Ronaldo vs Torres

By Farouk Abrahams

A large chunk of the world's soccer population has already gone crazy over Manchester United and Liverpool, and now we have to deal with the debate on who of Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres is the best player in the world.

That's the hot topic in football circles these days, so I thought I would throw in my five cents' worth, with no intention at all to upset some of the more sensitive followers of the two English Premiership giants.

But how does one separate two such sublime football talents, each a genius in his own right?

Closer scrutiny of the duo might reveal the following: with the ball at his feet about 30 metres from the opposition goal, Torres is not going to set the pulses racing in the stands, unlike Ronaldo, who boasts the ability to ghost past people as if they're not there (1-0 to Ronaldo).

However, Torres's bigger bulk and more direct style of play ensures that he gets more goals from a standing start just outside the goal area. Sheer physical power rules and certainly works for the Anfield star (1-1).

In wing play, leaving Ronaldo with his back to goal and marked tightly by two or more opponents is no train smash. The United icon would in most cases swivel his way out of there and still set up a teammate for a crack at goals. He has in the past scored magical goals from such "hopeless situations". Torres does roam wide, but he relies more on the ball over the top of flat defences than creativity in tight corners. (2-1 to Ronaldo).

One-on-one with the goalkeeper sees both players with equal ability to score (3-2 to Ronaldo).

With defenders in pursuit, though, the Portuguese is likely to take a dive when touched, whereas Torres would be confident enough to ride the tackle and still stick the ball into the net (3-3).

If it boils down to temperament, there can be no doubt that Torres deals better with pressure situations and erring match officials than Ronaldo, who's prone to verbal wars on the pitch (4-3 to Torres).

Both players can be counted on to score with long-range efforts. The power is all equal here (5-4 to Torres).

But a free kick just outside the opposition box is another matter; Ronaldo stands taller than the Spaniard. Torres is no slouch, but he needs a clearer view of the goal than Ronaldo, who conjures up that something special from over or around the defensive wall (5-5).

I would put money on Ronaldo's passing range just pipping Torres's. He seems to get the weight spot-on more often than not, and that's crucial towards the team ethic (6-5 to Ronaldo).

Penalties present no problems to either, so don't even bother to pick a winner in this slot (7-6 to Ronaldo).

Both are fine headers of the ball, but Torres obviously demands more respect and in turn more attention inside the box, leaving more room for teammates to attack the ball unmarked (7-7).

Don't bank too much on defensive duties because they are not natural ball-winners and look clumsy in the tackle (8-8).

For overall entertainment value, one has to look at time spent on the ball during a match and that, of course, puts Ronaldo in the lead in the final minute of this competition (9-8).

But then, as the referee is about to blow the final whistle, a report comes in that Ronaldo and friends were involved in a sex orgy with a couple of prostitutes during which time Torres was snuggled up in bed with a book before dreaming of his next hat trick (9-9).

So it's a nail-biting draw - or perhaps you can come up with something that might separate these two young superstars of the modern game.