Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich: Cristiano Ronaldo Proves Superiority over Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo is the best footballer on the planet.

He laid an indisputable claim to this title with his two-goal performance in the Champions League semifinal.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi entered this year with a solid claim to being the world's best, but as the action unfolded—and Ronaldo continued to net goals—the debate surrounding the world's greatest picked up intensity.

Their recent performances have ended that debate.

These two great players have been statistically neck and neck all season.

They are swapping the lead for La Liga goals back and forth, and both have had historically great seasons. However, Ronaldo has taken the lead with better performances in the biggest moments.

On April 21st, his Los Blancos took down Barca 2-1. The win all but locked up Madrid's claim to the La Liga crown, and it was Ronaldo who delivered the game winner in that match in the 73rd minute.   

He ended that contest with the one goal off of two on-target attempts on six shots.

In that same contest, Messi was a non-factor. He had just one shot, which wasn't on target, and no assists.

That head-to-head dominance over Messi gave Ronaldo the edge and he carried that momentum into the second leg of the Champions League semifinal. 

Before he took the pitch for that contest, he watched Messi try to get his Barca squad into the final—and Messi again choked. 

In the second half of their semifinal match with Chelsea, Messi lined up for a penalty kick that, had he converted, would have given his Barca squad a 3-1 lead—a result that would have landed them in the finals.

Then this happened. 

The clank off the cross bar was indicative of his play for the match. He was just a bit off. He ended with two shots on goal—neither of which was successful—and one assist. 

Fast forward to the next day and it is Ronaldo who was trying to carry his team to the final.

In a tidy twist of symmetry, with just six minutes into the contest, Ronaldo had a chance to score on a pivotal penalty kick. 

He drilled his shot and tacked on this beauty just eight minutes later. 

While his Los Blancos bowed out—not helped by Ronaldo's missed penalty kick in the shootout—he still posted a fantastic effort and almost single-handedly carried his team to the final. 

That is what the world's best player is supposed to do—and it is exactly what Lionel Messi didn't do.