The Greatest Forward of the Current Era

The Greatest Forward of the Current Era

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With this paper I intend to answer the question that has every soccer fan on this planet confused, Who is the Greatest Forward of the current Era?

Due to data constraints and the influences that I live with, I have picked only 5 footballers, many more could have or should have been included but given that this is my paper, I choose the ones I feel could be or are the best of the best in this age of competitive football

Shortlist

Sr.no Name Age Country Club1 Lionel Messi 23 Argentina FC Barcelona2 Cristiano Ronaldo 25 Portugal Real Madrid CF3 David Villa 29 Spain FC Barcelona4 Fernando Torres 26 Spain Liverpool FC5 Wayne Rooney 25 England Manchester United FC

In order to keep the paper reader friendly I have based my analysis on 8 parameters, the key ones among them being the ones highlighted

Parameters

1. Games Played2. Goals Scored3. Assists (Goals Created)4. Shots5. Shots on Goal6. Goals per Game7. Shots per Game8. Shots Accuracy


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Data Analysis for Seasons 2009/10, 2008/09, 2007/08, 2006/07, 2005/06: Lionel Messi

Lionel MessiSeason Team Games Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal2009/10 Barcelona 52 45 10 219 1162008/09 Barcelona 51 38 16 146 612007/08 Barcelona 38 16 13 96 482006/07 Barcelona 34 17 2 53 182005/06 Barcelona 23 7 1 52 18

3 Seasons Average 47 33 13 153.67 755 Seasons Average 39.6 24.6 8.4 113.2 52.2

Lionel MessiSeason Team Goals per Game Shots per Game Shots Accuracy2009/10 Barcelona 0.8653 4.2115 52.9680%2008/09 Barcelona 0.7450 2.8627 41.7808%2007/08 Barcelona 0.4210 2.5263 50.0000%2006/07 Barcelona 0.5000 1.5588 33.9622%2005/06 Barcelona 0.3043 2.2608 34.6153%3 Seasons Average 0.6771 3.2001 48.2496%5 Seasons Average 0.5671 2.6840 42.6652%

Strengths:

Crossing Dribbling Finishing First touch Shots from distance Passing Penalties Technique Anticipation Composure Concentration Creativity Decisions Determination Flair Off the Ball Movement Pace Agility Balance Stamina

Weakness

Selfish at times Ability in the air Susceptible to injuries


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Data Analysis for seasons 2009/10, 2008/09, 2007/08, 2006/07, 2005/06: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano RonaldoSeason Team Games Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal2009/10 Real Madrid 35 33 7 243 1092008/09 Manchester United 51 25 8 279 1072007/08 Manchester United 48 42 8 255 1312006/07 Manchester United 53 23 20 295 1252005/06 Manchester United 47 12 7 146 59

3 Seasons Average 45 34 8 259 1165 Seasons Average 46.8 21 10 243.6 106.2

Cristiano RonaldoSeason Team Goals per Game Shots per Game Shots Accuracy2009/10 Real Madrid 0.9428 6.9428 44.8559%2008/09 Manchester United 0.4901 5.4705 38.3512%2007/08 Manchester United 0.8750 5.3125 51.3725%2006/07 Manchester United 0.4339 5.5660 42.3728%2005/06 Manchester United 0.2553 3.1063 40.4109%

3 Seasons Average 0.77 5.9086 44.85%5 Seasons Average 0.5994 5.2796 43.4727%

Strengths:

Dribbling Finishing First Touch Free kicks Heading Shooting from Distance Passing Penalties Technique Anticipation Decisions Determination Flair Off the Ball movement Pace Agility Balance Fitness Stamina Strength

Weaknesses:

Goes to ground easily Triestricks when a simple pass would do Knack to win fouls Poor opinion among referees Selfish


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Data Analysis for seasons 2009/10, 2008/09, 2007/08, 2006/07, 2005/06: David Villa

David VillaSeason Team Games Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal2009/10 Valencia 41 23 3 161 722008/09 Valencia 41 30 6 155 732007/08 Valencia 38 22 5 97 522006/07 Valencia 49 21 15 130 312005/06 Valencia 38 25 0 69 22

3 Seasons Average 40 25 5 138 665 Seasons Average 41.4 24.2 5.8 122.4 50

David VillaSeason Team Goals per Game Shots per Game Shots Accuracy2009/10 Valencia 0.5609 3.9268 44.7204%2008/09 Valencia 0.7317 3.7804 47.0967%2007/08 Valencia 0.5789 2.5526 53.6082%2006/07 Valencia 0.4286 2.6530 23.8462%2005/06 Valencia 0.6579 1.8158 31.8841%3 Seasons Average 0.62 3.4199 48.47%5 Seasons Average 0.5916 2.9457 40.2311%

Strengths:

Corners Dribbling Finishing First touch Free kicks Shots from distance Passing Penalties Techniques Anticipation Composure Creativity Decisions Determination Flair Off the Ball Movement Work Rate Pace Agility Stamina

Weakness:

Ability in the Air Lack of Physical Presence


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Data Analysis for seasons 2009/10, 2008/09, 2007/08, 2006/07, 2005/06: Fernando Torres

Fernando TorresSeason Team Games Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal2009/10 Liverpool 29 18 3 96 372008/09 Liverpool 36 17 5 107 422007/08 Liverpool 45 30 4 125 722006/07 Atlético Madrid 38 15 5 88 282005/06 Atlético Madrid 36 13 3 82 24

3 Season Average 37 22 4 110 515 Season Average 36.8 18.6 4 99.6 40.6

Fernando TorresSeason Team Goals Per Game Shots per Game Shots Accuracy2009/10 Liverpool 0.6206 3.3103 38.5416%2008/09 Liverpool 0.4722 2.9722 39.2523%2007/08 Liverpool 0.6667 2.7777 57.6%2006/07 Atlético Madrid 0.3947 2.3158 31.8182%2005/06 Atlético Madrid 0.3611 2.2778 29.2683%

3 Season Average 0.59 3.020 45.13%5 Season Average 0.5031 2.7308 39.2961%

Strength:

Dribbling Finishing First touch Heading Shots from distance Penalties Technique Anticipation Bravery Composure Creativity Determination Flair Off The Ball Movement Work Rate Pace Agility Balance

Weakness:

Physically Dominated by Defenders at times Dependence on midfielders


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Data Analysis for seasons 2009/10, 2008/09, 2007/08, 2006/07, 2005/06: Wayne Rooney

Wayne RooneySeason Team Games Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal2009/10 Manchester United 44 34 6 232 802008/09 Manchester United 47 18 12 161 582007/08 Manchester United 42 18 14 147 862006/07 Manchester United 55 23 14 190 912005/06 Manchester United 48 19 14 184 89

3 Season Average 45 24 11 180 755 Season Average 47.2 22.4 12 182.8 80.8

Wayne RooneySeason Team Goals Per Game Shots per Game Shots Accuracy2009/10 Manchester United 0.7727 5.2727 34.4827%2008/09 Manchester United 0.3829 3.4255 36.0248%2007/08 Manchester United 0.4285 3.5 58.5034%2006/07 Manchester United 0.4182 3.4545 49.4565%2005/06 Manchester United 0.3958 3.8333 48.3695%

3 Season Average 0.53 4.0661 435 Season Average 0.4796 3.8972 45.3674%

Strengths:

Crossing Finishing First Touch Heading Passing Penalties Technique Passion Anticipation Bravery Concentration Creativity Decision Determination Flair Off The Ball Movement Team Work Work Rate Pace Balance Fitness Stamina Strength

Weakness:

Aggression


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Comparative Analysis

Before going on to speaking number let me just give a short summary

In order to capture the true potential of a footballer it is very important to analyse him at the right point of time and to be as close as I can be to this objective I have compared performance based on 3 Season and 5 Season Averages

3 Season Average

Name Games Goals Assists Shots Shots on GoalLionel Messi 47 33 13 153.67 75Cristiano Ronaldo 45 34 8 259 116David Villa 40 25 5 138 66Fernando Torres 37 22 4 110 51Wayne Rooney 45 24 11 180 75

Name Goals Per Game Shots per Game Shots AccuracyLionel Messi 0.68 3.2001 48.2496%Cristiano Ronaldo 0.77 5.9086 44.85%David Villa 0.62 3.4199 48.47%Fernando Torres 0.59 3.020 45.13%Wayne Rooney 0.53 4.0661 43%

5 Season Average

Name Games Goals Assists Shots Shots on GoalLionel Messi 39.6 24.6 8.4 113.2 52.2Cristiano Ronaldo 46.8 21 10 243.6 106.2David Villa 41.4 24.2 5.8 122.4 50Fernando Torres 36.8 18.6 4 99.6 40.6Wayne Rooney 47.2 22.4 12 182.8 80.8

Name Goals Per Game Shots per Game Shots AccuracyLionel Messi 0.5671 2.6840 42.6652%Cristiano Ronaldo 0.5994 5.2796 43.4727%David Villa 0.5916 2.9457 40.2311%Fernando Torres 0.5031 2.7308 39.2961%Wayne Rooney 0.4796 3.8972 45.3674%

5 Season Average vs 3 Season Average

Name Improvement in Goals per game Improvement in Shots per gameLionel Messi +19.9083% +19.2288%Cristiano Ronaldo +28.4618% +11.9138%David Villa +4.8005% +16.0980%Fernando Torres +17.2729% +10.5903%Wayne Rooney +10.5087% +4.3339%


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Summary

It is clear from the data that Ronaldo is better than the competition given his higher score of Goals per Game and Shots per Game, simply put based on the data for the last 5 seasons Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to take more Shots and is more likely to Score a Goal, but Lionel Messi’s performance in the current season is making him the most Efficient Forward of the current era

But is this enough to make him the Greatest, I am not sure

All 5 footballers show improvement over the years in terms of Goals per Game and Shots per Game, but Cristiano Ronaldo shows the highest growth rate in Goals per Game while Lionel Messi shows highest growth rate in Shots per Game


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Based on my own understanding of the game and a little help from Football Manager 2011 i have rated the best footballer in terms of different aspects

Overall Rating

Aspect Best PlayerTechnical Lionel MessiMental Wayne RooneyTactical Wayne RooneyPhysical Cristiano Ronaldo

Technical Parameters:

Corners Crossing Dribbling Finishing First Touch Free Kicks Shots from Distance Heading Passing Penalties Techniques

Mental Parameters:

Aggression Anticipation Bravery Composure Concentration Creativity Decisions Determination Flair Influence

Tactical Parameters

Off the Ball Movement Positioning Team Work Work Rate

Physical Parameters

Pace Agility Balance Jumping Fitness Stamina Strength


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Truly speaking when the question of the Greatest forward is raised only two names pop inanyone’s mind who understands football, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

*if the reader thinks someone else must be thought of, I beg to differ

So now I plan to analyse Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi based on their performance over the current and the last season. What makes this analysis comprehensive, in my opinion, is that both these players are playing in the same league against the same opponents and I believe that in these two seasons have they have shown their true potential

Data Analysis for seasons 2009/10, 2010/11:Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo

The past two seasons have seen football completely dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Lionel Messi claimed to be the better of the two

2 Season Average

Lionel MessiSeason Team Games Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal2010/11 Barcelona 17 23 9 98 502009/10 Barcelona 52 45 10 219 116

Cristiano RonaldoSeason Team Games Goals Assists Shots Shots on Goal2010/11 Real Madrid 23 22 7 150 582009/10 Real Madrid 35 33 7 243 109

Lionel MessiSeason Team Goals per Game Shots per Game Shots Accuracy2010/11 Barcelona 1.3529 5.7647 51.0204%2009/10 Barcelona 0.8653 4.2115 52.9680%

Cristiano RonaldoSeason Team Goals per Game Shots per Game Shots Accuracy2010/11 Real Madrid 0.9565 6.5217 38.6667%2009/10 Real Madrid 0.9428 6.9428 44.8559%

Name Improvement in Goals per game Improvement in Shots per gameLionel Messi +56.3504% +36.8799%Cristiano Ronaldo +1.4532% -6.0653%

Name Goals per Game Shots per Game AccuracyLionel Messi 1.1091 4.9881 51.9942%Cristiano Ronaldo 0.9497 6.7323 41.7613%


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Conclusive Summary

Although the season is just begun, Lionel Messi’s performance has shadowed Cristiano Ronaldo.Cristiano Ronaldo manages to get more shots on goal but Lionel Messi is more likely to score, simply put Lionel Messi is more efficient and if Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were playing for the same team it would be optimal to pass the ball to Lionel Messi than Cristiano Ronaldo

The 5 and 3 season average proves Cristiano Ronaldo to be a more efficient forward given his higher scores of Goals per game and Shots per Game, but in the 2 season average Lionel Messi shows much higher scores

Statistically speaking Cristiano Ronaldo is a better forward but as is known there are 3 lies in the world Lies, Damned lies and Statistics


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References

www.soccernet.com www.wikipedia.org Football Manager 2011

Sports

The Greatest Forward of the Current Era