Manchester United and FC Barcelona: two teams that look alike – Part 1

Both Manchester United and FC Barcelona have impressed football lovers from all over the world in the past few years.

Their success and potentials haven’t stopped increasing; nevertheless, looking at their achievements and characteristics, one could have reasons to believe that those two wonderful sides have several things in common.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – two great stars

Manchester United can boast about their force in attack with the likes of their Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo is currently the world’s best player, and there is no doubt that even this season, the competition between him and his rival Lionel Messi has become fiercer, as the Fifa Player of the Year wants to keep his title.

The 24-year old attacking midfielder has so far scored around 20 goals in the Premier League since his return from injury last September, and these goals weren’t just any goals; free kicks, headers and bullet were all involved. The Champions League has also been his strong target this season, and though he seemed to be out of the spotlight during the beginning of the competition, Ronaldo has made remarkable efforts to push his side into the final, which is set to take place in Rome.

Throughout his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has attracted the public’s attention with his amazing fancy foot works. His style of teasing defenders can be regarded as the unseen, and his speed, as well as his strength of mind has also enabled him to be considered as one of football’s greatest talent ever. His hard work is yet to come to an end though, for he still has many competitors from different leagues who are determined to bring him down.
Certainly, the closest so far to steal his title is none other than the Barcelona attacker, Lionel Messi.

Messi has also been the center of attraction for a while now, and it is trough his great dribbling skills that the majority of soccer fans have been able to see him as Diego Maradona’s successor. Since he came into Barcelona FC as a regular player, Lionel Messi’s performance hasn’t failed to improve. Though he didn’t always have the chance to play as many Champions League games as he wanted due to dreadful injuries, the Argentine player’s desire to shine in Europe has grown stronger and stronger. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if this year was to be his best in his whole career, as Messi seemed to have taken the public by storm.

Lionel Messi is currently the Champions League’s top scorer with 8 goals, and one more, would be a great achievement for him, as he would have beaten Cristiano Ronaldo’s record in the competition last year. His goal scoring ability has also been enhanced; and there is no doubt that the number 10 player has been capable to find the back of the net over 20 times in the 2008/2009 La Liga season.

Not only has Messi proved to his fans that he is superb scorer, but also has he showed them that he is the best when it comes to controlling the ball in the middle of the defense. His habit of beating several players either on short or long distances have become something usual to his fans, although it is still very much entertaining for them.

Eventually, his marvelous dribbling skills, and his dangerous goal scoring abilities are what have made him the world’s best player’s greatest challenger. Thus, there is no doubt that when these two great players come against each other in the Champions League final on May 27, the battle will be harder than anything we’ve ever seen is football. However, one will have to be better than the other, for this encounter will certainly have a strong impact on the voting results at the end of the year, which will determine who will be the new Fifa Player of the Year.

Written by Isaac Asante

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