Join us for the story so far on our players - then we look at how they played in their last Liga match.Messi is an utterly unique specimen, not just in the confines of the modern football era but across the spectrum of the game's history. His precocious skill and incomparable dribbling ability seemingly become more refined as he becomes a more mature footballer, and from an attacking sensibility few can match his pace and precision when in possession.
At just 23 years of age, we feel like he has been with us forever; indeed it is impossible to imagine Barcelona without their talismanic figure dropping deep to collect the ball and drive towards terrified defenses. His switch into a central position, masterminded by coach Pep insistence that he be at the heart of the action, has opened up additional possibilities, and he is reveling in his role as dictator, whilst also remaining goal-getter in chief.Last season his goals ranged from the spectacular to the downright implausible, and while in 2010-11 his efforts has been slightly more modest, his scoring ability is of no less significance as Barcelona hunt for their third successive league title.
Ronaldo has in many aspects changed the concept of just how physically perfect a footballer can be. He has married consummate fitness with pace and raw, unbridled power, and favors brute force over subtle skill.When the eternal debate is raised as to who the better player is between CR7 and Messi, you see two fantastic footballers with very different approaches to the game; Ronaldo's exceptional ability to sprint past defenders before unleashing his own brand of shot, a trademark swerving, dipping effort that he almost pioneered, is just as effective as the passing, penalty-box precision of his rival.
But that isn't to say that Ronaldo doesn't have innumerable tricks and flicks of his own, and indeed his equal comfort on either foot as well as his heading prowess make him arguably the most complete player of the recent generations. His strike rate for Real Madrid speaks volumes as to his consistency in the final third of the pitch.
How They Played This Week
Who came out on top in the recent round of La Liga action?
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo saw his hot goalscoring streak for Real Madrid in La Liga come to an end when he failed to find the net in the 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
After scoring in his last four domestic outings in succession totalling ten goals, CR7 amassed a massive eight shots against Atleti, but a majority of them failed to hit the target. There was a nice 'Ole moment' from Cristiano towards the end of the game when his outrageous "back pass" to Xabi Alonso almost led to a goal.
Goal.com Player Ratings Comment: Went down a little softly for the free-kick that resulted in Los Blancos' second, but then again, no one judges the winners. Tried hard tonight, but it really was not his game. Seems to have lost his free-kick magic as he failed to put away quite a few set-pieces tonight. Still, he did well to retain possession and bring other into play, and gave Valera a torrid time.
Individual Match Stats
| Lionel Messi (vs Getafe) | Cristiano Ronaldo (vs Atletico Madrid) | |
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Shots (On Target | 5 (3) | 8 (3) |
| Assists | 1 | 0 |
| Balls Lost | 8 | 5 |
| Balls Recovered | 3 | 2 |
| Fouls Suffered | 1 | 5 |
| Goal.com Rating | 8.5 | 6.5 |
Lionel Messi (Getafe 1-3 Barcelona)
Messi continued his superlative scoring form as he scored one and made one for David Villa to inspire his side to a 3-1 win over Getafe in a Goal.com Top of the Match performance.
He netted the opener against Geta when he started an attacking move from deep, and collected a return pass from David Villa before slamming a left foot shot first time past the despairing dive of Jordi Codina.
He returned the favour as he played in Villa for the second goal with a slick through ball on the turn that deceived the Getafe defense.
Goal.com Player Ratings Comment: Scored one, provided a vital assist for another, and pressured Cata Diaz into a mistake to set-up the third. Could have added more and also had a goal disallowed. The world's finest and most talented footballer continued to rock, and those who watched were mesmerized.
Story of a Season
Who's had the best campaign so far in La Liga?
Season Stats
 |  | |
| Minutes Played | 754 | 944 |
Goals
| 8
| 11
|
| Total Shots (On target) | 38 (20) | 81 (31) |
| Assists | 3 | 5 |
| Passes | 501 | 488 |
| Passes Completed | 418 | 357 |
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