Confession: I think Lionel Messi is the best soccer player ever. And I have, for a long time. But there have been various moments over the last two years that I’ve looked at what Cristiano Ronaldo’s done, particularly on the biggest stages, and had to reconsider.
I’m not willing to say Ronaldo is better than Messi. Yet. But yes, I am willing to reconsider.
It started two summers ago, when Portugal won the European Championship. Ronaldo wasn’t otherworldly or anything, but he was the focal point of a team that won a major international competition, scoring three times in seven games along the way.