Kaka or Ronaldo: who’s better?

The recent Champions League clash between Manchester United and AC Milan was billed as the duel between the world’s two best players at the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.

For me, what emerged was unclear; Kaka shone with his maturity and poise but by no means outclassed Ronaldo. AC Milan outclassed United. Across the two legs, Kaka was better but I think it had a lot more to do with the maturity of the AC Milan team as a whole more than with a specific player. AC Milan has players which have reached this stage before and were also in the position of having nothing else to play for. Kaka, it must be said, was also clinical in his finishing.

Kaka, today, is more the finished product. But last year this comparison was not even considered, which is a testament to how far Cristiano has grown since he was brought into Manchester United in 2003. Where Kaka is smooth, calm, poised and refined Ronaldo is sudden, tricky, relentless and a ferocious competitor. While they are both attack minded you can see they are quite different players. A player like Ronaldo has his off days with the risk taking style of play he brings, over the course of the season though, you can measure his contribution as nothing short of vital. Man U, champions would not be, without him.

Flash back and consider where Kaka’s contribution was during the World Cup for Brazil? Portugal were quarter finalists and Ronaldo has emerged from that World Cup playing at a whole new level (I think Ruud van Nistelrooy was holding him back as well). He’s also been the best player in the toughest league in the world.

Should AC Milan beat Liverpool in the Champions League final, Kaka will most likely succeed Fabio Cannavaro as FIFA World Player of the Year. At the age of 25, this year may deservedly be his, but the younger Ronaldo will emerge and, I think, eclipse the Brazilian.

I don’t mean to spend this article defending Ronaldo, but I have seen a lot of press to the effect that ‘It’s decided, Kaka number 1’. Kaka is the best player in the world at the moment, but Ronaldo is the most talented. If I had the choice I would take Ronaldo without thinking twice about it.