Who is faster Messi or Ronaldo: Compare speed on the pitch

When it comes to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, these two names not only represent extremely impressive achievements in football careers but also symbolize the never-ending debate about who is the greatest player in history. One aspect that fans often compare is who is faster Messi or Ronaldo? This is an interesting question, but to answer it properly, we need to analyze many factors, including how each player demonstrates his speed in different situations and the influence of modern technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), in measuring this ability. Let’s find out with Kingsoccertips through the article below!

Lionel Messi speed: Technique and agility

Lionel Messi is known for his agility and ability to change direction suddenly, which helps him easily get past defenders without using too much strength. Messi’s speed is not only measured by how far he can run but also by his ability to move flexibly in tight spaces. This allows him to dribble past opponents in situations where many other players would be blocked.

Messi has an extremely powerful and agile short step, which allows him to accelerate and decelerate very quickly. Messi’s speed comes not only from accelerating quickly, but also from his ability to hold the ball and control it at high speeds without losing control. He also has the ability to change speed unexpectedly, making it difficult for opponents to predict his next move.

Another important factor is that Messi does not need much space to demonstrate his speed. He can run quickly in tight situations, something that many other players cannot do. With just a small turn, Messi can create a significant distance with the opposing defender.

Cristiano Ronaldo speed: Power and endurance

Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, is a player with explosive speed and outstanding physical strength. Unlike Messi, Ronaldo can maintain high speed for long periods of time, which is one of his strengths in sprinting. Although he may not have the same quick and graceful dribbling ability as Messi, Ronaldo excels in straight-line sprints.

Ronaldo has shown his ability to run at high speed throughout his career, from his Premier League days to his peak at Real Madrid and Juventus. He has achieved impressive figures for his top speed in important matches, when he can accelerate past tall and powerful defenders in just a few seconds.

Another outstanding factor of Ronaldo is his constant improvement in fitness and speed. Unlike many other players, Ronaldo does not rely solely on natural talent but also works extremely hard in physical training to maintain his fast running ability over the years.

Who is faster Messi or Ronaldo?

Both Messi and Ronaldo are known for their speed, agility and dribbling ability, but when it comes to sprinting ability, who is superior? To answer this question, we need to consider factors such as top speed, acceleration, average speed and speed with the ball.

Top speed

Top speed is the speed a player can reach in a sprint. According to FIFA, Messi reached a top speed of 32.5 km/h (20.1 mph) in the 2014 World Cup, while Ronaldo reached 34 km/h (21.1 mph) in the 2018 World Cup. This means Ronaldo is 1.5 km/h faster than Messi in terms of top speed. However, top speed does not reflect the entire athletic ability of a player.

Acceleration

Acceleration measures the speed at which a player can increase or decrease speed from a standstill. Analysis has shown that Messi has a faster acceleration rate than Ronaldo. With a low centre of gravity and agility in his feet, Messi often excels at accelerating from a standstill or changing direction.

Average Speed

Average Speed indicates how fast a player can move over a period of time or distance. Data from Opta Sports shows that Messi has an average speed of 23 km/h (14.3 mph) in La Liga in 2020/21, slightly higher than Ronaldo (22 km/h, 13.7 mph) in Serie A. However, this does not mean that Messi is always faster in every situation or match.

Speed with the ball

Speed with the ball measures the ability to control the ball when moving at high speed. Messi excels in this area, with a dribble success rate of 72% in the 2020/21 La Liga season, completing 144 dribbles and covering a total of 3,629 metres. Ronaldo, on the other hand, only completed 63 of his 113 dribbles, with a success rate of 55.8%. This shows that Messi has better ball control when moving quickly.

Conclusion

In short, the question of who is faster Messi or Ronaldo? cannot be answered simply, as each player has his own advantages in terms of speed. Messi excels in the ability to change direction quickly and dribble flexibly in tight spaces, while Ronaldo stands out for his explosive speed and endurance in long runs. While AI technology can provide detailed analysis of speed, the most important thing is still the perfect combination of speed, technique and intelligence in the game, helping both create legendary moments on the pitch.