Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can be considered unique athletes. Most certainly, we have not seen their like in the soccer world, and we probably never will again. The two players are different, of course, both in terms of their personality and how they approach the game. Yet, it is apparent that they share certain mental qualities that helped them get to the top of their sport.
They aren’t alone in that respect, and many of the world’s greatest athletes over the decades have personality traits that are possessed by the soccer legends. While there is some overlap, we break down some of those mindsets below, explaining how the greatest athletes, across various sports, in history have shared qualities with the best soccer players to grace the game.
Greatness Obsession – Various
It wouldn’t be right to put just one name on this section. In fact, the New York Times recently did a piece on why the ultra-elite athletes – like Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and Wayne Gretzky – were obsessed with being the best. It’s a mindset particularly evident in Cristiano, though Messi also has it, despite seeming more outwardly humble.
Clutch Mindset – Derek Jeter
The term “clutch” is an Americanism that can sometimes be difficult to explain to soccer audiences. You might translate it as “big game player” or simply someone who has a knack for scoring important goals. Messi and Ronaldo are clearly clutch. Of all athletes, Derek Jeter – the legendary New York Yankees star – could be deemed a clutch player, always coming up with the goods when the pressure was on to deliver.
Training and Preparation – Jerry Rice
Rice was obsessed with self-improvement. Despite being a superstar, he would constantly push himself further to ensure he was the best. He was the kind of player that you look for in the NFL game odds to turn the game on its head, and it all started with the way he prepared. Speak to any of Rice’s former colleagues and they will talk about that, and then speak to players who have played with Messi and Ronaldo, and they will say the same.
Controlled Aggression – Serena Williams
This is a quality more possessed by Messi than Ronaldo, as the latter is a bit more emotional. At times, you can see in Messi a kind of controlled simmering anger that he bottles up and uses to punish his opponents. Serena Williams was the same, playing with a controlled aggression that beat opponents into submission, albeit respectfully.
Brilliance in Longevity – Ryan Giggs
Plenty of players have excelled into their late 30s and early 40s, so Messi and Ronaldo are not alone in that respect. But in the soccer world, only a few have kept up the standards like the duo. Ryan Giggs is definitely in that camp, adapting his game from tricky winger to central midfielder to become the most decorated Premier League player in history. You might cite a few others, including Lothar Mattheus and NFL star Tom Brady, but Giggs is a brilliant example.
Incremental Gains & Mechanics– Ichiro Suzuki
Talk to Cristiano’s former and current teammates, and they will explain how the Portuguese maestro constantly obsessed over getting the small things right, the technique that developed through repetition. His free kicks are an example of that, but there are a myriad of other examples. Suski – a wonderful baseball player – took a similar scientific approach, knowing that 1% improvements here and there would add up to something special.