This weekend's La Liga gameweek 24 portrayed quite simply just what these two individuals means to their respective clubs - and throw up the question - just where would they be without them?
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| Leo weighing up his options before unleashing |
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| Ronaldo's phenominal back-heel |
Barcelona's quest to at least stay within breathing distance of the mighty Real looked again doomed, their faulty away form has been a thing of extreme publicity this year and rightly so - it is so un-Barca like - it is scary...
All appeared going well when Messi wriggled and dinked a fabulous little effort over Thibaut Courtois, only to be dragged back and cautioned - for the fifth time this year - for a very debatable handball. Dani Alves slotted home before half-time to settle any serious Catalan nerves, but that defensive condidence in Barcelona is almost non-existant at the moment.
Colombian hitman Falcao rifled in Atletico's equaliser and for the next half-hour it appeared no matter how hard this revolutionary Barcelona side huffed and puffed - they were to fall a full 13 points behind their great rivals.
Step up Messi, this time the sharpness of mind instead of the sharpness of a little shimmy or pass - he bent an outrageously cheeky freekick from an acute angle into the opposite top corner before any red and white stripes had time to blink. Leonal drags Barca back from the beyond, how many times have we said it?
Over in Madrid, Real were visiting their close neighbours Real Vallecano for what, one presumed, would be another extravegant, exemplary showing of just how far Jose's men have come this year.
Imagining for a second Messi had already saved Barcelona, Real required a win to keep abridge that 10 point gap. All was not going to plan.
The Vallecano defence were standing sturdy, withstanding all the Blancos could throw at them, this wasn't in the script? Could this be the game Real's lead and grip on La Liga began to slip?
You bet'cha Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn't have it this way - if that little Argetine was going to save his side - Real's dominant forward was not in the mood to allow him the headlines all to himself. A Mesut Ozil corner bobbled out to the Portugal Skipper, who found the ball at his twinkling toes moving away from the six-box. Time appeared to stand still, in the blink of an eye, before anyone on the pitch, in the ground or on their sofa at home could react - Ronaldo had graced a ferocious back-heel through a crowd of defenders and into the bottom corner.
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| Two of the greatest of all time |
The game finished 0-1 - Real held on to their 10 point gap.
Two goals of very different nature - two goals only these two players could have physically or mentally scored. Not only this weekend but throughout this seasons proceedings, the two best players on the planet have done it for their sides.
Where would they be without them?
Which is better? More important? More genius? Take your pick...
