One of the big talking points in the lead up to the 2017/18 Champions League final is the comparison between two players. Winning football matches is all about scoring goals and Liverpool and Real Madrid each have a player who is capable of finding the back of the net more than anyone else in their team.
Step forward, Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Individual Honours
source: www.ghanasoccernet.com
Salah has enjoyed an incredible season, not only finishing as the top goal scorer in the Premier League but also lifting several individual awards, as highlighted previously on Sports of the Day. No one can deny what Salah has achieved this season but many people have questioned if it is a one-off or can the Egyptian repeat the levels he has produced this campaign next season?
source: Independent.com.uk
Ronaldo is arguably the greatest footballer ever and has produced high goal-scoring seasons year after year. There is no doubting the man’s talent and Ronaldo has been at the top of the world game for several years.
Goal Scoring King
source: Sport360.com
The Portuguese has scored 398 goals in 436 league starts in his professional career, at an average of 0.80 goals per game. In the Champions League, Ronaldo has scored 120 goals, including 15 goals this season making him the top scorer both in the history of the competition and for the current campaign. Furthermore, Ronaldo has scored 4 goals in the Champions League final, so the former Manchester United man knows what it takes to find the back of the net in the biggest club game of them all.
source: Goal.com
Salah stats do not come close to Ronaldo but he does have time on his side. If Salah can continue at the rate he has produced for Liverpool this season, he must be regarded as one of the best players in the world.
The best way to fast-track himself into the elite of world football would be to play well and score a goal in the Champions League final in Real Madrid, ending Ronaldo’s hopes of another winners’ medal in the process.
Comparison
source: Goal.com
When asked about a comparison between himself and Salah, Ronaldo said, “He is completely different. He plays with the left, I play with the right. I’m tall, he’s a little bit shorter, I play with the head. We are completely different. People want to compare me with other players but I’m different from everyone.”
Even Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp did not want to get drawn on building up Salah in comparison to Ronaldo and when talking on Liverpool’s website said, “Mo played a fantastic season but Cristiano has played 15 seasons like this. He has scored something like 47,000 goals – crazy numbers.”
Ronaldo has shown every player on the planet what can be achieved with the right mix of ability and dedication. With Salah transfer news continuing to link the player with a move to Real Madrid in the summer, could we yet see the pair playing together before Ronaldo retires?
source featured image: www.totoexpert.am
