- The Portuguese is bang on form for Real Madrid as Zinedine Zidane's side chase Champions League and La Liga titles, but the Argentine is struggling amid Barcelona's problems
Up until relatively recently, Ronaldo had failed to score against a top team in the current campaign, but the Portuguese is resurgent since the arrival of Zinedine Zidane as coach. The 31-year-old not only netted the winner in the Clasico at Camp Nou earlier this month, but also hit an impressive hat-trick to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Wolfsburg in the Champions League last week.
His goals, therefore, have helped Real return to the race for both La Liga and the Champions League. And even though he had been prolific all season, he is now netting in the most important games as well. Quality as well as quantity.
After the win against Wolfsburg, Zidane said: "Ronaldo is showing that he is the best player in the world."
And right now, that statement is accurate. While even the Portuguese admitted in January that Messi would win the Ballon d'Or, the Argentine's dip in form over the past few weeks means the Madrid man has the edge on current form.
Barca have won only one of their last six matches - a 2-1 win at home to 10-man Atletico which turned out to be futile anyway as Diego Simeone's side knocked them out in the return match with a 2-0 victory at the Vicente Calderon.
On top of that, Luis Enrique's men have failed to win any of their last four matches in La Liga, losing the last three - against Madrid, Real Sociedad and Valencia - after a 2-2 draw at Villarreal prior to the international break.
Messi has looked largely tired and out of sorts in that time, but there were signs of improvement in the 2-1 loss at home to Valencia on Sunday when he netted his 500th career strike and ended a scoring drought after 516 minutes without a goal - the third-worst streak in his entire career at the Catalan club.
Following that loss, Barca now only lead La Liga thanks to their head-to-head record against Atletico, with Madrid one point further back with five rounds remaining.
"I have faith in my players," Luis Enrique said on Tuesday when asked about his side's struggles. "In their attitude, their way of competing, and in the confidence I have that we can win five games. Why not? I can't even imagine the party we will have if we turn this around."
The Barca boss will hope that turnaround starts away to Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday as Atletico travel to Athletic Bilbao and Madrid are at home to Villarreal in another crucial evening in La Liga.
With Neymar still struggling, Messi will be charged with spearheading the revival for Barca, while Real look to Ronaldo to lead them at the Bernabeu as Gareth Bale misses out through injury. And as it approaches a thrilling finale, La Liga could yet be decided by the form of the world's two most famous footballers.
Up until relatively recently, Ronaldo had failed to score against a top team in the current campaign, but the Portuguese is resurgent since the arrival of Zinedine Zidane as coach. The 31-year-old not only netted the winner in the Clasico at Camp Nou earlier this month, but also hit an impressive hat-trick to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Wolfsburg in the Champions League last week.
His goals, therefore, have helped Real return to the race for both La Liga and the Champions League. And even though he had been prolific all season, he is now netting in the most important games as well. Quality as well as quantity.
After the win against Wolfsburg, Zidane said: "Ronaldo is showing that he is the best player in the world."
And right now, that statement is accurate. While even the Portuguese admitted in January that Messi would win the Ballon d'Or, the Argentine's dip in form over the past few weeks means the Madrid man has the edge on current form.
Barca have won only one of their last six matches - a 2-1 win at home to 10-man Atletico which turned out to be futile anyway as Diego Simeone's side knocked them out in the return match with a 2-0 victory at the Vicente Calderon.
On top of that, Luis Enrique's men have failed to win any of their last four matches in La Liga, losing the last three - against Madrid, Real Sociedad and Valencia - after a 2-2 draw at Villarreal prior to the international break.
Messi has looked largely tired and out of sorts in that time, but there were signs of improvement in the 2-1 loss at home to Valencia on Sunday when he netted his 500th career strike and ended a scoring drought after 516 minutes without a goal - the third-worst streak in his entire career at the Catalan club.
Following that loss, Barca now only lead La Liga thanks to their head-to-head record against Atletico, with Madrid one point further back with five rounds remaining.
"I have faith in my players," Luis Enrique said on Tuesday when asked about his side's struggles. "In their attitude, their way of competing, and in the confidence I have that we can win five games. Why not? I can't even imagine the party we will have if we turn this around."
The Barca boss will hope that turnaround starts away to Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday as Atletico travel to Athletic Bilbao and Madrid are at home to Villarreal in another crucial evening in La Liga.
With Neymar still struggling, Messi will be charged with spearheading the revival for Barca, while Real look to Ronaldo to lead them at the Bernabeu as Gareth Bale misses out through injury. And as it approaches a thrilling finale, La Liga could yet be decided by the form of the world's two most famous footballers.
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