Thursday 23 October 2014 20:22, UK
Ahead of the first El Clasico of the season on Saturday - live on Sky Sports 5 at 5pm - Sky Sports News HQ ran a Twitter poll to decide who is the best player in the world: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?
It was a discussion that involved Sky Sports pundit Andy Walker, who was fighting Ronaldo's corner, and former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour, who was making a case for Messi.
Both Ronaldo and Messi will be action this Saturday in one of the most hotly anticipated El Clasico’s of all-time.
In a lively argument, chaired by Rob Wotton, both Walker and Parlour put forward their opinions on the subject.
Walker on Ronaldo:
“He has reacted over the last 12-18 months to the fact that Messi was the best in the world.
“Ronaldo has been determined to get back up there. You saw his emotion when he was awarded the Ballon d'Or and, without his goals last season, Real Madrid wouldn’t have got La Decima.
“No-one can influence a game as much as Ronaldo. He is at the peak of his powers.
“Rarely do you see Messi do anything with his right foot. Ronaldo can score in the air, whilst Messi isn’t interested in challenging for balls in the air.
“He can get that last minute winner by getting in amongst the best centre-backs in the world and Ronaldo can out jump them.
“He just edges it past Messi, who is sensational, but Ronaldo is majestic. Everything he does is fabulous.”
Parlour on Messi:
“For the last five or six years he has been different class.
“I look at the way he plays, the way he interacts with his other players. He is such an important player for the team.
“When Messi gets half a yard, he knows exactly where the corners of the net are and that’s what you need if you’re going to be a consistent scorer. He’s just got that little bit extra in front of goal.
“He’s a much better dribbler than Ronaldo. Messi can take three players out of the game on some occasions. It’s that low centre of gravity he’s got. He can turn so quickly and when he goes past people they try to bring him down.
“For pure consistency, it has to be Messi.”
Paul Merson was also a guest on the Morning View and he said: “I watched both programmes of all their goals on Sky Sports and I’ve got to go with Messi.
“He does everything. He chips the keeper, he dinks it over and he passes it into the net. For me, 70-80 percent of Ronaldo’s goals are smashed into the net and I think Messi has just got that little bit more about him.
“Plus, Ray’s my mate as well!”
After two hours of voting, the Twitter public voted 63% in favour of the Real Madrid man while just 37% preferred the little Barcelona magician.
Real Madrid v Barcelona is live on Sky Sports 5HD from 5pm on Saturday.
