Cristiano Ronaldo Needs Strong Euros to Prove He's Better Than Messi

With Euro 2012 set to kick off on Friday, Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to lead Portugal out of an extremely difficult group—one that pits them against Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.

After placing as the runner-up in Euro 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portuguese squad has failed to reach new highs in international play.

In Euro 2008, Portugal saw themselves knocked out by Germany in the quarterfinals, a fate that they met when they faced Spain in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup.

With an opportunity to shine in Euro 2012, Cristiano Ronaldo will look to lead a Portuguese resurgence while Lionel Messi watches from a distance.

Be an Offensive Force

For Portugal to emerge out of Group B—a group that some believe contains the two tournament favorites—Cristiano Ronaldo will have to put on a scoring clinic.

After recording 46 goals in La Liga over the last year, Ronaldo proved he was one of the world's elite goal scorers, just not the greatest. Lionel Messi netted 50 goals in the same time frame, but he doesn't have the benefit of the world's attention at Euro 2012 this summer.

After scoring just one goal in the 2008 European Championships, Ronaldo will look to redeem himself and find the back of the net against some of the world's elite competition.

Find a Balance Between Team and Individual Success

It's an age-old debate at this point, a contentious one with no clear-cut answer: Who's the better player, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? While their statistics may be comparable, their styles of play are not.

While both players are excellent passers, Messi's roles with Argentina and Barcelona revolve more around possession and getting his teammates involved. Ronaldo is certainly an adept passer (12 assists in La Liga this season), but with Portugal, his role changes a bit.

If Ronaldo shows he is capable of carrying Portugal on a run of extended success, he will earn the title of team player to accompany his designation as an individual star. Although he's asked to shoulder the scoring load (seven goals in Euro qualifying), his ability to channel some bit of Lionel Messi's selflessness could benefit him and his national team.

Throughout his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has underwhelmed on the international stage, and Euro 2012 could provide him an opportunity to redeem himself.

Advance Past Quarterfinals

An early exit from Euro 2012 may not damage Cristiano Ronaldo's legacy, but it won't help it either.

Portugal's spot in the "group of death" won't help ease any concerns heading into Euro 2012, but stellar performances against the likes of Germany and the Netherlands could propel Ronaldo to new heights. 

In their last two significant international competitions (Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup), Portugal has advanced out of the group stage only to fall in the quarterfinals to Germany and Spain, respectively.

Without constant comparisons to Lionel Messi, Ronaldo will have room to shine as bright as possible, but will need to stick around in Eastern Europe for the month of June if he hopes to silence any remaining detractors.

Win Golden Boot

Accolades accompany success, and if Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal on a run in Euro 2012, he could very well emerge with the tournament's Golden Boot in hand.

David Villa, the tournament's 2008 Golden Boot award winner, netted four goals en route to a European Championship. Although those are lofty accomplishments to duplicate, Ronaldo is certainly capable of replicating the Spaniard's success.

Already a winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and a two-time winner of the European Golden Shoe, Ronaldo could add a Golden Boot in the European Championships to his stacked trophy case.

Ronaldo is one of the most intriguing players participating in Euro 2012, and without Lionel Messi lurking in the shadows, Ronaldo has a chance to capture the spotlight and captivate an international audience.