Back in 2008, Fernando Torres came third in the Ballon d’Or rankings behind Ronaldo and Messi. The Spanish striker felt that he was close to the aforementioned duo, and believed that he could over take them in the proceeding years.
Ten years later, Fernando Torres is playing at his boyhood club Atletico Madrid and has never made it back into the top three, while Messi and Ronaldo were once again among the top two players in the world at the latest Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The duopoly that Messi and Ronaldo have had on the Ballon d’Or over the last decade is something that has never been seen before in the history of our beautiful game. These two titans have battled for over a decade now, with the Ballon d’Or score now tied at five each.
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Both Messi and Ronaldo are very different from each other as players. While Ronaldo relies on speed and strength in his game, Messi’s is all about touch and precision.
Some people wrongly claim that Messi is a more natural player while Ronaldo has developed himself into the player that he is right now.
The fact is that both superstars were blessed with extraordinary talent and that they both worked immensely hard to make the best out of their god given gifts.
Fernando Torres though, claims that Messi could have achieved much more in the game had it not been for Ronaldo.
The great Spanish striker feels that the Portuguese’s incredible achievements have stopped Messi from unquestionably being the greatest player to have played the game.
“What Cristiano Ronaldo has done in the time of Messi says a lot about him,” Torres told Radio MARCA.
“If he wasn’t there, then Messi would have achieved double.
“I think that Messi is the best player in the world, although they are different players.”
