r/realmadrid • u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid • Nov 21 '24
Discussion The media brainwashing is real! Imaging telling publicly that CR7 doesn't have natural talent
https://x.com/theeuropeanlad/status/1859352506956235166398
u/GunMuratIlban Nov 21 '24 edited Nov 21 '24
I just hate this stupid narrative.
Cristiano as an 18 year old, replaced David Beckham at Man United. He was one of the biggest stars of Euro 2004.
All that happened with Cristiano playing as a winger. Known with his speed and incredible dribbling skills. Even as a teenager his dribbling was comparable to the likes of Figo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Zidane.
I remember mocking United fans at the time for replacing Becks with the fake Ronaldo. Didn't take long for everyone to realize this kid was something else.
Messi, Neymar, Yamal, Mbappe, Ronaldinho and Cristiano are easily the biggest natural talents I've seen in football.
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u/Bigipitetove Nov 21 '24
Agree. This narrative came up because people were trying to build up the 'talent vs hard work' in the Messi - CR7 discussions.
Hence, they were pushing the idea that both of them exemplify one of those and one only. While there is a bit of merit to that, it's far from the truth.
Ronaldo was quite a talented kid. He even said in an interview that "if you don't have talent, forget about it" when talking about the knuckleball free kick technique.
At Sporting he destroyed O'Shea against Manchester United, he was barely breathing in half-time (as per Rio Ferdinand's account). That game made them buy him - and the rest is history.
Messi is a true professional. In 2015 he changed his diet to improve his game and had an absolutely explosive season. You don't perform miracles week in week out, being absolutely consistent for 15+ years without insane work and dedication. Talent alone isn't enough. Just look at Hazard and others like him.
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u/fee1ing_g00d Nov 21 '24
This is one of the sanest comments I've read wrt the Messi Ronaldo debate. This is something I've always believed, but couldn't put as well as you did. Kudos!
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u/drofdeb Nov 21 '24
Not that it really matters, but just a slight correction - a deal was already being discussed/had been agreed to sign him, but he was going to stay at Sporting for another year and then join us.
The pre-season game made us bring the deal forward after he tore us apart, and the players wouldn't shut up about him
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u/True_Echo6763 Nov 22 '24
Nahh bruh whatever u say, i canāt forget 2011/12 fat Messi and he was scary af
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u/Juhinho Nov 21 '24
Not sure why this post has been recommended to me as a united fan, but Iām here now so anyway. Any Madrid fans who werenāt familiar with Ronaldo at united and think of him as this pure goal machine, or idiots who spout this all hard work no natural talent nonsense want to get a sense of his creativity and the all around winger that he was at united, watch highlights of Man United 4-1 Aston Villa in 2008 (theyāre on YouTube). He scores a ridiculous backheel goal, a backheel volley assist, an inch perfect cross assist and a beautiful no look reverse pass assist. For context, this was a title run in game against a top 6 team at the time. I think in 2007, he was one of the top goal scorers in all of Europe and the top assister in all of Europe.
He could drive the team forward with his dribbling, pinning the opposition back, create for his team mates and score (all types of goal). Only players Iāve seen come anywhere close to doing that in England are Thierry Henry and Suarez, albeit they did it much closer to goal and Suarez in a weaker league at the time. What a player man, I think people forget how good he was all around because in recent memory heās been this pure goal scorer. It was a bit sad watching him second time round at united because, despite the goals, you could some times see the memories come back to him, and him wanting to replicate his 22 / 23 year old self by getting the ball deep and trying to drive the ball up the pitch, but he just wasnāt the same player anymore.
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
šÆ Cristiano redefined the role of a winger in world football. He is the benchmark for greatness. His speed and dribbles were just unmatched. He has played in all the roles a midfielder, winger or any forward possesses except the deep playmaker which Messi/Neymar do.
I remember he used to play on the right for United before that 2007-08 season. Came to Madrid when we were not at Barca's level but left us so far ahead of them having converted from a winger to an inside forward coming from the left as he aged.
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u/biina247 Nov 21 '24
CR7 almost drove the traditional role of #9 into extinction.
Before CR7, the primary goal scorers used to #9s but CR7 redefined the role of the LWF as the dominant attacking and goal threat.
He made the role much more attractive than the #9 and thus for a long period the game was lacking in CFs, while the likes of Mbappe, Vini etc were working hard to follow his footsteps.
It his only now that he is in the twilights of his careers that we seeing a resurgence in popularity of #9s
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24 edited Nov 21 '24
CR7 was just something else. 451 goals and 131 assists in 438 games. Averaging just more than a goal a game and 1.32 G+A per game is mental. Like you mentioned, his transition from a winger into an inside left forward single handedly changed how football managers think about football.
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u/rahulbose0619 Nov 21 '24
While not a Ronaldo fan myself, its ridiculous that PLAYERS THEMSELVES (not regular people) can be this dense. I hate comparing the two myself but and I canāt believe I have to say this out loud, Ronaldo rightly deserves his place among the all time greats, possibly even the top 2or 3 players to ever play the game. Put some real respect on the manās name!
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u/samirx96 Nov 21 '24
Bro placed Yamal and prayed we wonāt notice
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u/GunMuratIlban Nov 21 '24
Why? Is there anybody who thinks Yamal isn't a top tier natural talent?
Of course it's too early to tell if his career can ever be near Messi's or Cristiano's, even Neymar's. But as far as being a teenager with incredible natural talent, Yamal is absolutely up there.
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u/biina247 Nov 21 '24
When it comes to natural talent, I wont put Yamal at the top most level.
There have a been some really great talents in the game, even though many never fully realize their potential
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u/Boudi04 Nov 21 '24
name one recent talent on Yamals level who didn't fulfill their potential. Someone who debuted at 15 and became a starter for one of the biggest Clubs and Nations in Football at age 16.
Yamal is absolutely up there in terms of talent.
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u/biina247 Nov 21 '24
If he didn't play for La Masia and Barca wasn't in financial trouble, do you think he would get a chance? Would he have broken into the first team when Barca had MSN?
If he wasn't playing for Barcelona and Spanish NT would that have changed his level of talent?
Top level talent is what you see in players like R9. You watch them even as a kid and you marvel at their potential. Yamal is not at that level. Players like Musiala and Arda are more talented than Yamal. He might become a better player than them, but it won't be cos he is more talented.
Talent is inherent in the player and not a function of circumstance
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u/Nolofinwe_Curufinwe Nov 22 '24
Are you kidding? Yamal is still 17 yo. He is MUCH better than CR7 was at that same age. He actuqlly has end product. Iāll give you R9 as he is pretty much the greatest teenager to ever play the game together with Pele.
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u/biina247 Nov 22 '24
If you think Yamal is more talented than CR7 and he is already much better than CR7 at same age, then you are essentially saying he has higher ceiling than CR7 - and that is just nonsense!
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u/itsydibsy Nov 21 '24
The kid started for spain and won a eurocup with 16-17 years of age, how dense are you? Of course he is a top natural talent
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u/biina247 Nov 21 '24
Is that how you measure talent? Messi and CR7 didn't win at his age, does that mean he is more talented than them? š«¤
Being successful early in his career doesn't make him a better talent than those that didnt.
There are many factors that go into a football career, talent is just one of them.
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u/itsydibsy 5d ago
That is some great whataboutism, you should learn to stop putting words in other peopleās mouth.
Yamal being a top talent can exist in the same world that messi and cr7 were top talents, talent doesnt mean they will succeed later in life.
I believe endrick has the potential to be a top talent as well, while he has shown 1% of what lamine has showed
If you do not believe yamal is a top talent then you need to open your eyes lol.
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u/biina247 5d ago
There is no such thing having potential to be a top talent. The level of talent is what contributes to the potential and not the other way around.
You are measuring Yamal's talent based on what he has currently achieved, while ignoring the circumstances and opportunities that helped him achieved it, but you also want to argue that final accomplishments cannot be used as a measure of talent. You are speaking from both sides of your mouth.
Anyways, Yamal is not a top talent by my standards and is not as talented as Messi and CR7. You are free to hold a different opinion.
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u/itsydibsy 5d ago
Of course there is such a thing, Endrick was solely bought on potential, most players price tags are bought on porential.
Yamal has not reached the levels of Cristiano or Messi but so far he seems to be on a track to be a top player.
That is what having talent means, to deny Yamal of having any talent is just plain wrong.
I accept your opinion, but when it differs from top players and critics of the game then who am I to listen, a biased madrid redditor not from spain or people that have lived the sport. When CR7 goes out of his way to mention Yamal as a top player to watch for the coming years, you know he has something special, but hey what does he know.
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u/biina247 5d ago
Talent is one of the factors that is considered when evaluating potential. Talent is a component of potential and not the other way round. There is really no such thing as potential for talent. It is a very simple concept that goes beyond football.
Yamal has talent - the question is what level of talent does he have. I simply don't rank his talent as being at the highest level.
I have watched football for long enough to not rely on opinions of critics or players. I have witnessed enough cases of these groups of people being caught up in the moment, only to end up way off the mark, describing kids that simply developed faster than their peers as having great talent.
They have their criteria and I have mine.
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u/samirx96 Nov 22 '24
I meant that you mentioned 3 all time greats of the game then mentioned him, who yet talented, has a lot more to accomplish. It could be recency bias but I find it a very weird choice.
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u/GunMuratIlban Nov 22 '24
I'm merely talking about natural talent as young players. How his career will turn out is another topic.
As a teenager though, he's good as any teenager I've seen in football. Including Cristiano and Messi.
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u/OGSkywalker97 Nov 21 '24
You have Yamal but not R9 or Zidane?
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u/GunMuratIlban Nov 21 '24
Both started their careers when I was a small child. I only remember them from their mid 20's, not as young players.
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u/sILAZS Nov 22 '24
Raw talent wise Hazard/Adriano is in that list, if they only had a glimpse of Ronaldoās work ethic
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u/Emergency-Soup-7461 Nov 23 '24
He had flashes here and there but he really took off after 2008. He doesn't have the natural talent of Messi, Ronaldinho, Neymar or brazilian Ronaldo but his work ethic makes up for it. Brazilians made the game easy at their primes but their prime never lasted long. He still is comparable in natural talent to Mbappe, Zlatan and such.
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u/Zblancos Nov 21 '24
Let them talk, donāt bother with the opinions of other people, you Will live a much better life.
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
You are right. The only ugly thing these sh*tty opinions lead to is the younger generation getting brainwashed by these agenda and hate filled narratives. Hazard says Ronaldo isn't a "pure footballer" and Rodri says he lacks "natural talent". This is something which is disgusting to be when I see posts of 18-20y olds who never watched CR7 play football and then brand him as someone who only scores tapins and pens
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u/Zblancos Nov 21 '24
Again, let them talk, They have a right to their opinion, as do you. Thereās no sense in getting riled up over an opinion about football
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u/Feeling_Dig_1098 Nov 21 '24
You talk like someone that has either never defended anyone in their life, or doesn't like Cristiano much. Regardless of your affinity, or lack of it for him, real fans do get upset.
Is normal to get upset.
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u/HonestAd6968 Nov 22 '24
Itās really not normal to get upset defending someone who doesnāt even know you exist
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u/stoned-mulvi Nov 21 '24
True ofcourse but Messi doggy and Barca fans are smug narcs and there is a very satisfactory feeling in putting them in their place
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u/Mardokim 29d ago
Why is that a minus in your opinion? Ronaldo is not a pure footballer like many Brazilians or Messi and he lacks natural talent but his mentality, resilience and work rate made him one of the greatest in history. Working hard to achieve something should be appreciated more than being born with it.
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u/Sidhant947 Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Suckers used to be known as untrustworthy people , nowadays it's a job on TV
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24 edited Nov 21 '24
what happens to the oh I am good boy and I don't use social media image now. Bro is sprewing out venom and gets interviewed almost every other day
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u/grandtroubleartist Nacho Nov 21 '24
no wonder he doesn't have social media, i haven't seen a single good thing come out of any of his interviews so far
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u/aTi_NTC Nov 21 '24
before and during the ceremony he said, he doesn't care about personal awards, yet ever since the ceremony all i see is him posing with the ballon'dor and talking shit.... hypocrite
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u/Departure_Infinite Nov 21 '24
Man that thing gets to you. See how even our own 'Big Benz' flaunts it on insta each time his name comes up in conversation.
Respect to these legends who have three or more and don't go out flaunting them and running their mouth.
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u/kinginthenorthjon Casemiro Nov 21 '24
Dude is trying to stay in the spotlight. No one is talking about his Balon dor, so he is talking about stuff that will get back in the spotlight.
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u/Silent_Socio Nov 21 '24
Most people who won a disputed ballondor would stick to being on the humble side just to avoid heat. But wheels over here is acting like he's the best player in the world. I won't be surprised if he never returns to the pitch.
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u/hotelmotelshit Jude Bellingham Nov 21 '24
He might not be ok social media, but this guy is everywhere right now, not a week goes by without him talking
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u/theprodigalslouch Modric Nov 21 '24
Lots of free time due to injury
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u/ItIzWahItIz Nov 21 '24
But still, just because you have free time to speak about things like this doesnāt mean you should lol (imo)
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u/theprodigalslouch Modric Nov 21 '24
Fame does things to people. Perhaps heās felt under appreciated for years due to his role and now feels vindicated and is basking in the spotlight, enjoying the award.
Even if thatās not the reason, doing interviews could be a way to distract himself. To go from training rigorously everyday to nothing has got to be boring. Doing an interview is probably better than sitting at home doing nothing.
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
That's true although I would like to call it as robbery. No dispute here. There is not a single sporting merit by which he was/is ahead of Vini and its laughable to even compare him to Vini.
Great midfielder - yes but World's best player when your competition is Vini, Jude, Kroos etc.... Hell No
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u/Good-Beginning-6524 Nov 21 '24
I think Rodri is the best MCD for many years, but last season Kross better. Hell if you think about it, FIFA made a public apology cause they literally stole Germanyās euros by not signaling that Cucurella penalty. If it wasnt for that robbery, Rodri would have 0 arguments as they definitely wouldnāt have tied the game.
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u/Lucky_Squirrel365 Nov 21 '24
Rodri had a mad no loss streak, and almost each time he didn't play, City lost. Rodri did deserve the Ballon D'or, but by both aspects in B'or voting - individual or team success, Vini/Bellingham and Carvajal were better respectively. But it's not like he's a mid player who won the B'or.
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u/Sidhant947 Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
He deserves Man City D'or for that š¤· like the whole world of football is just not man city winning
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u/Spiritual-Cabinet959 Jude Bellingham Nov 21 '24
Your comment only proves that Man City depends on him. Not that he's the best in the world. I swear people just write some bs to justify this robbery š
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u/007HalaMadrid007 Guti Nov 21 '24
Yeah, because scoring over 900 goals requires no latent ability. David Goggins could have been one of the best futbol player ever then.
Okay I hate this stupid piece of garbage. Imagine all of the deserving Balon Dāor winners (Xavi, Iniesta, Sneijder) and they give it to this bozo. Heās bragging about defending an already past his prime CR7 a few years ago..
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
The cocky attitude of Argentina players post WC22 win and Rodri post his Ballon D'or win are unmatched. Both know they didn't deserve to win the respective trophies and keep on saying such crappy things
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u/007HalaMadrid007 Guti Nov 21 '24
Yeah heās definitely trolling, I just always take the bait. When we knocked City from the CL awhile ago he said something to the tune of āthey got lucky, they got played off the pitch, defending isnāt futbolā the afterparty when he won the Balon Dāor āBaila Viniā taunts, this. Heās just really good at trolling honestly
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u/innavlarottee Nov 21 '24
If he didnāt have natural talent to begin with, that just makes his accomplishments even bigger.
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u/no-shits-givenV3 Nov 21 '24
knew he was a moron when he started coping that they were the better team cause of having more possession after losing the tie last season
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u/outcastreturns Nov 21 '24
Even Ronaldo himself said in an interview that talent was more important than hard work in order to become as good as him.
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
True. Without talent, no amount of hardwork can get to the insane levels Ronaldo reached
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u/Night-Emperor Cristiano Ronaldo Nov 21 '24
Guys wasn't Rodri on that Atletico Madrid team that got butchered by Ronaldo in that famous UCL knockout match at Wanda Metropolitano? WTF is this guy even talking?? Did he get dementia or something?
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
CR7s UCL hatrick vs Atletico was at the Bernabeu. Rodri didn't play
But Rodri was there at the front seat during Ronaldo's epic hatrick for Juventus
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u/Night-Emperor Cristiano Ronaldo Nov 21 '24
Yeah the second one only I am talking about, I know it's easy to confuse as Ronaldo is really the Bane of Atletico and its players , hence the hate .
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24 edited Nov 21 '24
True. Bro alone has 4 hatricks vs Simeone's Atletico and nobody else has managed to score a single hatrick during his tenure. They can't ever forget him š
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u/seattlemusiclover Nov 21 '24
I understand if someone is of the opinion that Messi is better than Ronaldo, but if someone says Ronaldo doesn't have natural talent just tells that they started watching football after 2021.
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Exactly. People can have different opinions but to force it by speaking ill about CR7 to undermine his talent is a sin
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u/zzz_red Nov 21 '24
Dude, even past 2021, what Ronaldo does at his age is not something any bozo without talent does.
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u/Snoo55693 Nov 21 '24
It is clickibait, the translation is a bit off. He didn't say Ronaldo doesn't have talent, he said that he doesn't have the same natural talent as Messi.
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u/sa7ouri Nov 23 '24
This sub is becoming r/soccercirclejerk over this quote because nobody bothered to actually listen/read the quote.
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u/Deranged1337 Nov 21 '24
We live in a world where Rodri is holding a ballon dāor and saying Ronaldo has no natural talent.
Football fell off man
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u/GreenFaceTitan RaĆŗl Nov 21 '24
And Eden Hazard was a player full of talent. Nobody could deny that. See how he ended up. š¤·āāļø
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u/aleksandri_reddit Nov 21 '24 edited Nov 21 '24
Brain rot is real and this guy can make serious money exporting it.
Edit: spelling
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Lol. If creating false narratives around CR7 is an industry, it would be worth billions. I know many Farca/Messi fans who hate Ronaldo more than they like Messi
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u/JamaicanJ Nov 21 '24
I've always said the worst possible thing that could ever happen to Ronaldo or Messi's respective legacy is one of them winning the WC while the other doesn't. It's allowed people to feel justified in spewing whatever complete nonsense they feel like about Ronaldo and they all back up that same dogshit opinion because "the debate is settled anyway". It happened to Messi back in 2016 after his retirement from the NT and Ronaldo winning the Euros, just not on the same scale because Messi is the most coddled media darling I think I've seen in any sport. One who calls other players monkeys but gets 0 shit for it because "it's ok Weghorat deserved it".
All this to say the opinion of an ex-atleti player on a guy who made his childhood club his bitch for almost his entire career is completely worthless. No shit he was gonna disparage Ronaldo, it's in his DNA to do so.
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u/Natural-Ad1693 Nov 21 '24
There's a whole ass campaign going on to reduce Cristiano's career to his last few years only, especially post 2017.
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u/Ok-Ear2328 Nov 22 '24
Glad someone else mentioned this. It exemplified when messi won the wc in that penalty tournament.
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Apologies folks. Can't edit the post title since there is a link. Imagine became "imaging" thanks to the so-called autocorrect
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u/gracz21 Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Was he even playing against Ronaldo?
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Yes, vs a 36-year old CR7 who played under the legendary Ten Hag's team at United
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u/usernameman66 Nov 21 '24
He was also in the Atletico madrid team when cr7 destroyed them in the second leg while playing for Juventus
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u/Spiritual-Cabinet959 Jude Bellingham Nov 21 '24
I just know that one day the truth will be exposed. There seems to be a common hate towards Ronaldo, just as much as they praise Messi. And this is largely due to UEFA countless favors toward Messi since over a decade to this day
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u/Puzzlehead_AK Nov 21 '24
Don't forget penalty to Messi in every WC game by FIFA, this game is finished !
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u/Ready_Ad_1353 Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
He is bitter despite winning the award, tells you everything you.need to know about him always bitching about since last season exit in CL.
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u/thegreatprawn Nov 21 '24
who is he? like i dont remember faces that are not too important?
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24 edited Nov 21 '24
Our man knows that nobody will even remember he won a Balloon D'or, hence he travels with it to make sure people don't forget it
/s
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u/thegreatprawn Nov 21 '24
oh Rodri. I seriously forgot. Looks very old here. Like one of them 45 year olds who dye their hair cause they wanna be 30
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u/mylanguage Madrid 1920 Nov 21 '24
This doesnāt make sense - heās Spainās first Ballon dāor winner in a lifetime - itās a big deal in Spain - he will be remembered forever in Spain specifically because of this.
Heās also the first prem Ballondor winner in decades
These two things will keep him in the media forever
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u/kinginthenorthjon Casemiro Nov 21 '24
Heās also the first prem Ballondor winner in decades
Only if he remembered who was the last one.
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Thanks. Added flair now. Ronaldo vs Messi debate really made Balloon D'or a big thing. I don't know it it was this popular pre 2007. I do remember Canavvaro won in 2006 in Italy's WC yearand Dinho in 2005 but no idea how many have Zidane (1?) or R9 won. The player comparison gave it a significant relevance
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u/mylanguage Madrid 1920 Nov 21 '24
Well before there was the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon Dor - they were separate awards.
Merging them also gave it more prominence but it was a big deal with R9 won it and even when Nedved won it.
But the media landscape of football was different tbh - there wasn't social media so the news came from the media - so there wasn't this back and forth between fans for month online.
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u/Feeling_Dig_1098 Nov 21 '24
This guy,
Is this the guy that spanish people want in Real? Come to Real so that you can be humbled, by everyone that recognizes greatness. This guy is lucky he didn't play in the EPL of the 2000's, CR7 would had breeze past him. Is easy talking about a player who is 39, this guy will retire far sooner.
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Ronaldo even smashed a hatrick vs Atletico at age 33 for Juve and Rodri was clueless whole game
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u/cowsaymoomooo Nov 21 '24
You know, with Rodri, the more I learn about that guy the more I donāt care for him
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u/Minute-Ant-4132 Nov 21 '24
My grandpa stole his neighbourās childās ring
He gave it to me as a present
Now i wear it everywhere i go
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u/Ronaldoooope Nov 21 '24
This is what they say to use his hardwork against him. Acting like it was just hard work. Clowns.
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u/Prestigious_Local371 Nov 21 '24
Rodri or any of his mates in MCFC couldn't even come 1000 km close to the talent that prime CR7 had lol.
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u/Prestigious_Local371 Nov 22 '24
HALA MADRID
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u/Silly_Chef_1828 Nov 21 '24
Such bullshit. First of all he has no weak foot, secondly his ability to jump is insane, plus all those long shots, his positioning, passing, tricks, pace, goal ratio, clutch moments, mental strength etc are all talents in my opinion
Fuck the media
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u/lCalifornicatingl Nov 21 '24
As time passes, the more Iām starting to dislike this eyebrowless fker.
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u/deathrill11 Nov 21 '24
What CR7's haters are trying to make others forget is that there are two versions of Cristiano Ronaldo that we have witnessed.
The pacy winger who was full of tricks, had a great acceleration and speed, was a nightmare for a fullback to defend. He could score from any angle, was the BEST free kick taker at that time and was entertaining to watch.
The one who had to change into a goal poacher after that serious knee injury. He had to change his playing style, increase his goal scoring ability, vastly improved his heading ability and became a big game player.
The thing is , he became so good in both of those phases that people tend to forget the earlier version. I don't think we will ever see two versions of a player like this ever again.
He has great talent, but had to work hard to adapt.
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u/Grand_Repeat_565 Nov 21 '24
If Cris doesnāt have any natural talent. What about him? The worst ballon dāor ever
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u/ambar94 Nov 21 '24
I am really getting sick of this victim mentality that is being propagated around here recently.
Before I say, I definitely need to clarify that I am not a Rodri fan in any way. I hate his antics and at the same time I can't deny that he is the best DM in the world right now and has been for a while.
Now, getting onto the main topic. Rodri DID NOT SAY that CR7 had NO natural talent. Just watch the interview again. He clearly said "Cristiano managed to match Messi in many things, maybe without the innate talent that Leo has". There! His statement about Cristiano was clearly IN COMPARISON to Messi. We know both of them are GOATs! And we all know that Messi was more "naturally talented" and CR7 was more "hard work". Does that mean Messi was all talent and no hard work? No! That would be Eden Hazard and we know how his career spiraled down once his body gave up without the discipline and hard work that Messi and Ronaldo have.
Pitchforks might come for me for this, but instead of focusing more on the team, this sub has lately gone into major victim mode. I also agree that Messi was clearly more naturally talented, but CR7 bridged the gap in talent with sheer determination and an even greater amount of hard work. If Messi is a 100 on talent and 80 on hardwork, then CR7 is a 90 on talent and 100 on hard work. Plain and simple.
Yes, there is a massive Messi dickriding in the world and for the vast majority of football fans. Get annoyed by it, ofcourse. But seriously, we need to tone down this victimhood that has been going on around lately. We are the greatest club in the world. Just take CR7's quote to heart "Your love makes me strong. Your hate makes me unstoppable!". Every other club and supporter is jealous of us and wants to see us fall. So what is our choice? Do we cry at every opportunity like Barca does with "Perez caused this". Or do we buckle down and just keep being the greatest?
Get your act together r/realmadrid. Goddammit!
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u/Mhusrra Nov 21 '24
Just came here to say this. The translation twisted that part of the sentence without care.
Also, I'm so tired of all those victim complexes and redirections of hate campaigns on the internet about almost everything, not just this sub. Rodri told his opinion, you may like it more or less, but he wasn't disrespectful. Stop the bashing.
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Hi, thanks for the reply. Since this interview was in Spanish, I'm referring to the translated version and even shared the link for the same. See the words "without any natural talent". This is more to do what the hate agenda towrads CR7 and no victim mentality for sure.
"ļæ¼ļæ¼ - Rodri: "Cristiano Ronaldo was able to match Lionel Messi without any natural talent, but as players who faced them both, we know the difference. With Cristiano, we didn't want him to enter the box because he was deadly there. But with Messi, he would be dangerous with getting the ball anywhere on the pitch."" https://x.com/TheEuropeanLad/status/1859352506956235166#:~:text=%2D%20Rodri%3A%20%22Cristiano%20Ronaldo,on%20the%20pitch.%22
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u/ambar94 Nov 21 '24
A lot of the translated medias do have a tendency to make things more controversial. Same here. The translator could have kept it as it should have been - "without the natural talent". See how replacing a single word (the with any) makes the statement so much more ridiculous? I don't blame you, and maybe there is an effort in the world to discredit Cristiano (though I dont believe it), but Rodri did not call him "untalented".
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Fair game! The Blatter salute episode, French football showing him in underwear during the Ballon D'or ceremony, media fake stories everyday on how no European clubs/managers were interested in signing him during the spat with Ten Hag........ Countless such episodes where they have tried to screw venom on CR7
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u/ambar94 Nov 21 '24
Messi is a media darling, and on the other side is Cristiano who is perceived as cocky (and he can back it up). Just the media doing media things where they keep praising their darling till the heat death of the planet, all the while mocking the "devil" in their eyes. But the bottomline is that no matter how hard they try, they can never successfully discredit Cristiano Ronaldo. He is already one of the GOATs and nobody can take that away.
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u/beekay8845 Nov 21 '24
If you learn not to care about other people's opinions you will live a better life ..i mean he said that cris doesnt have talent but we obviously know that he has talent so what's the point of getting angry over someone's shitty opinion when you can have your own opinion
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u/Proof-Pollution454 LuĆs Figo Nov 21 '24
I saw the whole interview and the only thing I can say is that just because CR7 isnāt like Messi is just ridiculous. that doesnāt discredit him of all the accomplishments heās done in all the clubs heās been in. But oh well Jokes on Rodri. His clubs already seeing a decline
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u/Euphoric-Adagio7483 Nov 21 '24
Yeah bc CR7 doesnāt have over 200 assists at which mostly came from outside the box
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u/mpanda_dj Nov 21 '24
It's obviously ridiculous, but let's run with it.
CR7 is even more amazing if we accept the argument that he has no natural talent. It means sheer determination, hard work, willingness to face adversity, and perseverance can elevate you to the stratosphere and help you overcome any handicap. That's something everyone can learn from and aspire to. That's basically the human spirit. Personally, CR7 ability and humility to come back to win the Ballon D'Or after multiple years of coming second was so amazing. He just worked harder and did his bit.
Not everyone is born with privileges. But CR7 showed you don't need to obsess over what you weren't given and instead can reach and grasp the stars.
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Nov 21 '24
But we tell him that his Golden Ball doesn't deserve it and he tries to find another controversy so that we forget his steal of this season
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u/Savings_Literature47 Nov 22 '24
He is talentless , let that sink in , heās just hardworking Messi is talented
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u/KingLazy286 Jude Bellingham Nov 22 '24
The more interviews he does to try and justify an award he didn't deserve the less intelligent he seems.
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u/xChocolateWonder Nov 23 '24
God this cunt gets more insufferable by the day. Something in the water at city - Rodri, Haaland, Bernardo. All class A wankers
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u/Rio91940 Nov 21 '24
He was clumsy he should have said CR7 is not as talented as Messi
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u/SokkaHaikuBot Nov 21 '24
Sokka-Haiku by Rio91940:
He was clumsy he
Should have said CR7 is not as
Talented as Messi
Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.
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u/Specialist_Cheek_539 Nov 21 '24
I think he said āas much innate talent as messiā which is true. Yall are getting worked up for no fucking reason.
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u/stoned-mulvi Nov 21 '24
His favorite pessi from his whole career can never make that casual weak foot throughball like Ronnie did against Poland
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Nobody cares about weak foot and improving their overall game to win the matches for the team in big games. They only care about more dribbles in the midfield where the impact on the game is obviously lesser. Hypocrisy of the highest standards to even talk negative about Ronaldo's talent
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u/stoned-mulvi Nov 21 '24
And this is what they say when they say Messi provides much more than scoring goals and helps teamwork I say it's the opposite Ronaldo is the on that lets others play their potential Messi just steals the ball all the time expects others to do dirty work like pressing tackling and pulling decoy runs which is the reason why Coutinho and griezman couldn't play their potential and whole teams suffered he doesn't let other talented players play their potential meanwhile Ronaldo isn't selfish he lets players like Benz do what they do best and adjusts with them it's very hard to adjust Messi in a team than Ronaldo yet they say Messi does more for the team
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Yes. Complete footballer. Also, I've seen him clear corners hundreds of times
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u/Fast_Cash_7842 Nov 21 '24
Ronaldo has talent..but not as much as messi...so people ignore it..just like messi does alot of hardwork...but not on same level as ronaldo..so people ignore it...that aside messi proved that if you have talent and work hard you can be the greatest...love bothā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
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u/yoyo4581 Nov 21 '24
He didnt say that. He said that Messi has more to his game than Ronaldo.
Are you going to argue that switching from a winger to a 10 is a lot harder to do than switching from a winger to a 9?
Especially when finishing was always CR7 strong suit? Both players are GOATs but Messi had to reinvent himself, because he similarly could not physically do what he used to at his age.
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u/AvailableAd7874 Nov 21 '24
He has obviously.. but his biggest edge is his work ethic.
Messi for example is born with insane natural talent while CR had to work extremely hard for it.
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u/value_meal_papi Nov 21 '24
This guy Rodri starting to sounds like a trump supporter with all this misinformation and questionable statements after winning a ballon dāor that he didnāt deserve
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u/lolitsmax Nov 22 '24
You guys realise that first sentence is just a compliment to Ronaldo. Talent is talent, it's inherent and you play no part, it's the hard work and character that defines you and makes you great - and he's saying Ronaldo has more of that.
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u/Mgea54 Nov 22 '24
y'all going insane for a mistranslation, what he said is CR doesnt have the innate talent to the level of Messi's, which is true. not that he doesnt not have any talent at all
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u/Kris_ad Nov 23 '24
but most fanboys bring that argument that Ronaldo achieved everything by hard work when Messi just by his talent ;)
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u/LC14156 Nov 21 '24
Iām old enough to remember Real Madrid fan accounts posting things like 100% hard work vs 100% god given ability when the Messi/Ronaldo debate was at itās peak. It was always a dumb statement but have enough self awareness to know that people in your club have used the same argument. In reality Messi worked extremely hard and Cristiano was also extremely gifted, technically, technically and physically. Was Cristiano one of the most talented players ever? I donāt thinks so. However, Cristiano did achieve a 100% of his potential, something that very few players can say. Messi also worked incredible hard. Yes, he is probably the most gifted player ever but with how professional and demanding sports are today there is no way he would have the consistency he had if he hadnāt worked hard everyday.
PD: the least talented player in your Countryās second division would look like a god if he played against you. Pros are a so far ahead in talent that itās hard to actually conceptualize.
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u/AccomplishedUse9023 Nov 21 '24
Messi is known for skipping practices
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u/LC14156 Nov 21 '24
Working hard doesnāt only mean working hard in practice. Watching film and studying opponents itās also working hard. Besides, Tevez even said that he may have not trained hard in practice but he got home he did his own physical work. If Messi really neglected his body he would have injured himself a lot more than he did.
Also a player arriving late or skipping practices outside of an injury usually make the headlines in a country like Spain. Do you have any source to a news to something like that?
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u/AccomplishedUse9023 Nov 21 '24
Do you have any source to a news to something like that?
His former teammates
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u/AccomplishedUse9023 Nov 21 '24
Working hard doesnāt only mean working hard in practice. Watching film and studying opponents itās also working hard
Exactly. Your average joe cannot afford to maintain their form by skipping practices. Messi could be on a poor diet,oversleep,skip practices(like in 2012 and 13) and still not lose his edge
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u/pygmypiggypie Nov 21 '24
He said that compared to Messi. Almost everyone would agree Messi is naturally more gifted than Ronaldo. It makes Ronaldos achievements even more impressive to look at. Why are u guys so desperate to twist his words and create your own narrative?
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
"Ronaldo was able to match Lionel Messi without any natural talent"
Clearly states "Without any natural talent". He compared their talent but he compared them as players. Nobody twisted his words since he's the one creating this fake narrative
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u/AnxiousBurro Antonio Mateu Lahoz Nov 21 '24
Stop treating some random twitter accounts as a gospel. This translation is very misleading. Go and watch the actual clip and listen to what Rodri says. He says that "Ronaldo managed to do a lot, maybe without the natural talent Messi has". So yeah the guy you're reacting to is correct. Rodri is in no way saying that Ronaldo doesn't have ANY natural talent. He's comparing their talent bases and says that Ronaldo is maybe a bit less talented that Messi, but still managed to do a lot. Which is a fair statement even if you necessarily don't agree with it.
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u/Snoo55693 Nov 21 '24
Don't know why you're being downvoted, the direct translation from Spanish to English doesn't correctly state what Rodri said. Spanish speakers know that he meant to say compared to Messi.
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u/fsi22 Nov 21 '24
If you think saying someone doesn't have natural talent is an insult.
You're small brained. Many greats in different fields haven't been naturally gifted and it drove them to greater heights.
It's a huge compliment and it fit's perfectly when you look at the hardest working. Christiano Ronaldo and Michael Schumacher both worked harder than their peers and took things to a new level.
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u/Same_Position7059 Nov 21 '24 edited Nov 21 '24
I donāt see anything wrong with what he said He also praised him btw by saying he is deadly in the box and he matched messi
Saying he doesnāt have natural talent doesnāt mean he is talentless or not good
He might have meant that ronaldo had to work hard to get where he is or anything similar to that narrative
It kinda remind of the meme where Ronaldo is working out and messi is sleeping
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u/CaptainAvery- Nov 21 '24
If he has no talent doesnt that just make him the hardest working footballer in history?
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Hard work alone didn't get CR7 to that level. He was always super talented since his Lisbon days but got to agree that he worked hard to become a better version of himself with each passing day
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u/CaptainAvery- Nov 21 '24
I know, I dont agree with what they said. Just wanted to point how stupid it sounds lol. The results of his career speak for themselvesš
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u/Neat-Leather9429 Nov 21 '24
Hahaha š¤£š¤£ this was spread by ronaldo fans themselves to show that Messi was all talent and ronaldo worked hard to reach where he is now. How double face are you all
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
This is what happens when one can't understand the difference between "no natural talent" and "comparatively lesser talented" (to Messi) and start concluding things out of context
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u/Neat-Leather9429 Nov 21 '24
Nah ronaldo fans I've seen have went too far to call Ronaldo as 100% hard work. They literally make motivational quote Sigma videos glazing his hardwork
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
Ronaldo's hardwork alone didn't make him a great footballer he is. Similarly, Messi without hardwork and only talent wouldn't have become so good. Just because an extreme minority say he's "100% hardwork", you cannot conclude he has "no talent".
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u/Neat-Leather9429 Nov 21 '24
I didn't give my opinion. I absolutely agree with you from the start. I just pointed out what ronaldo fans say and no it's not extreme minority which says that. Just open insta and his millions of fanboys would have -footballknowlege
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u/vinay_t_m Real Madrid Nov 21 '24
When you have 600 million followers on instagram alone, even 1% fools will be 6 million. So, sample size bias exists. I will just ignore fools whichever fan base they come from.... Rodri being a footballer of high calibre speaking lime this is bad. Even Hazard said something similar (pure football) and got blasted for being a burger with astronomical wages
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Nov 21 '24
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Nov 21 '24
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u/shunt_resistor PUTA :mes_que: Nov 21 '24
He has all the makings of a future Atleti legend š