I was thinking for the longest time... that I was gonna leave this well alone but recent events have forced my hand...my self imposed retirement from writing (or bitching as you may well think) about the beautiful game is now at an end. My vitriolic typing is firmly aimed at one man...one winking, diving, chipped tooth fixing, man (sort of) thing...

His name, Cristiano Ronaldo (Im not quoting his full name, whats the point!) Referred to by the media simply as Ronaldo, I call him Cristiano at all times seeing as there only is one Ronaldo (althoug technically not). Apparently this guy is the best player in the world...I have one small problem with this analysis, NO ONE has given me a GOOD reason why. Whilst I have heard everyone wax-lyrical about his skills, free kicks, goals etc I have not heard an explanation for what makes him THE BEST.

Is he really that good?

Now this is part where you lot all say "but he scored 42 goals (or however many he scored" in season 2007/2008. To be honest everybody can rattle off that well know stat but I wonder if anybody (without the aid of Wiki or other such web-based searches) can tell me how many shots he took or even his shot accuracy? None of you? Well I can tell you that I according to the Guardian (which I absolutely detest yet still read) informed me that "the prince of portugal" had 131 shots last season, 17 more than Emmanuel Adebayor. He had a goals to shots ratio of 24% which was NOT the best in the league.

Now while a good friend of mine says "if you dont shot, you dont score" (although Im convinced he's talking about girls...) that is ridiculous! However it could explain the reason for his success in front of goal (penalties aside). The other could be that he doesnt actually play as a winger. Now if you can suspend belief for a second and IGNORE Andy Gray's pre match tactical line and actually WATCH where Ronaldo positions himself in a game you will spot (almost like solving a magic eye puzzle) that he has a free role. Come on people it aint rocket scienece Fergie saw how many goals he scored in his first 3 seasons at the club, thought it was low and said to the boy "shoot more ya bastard!!!" and gave him a free role to allow him to score more. See the Barcelona away match, would a winger REALLY stand centrally in a 4-3-3. Which leads me on to my second point, Manchester United half the time play 4-3-3...erm "right wing" doesnt exist in a 4-3-3, well at least its not the same as in 4-4-2.

However, when Luca Toni or Francesco Totti scored 30 goals in Seria A, where they called best players in the world? Nope so why is Ronaldo then?

People will say its his skill that sets him aside... I heard the most ridiculous quote about Ronaldo from Paul McCarthy of The Sun who said that "Ronaldo takes dribbling to a new level". Excuse me but LLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL! Cristiano isnt even the most skillful player in his national team let alone the world (Quaresma anyone). His step-overs, his most used trick, only work on people who cant defend. Despite "taking dribbling to a new level" Ronaldo runs a mile at the sight of defenders who as fast as him, i.e. Cashley or Clichy. These two left backs have sussed him out, he knows it hence why he faced up against Essien in Moscow. The time that he tried to take on Zambrotta (who was truely AWFUL at Barca) ended in Cristiano petulantly hacking done Zambrotta, why? Because he didnt get past him ONCE!

If he is a winger, 7 assists (compared to Cesc's 19) shows that (a) he doesnt pass (b) he cant pass. I think it could well be a combination of the two, his crossing is a mixed bag at best, at worst for "the best player in the world" its absolutely abysmal!

Following a season where he claimed the league and champions league people were asking themselves can he win Euro 2008 by himself. By himself? I guessing that stupid question was asked by people who dont know Portugal's line up, the opposition they could face or the way he plays for the national team, which is more "in the system" if you like. Cristiano had a good tournament but was really short of what people were expecting as Portugal lost in the Quarter Finals. Then again internal football isnt really the measure of a player's capabilities due to the long and arduous seasons found in modern football.

Jack of all trades

So how can Ronaldo be the best player in the world when he AINT the best at anything...if anyone mentions his free kicks please leave. He may be fast, good in the air and able to shot with both feet (Hleb dribbles on what ever foot he feels like, Wesley Sneijder takes corners left footed) but I dont find him to be best at anything at all!

A question you could fire back at me is whos better than him? Well Ronaldinho, Kaka, Messi and Robinho thats who.

Dinho has had a tough year, fighting injury, the spanish media, the fans, Joan Laporta and dealing with personal problems. However he still scored the best goal in la liga last season (go to youtube and type in Ronaldinho Athletico) and will improve ten fold thanks to a move to Milan who most probably will play him upfront.

Kaka is 100% more creative than Cristiano, has a good a shot and is just as fast. Kaka is also burdened by having to carry a Milan team with average strikers (Pipo just aint what he used to be).

Leo Messi is afraid of no-one on the pitch and has laways performed for club and country from the minute he was placed in the team. He was the focal point of Barcelona in 2007/8 and didnt disappoint.

Robson de Souza, like Ronaldo started to show his promise after an initally tough first year at their respective clubs. Now to examine the effect of Robinho at Real Madrid just look at how many games they won post Christmas...thank you.

However the four Ive named have one thing in common, apart from being truely unplayable when on form...they have also spent some time on the sidelines this season, while Cristiano seems to be impervious to injury until this summer. It will be interesting to see how he performs on his return to the pitch.

The finished product?

It seems that Ive been quite unfair to Cristiano, he is like Ive said blessed with the ability to be the best player in the world, but at the minute something is missing...that one aspect of his game that is better than everybody elses. At the moment I cant see it at all because it doesnt exist.

I will also submit that Cristiano IS a big game player. A big game you see isnt limited to a final (when he dominated the Carling Cup Final v Wigan or Fa Cup against Millwall that didnt make him a world better) or games against the best teams but a game where there is something huge at stake. More often than not the boy has pulled out good performances...just not as many as players who are better than him.

Cristiano is the most in form player in the world, and thats it...I dont think anyone can concoct a story that would make me believe otherwise. Cristiano (if FIFA have any sense- I know its a long shot but...) will be crowned World Player of the year but then again Fabio Cannovaro got it despite his Juventus team falling apart in 2006 so who knows.

Cristiano as much as you are hyped at the best you just aint...yet...