The Weekly Review: Week 45: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi and El Clasico
In fact, they are not just close, but the standings put them ahead by three points; the largest gap since the appointment of the Catalan coach. Real Madrid are hitting top form and the much-publicised "second season peak" expected from a Mourinho side appears to be coming to fruition. Cristiano Ronaldo may be changing his hairstyle at half-time, but his treble last week against Osasuna took his tally to 10 as a Los Blanco, just three behind the legendary mark set by Ferenc Puskas.
The Portuguese forward is in the midst of a stupendous battle with our own Lionel Messi for every award, both individual and collective. Neither deserves to truly lose, and despite all of animosity directed towards the Real player, one cannot deny his ability. His goals record in La Liga stands at over 1 per game, a simply astounding figure for any point in history, let alone this present era.
If it's a Barcelona prize, you will generally see Lionel Messi grinning from underneath his flower-pot haircut on the edge of the photo. If it's an individual prize, he pockets it, while Xavi looks on grinning and Cristiano Ronaldo glowers.
Lionel Messi, not Cristiano Ronaldo, will next month be awarded, for the third year running, the Ballon d'Or. There is a tendency to animate the great rivalries of sport by turning the leading duellers into chalk and cheese. When Cassius Clay emerged
8 He'd been released by Arsenal, head butted by Cristiano Ronaldo, and only scored one goal in a decade at Pompey. Richard Hughes hardly sounds like the greatest player ever does he? Despite never holding down a regular first team place he never moaned
