article_snippet: his feet are so quick and his ability to manipulate the ball at speed is up there with Diego Maradona.
article_snippet: In those periods Cristiano Ronaldo gives you more than sheer skill.
article_snippet: Cristiano Ronaldo still contributes in other areas, with Cristiano Ronaldo athleticism and strength.
article_snippet: Cristiano Ronaldo form has dipped, compared to Cristiano Ronaldo own high standards since winning the Ballon d'Or .
article_snippet: Of the players I’ve seen and played against itDiego Maradona.
article_snippet: Cristiano Ronaldo ability to take players on with the ball seemingly stuck to His feet as Cristiano Ronaldo weaved around Cristiano Ronaldo was sublime.
article_snippet: Lionel Messi really has come close to that.
article_snippet: Lionel Messi was better than Lionel Messi at free-kicks.
article_snippet: Diego Maradona and Michel Platini and Zico were probably the best at free-kicks and all ahead of Lionel Messi in that particular discipline.
article_snippet: But people who haven’t seen Diego Maradona play should check out the DVDs and watch Lionel Messi on YouTube.
article_snippet: Can you imagine Diego Maradona today, on these pristine pitches, with the lighter, more malleable footballs, protected from the hard men by the much tougher rules of the game and in an era in which man-to-man marking has fallen out of fashion?