapt and flourish in a variety of footballing circumstances.
It’s unclear whether Messi could have won more Ballon d’Or awards if he’d followed Ronaldo’s plan. However, one thing is certain: both players have made an unmistakable effect on the sport, and their legacies will be remembered for centuries.
As the football world continues to marvel at Messi’s accomplishments, the curiosity of “what if” remains—but perhaps it is the uniqueness of their different journeys that makes the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry one of the greatest stories in sports history.
Leave a Reply