Are Messi and Cristiano athletically average compared to NBA players?

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

I think so.........Cristianos vertical is 30 inch which is avg for NBA and that includes Cs and PFs who cant jump. Theyre both fast but their athleticism is nothing special IMO, for Euros yes but not for NBA athletes

[Pushxx]

What?

[waseem780]

Ronaldo is fast as hell and dude is ripped. Messi is a below average athlete but his anticipation and agility are one of the top in the world

[Trollsmasher]

stamina + quickness of both >>> NBA

[buddha]

Christiano probably can't even dunk a basketball.

[red1]

They are both great athletes, especially cr7 but I must admit that I find nba explosiveness more impressive than the athleticism required for soccer. Westbrook for example is clearly a superior athlete than both.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

They are both great athletes, especially cr7 but I must admit that I find nba explosiveness more impressive than the athleticism required for soccer. Westbrook for example is clearly a superior athlete than both.
Westbrook might be a top 5 athlete in the world right now hes ridiculous

[red1]

Westbrook might be a top 5 athlete in the world right now hes ridiculous
top 5 is hard to say but he is definitely up there

[sick_brah07]

i believe ronaldo is top 5 on earth

there is a lot more to being an athlete than just jumping and being strong

but yeh this debate will never end as its open to how you value certain aspects of athleticism for example is being fast more important than hand eye coordination and if it is, why ?

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

top 5 is hard to say but he is definitely up there
Id say him, Lebron, Bolt, Megatron and AP

[kennethgriffin]

well nba players need upper body strength to bang with guys, post up, work around screens.. and soccer players have very little upper body strength

theyre also undersized. even for a point guard.

steve nash is my height. 6-3 and i'm tall compared to most soccer players. but nash looks like a midget compared to other nba players


then theres leaping ability. i dont think messi or ronaldo could dunk a basketball.


so yes compared to an nba player they look average


but at the same time an nba player would look silly on a soccer field. and they might get tired before a soccer player would due to carrying more muscle and being heavier overall


so it depends where each guy is playing

[KNOW1EDGE]

Negged

[CavaliersFTW]

well nba players need upper body strength to bang with guys, post up, work around screens.. and soccer players have very little upper body strength

theyre also undersized. even for a point guard.

steve nash is my height. 6-3 and i'm tall compared to most soccer players. but nash looks like a midget compared to other nba players


then theres leaping ability. i dont think messi or ronaldo could dunk a basketball.


so yes compared to an nba player they look average


but at the same time an nba player would look silly on a soccer field. and they might get tired before a soccer player would due to carrying more muscle and being heavier overall


so it depends where each guy is playing
Not to take away any of your points, but Steve Nash is only 6-1

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Not to take away any of your points, but Steve Nash is only 6-1
Yeah no way is Nash 6'3. I remember any time he and CP played or stood beside each other Nash was taller but not by much. CP is no taller than 5'11 so 6'1 makes sense for Nash

[red1]

Id say him, Lebron, Bolt, Megatron and AP
Solid list. There are a hundred different ways someone could come up with a top 5. Looks like you used the same criteria I would've used meaning the best combination of strength and speed. I've always maintained that explosiveness is the best measure of raw athleticism.

[Milbuck]

Average athletically for NBA demands...yeah. Overall, not at all.

In terms of agility, body coordination, stamina, quickness and pure acceleration Messi and Ronaldo are up there with anyone. Obviously stuff like vertical explosiveness, strength, power, etc. aren't on the level of the highest-tier NBA athletes.

It's like saying someone like Novak Djokovic or Nadal is "average athletically" just because they can barely dunk a basketball. They're still two of the best pure athletes in all of sports.. Anyone who's watched a high quality Nadal-Djokovic match, like the 2012 AO Final..it's just a different type of athleticism, but just as impressive. They're lightning quick, have insane body control, and have crazy elastic like agility..and they can do it for ****ing 6 straight hours in the sun.

Same goes for soccer athletes, it's just a different style of athleticism, not level.

They're only clearly inferior if you compare them to freak athletes like Lebron and Westbrook..

[unbreakable]

steve nash is easily atleast 6'2.5 .. which makes him 6'3 in nba ratings

http://wagesofwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/nba_g_nashpaul_580.jpeg

hes looking down on chris paul whos listed 6'0

[red1]

steve nash is easily atleast 6'2.5 .. which makes him 6'3 in nba ratings

http://wagesofwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/nba_g_nashpaul_580.jpeg

hes looking down on chris paul whos listed 6'0
the key word is listed

[CavaliersFTW]

steve nash is easily atleast 6'2.5 .. which makes him 6'3 in nba ratings

http://wagesofwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/nba_g_nashpaul_580.jpeg

hes looking down on chris paul whos listed 6'0
Please don't be one of those idiots that resort to this stupid single photograph analysis bullshit for which you have zero understanding of distortion, perspective, outside variables, or even a simple baseline of how tall either of the players in question ACTUALLY measusred in real life.


This is really simple... look the shit up on draftexpress, and ta-da he measured 6-1. (http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Steve-Nash-3719/)

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

steve nash is easily atleast 6'2.5 .. which makes him 6'3 in nba ratings

http://wagesofwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/nba_g_nashpaul_580.jpeg

hes looking down on chris paul whos listed 6'0
bad angle

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/5352/nashpaul.jpg
theyre at the exact same pose in this one, not more than 2 inch difference and CP is 5'11

[Graviton]

Solid list. There are a hundred different ways someone could come up with a top 5. Looks like you used the same criteria I would've used meaning the best combination of strength and speed. I've always maintained that explosiveness is the best measure of raw athleticism.
Don't forget strength, durability, resilience and endurance. Westbrook never missed a game since high school til his freak injury, then came back from 3 surgeries and had his best playoffs yet. I also don't recall seeing him tired, even after going hard for 40+ minutes, challenging 7 footers and absorbing contact like a champ.

AP came back from even worse injury and still dominated. Lebron never had any serious injuries even when coming down hard and twisting his leg/ankle.

[red1]

Don't forget strength, durability, resilience and endurance. Westbrook never missed a game since high school til his freak injury, then came back from 3 surgeries and had his best playoffs yet. I also don't recall seeing him tired, even after going hard for 40+ minutes, challenging 7 footers and absorbing contact like a champ.

AP came back from even worse injury and still dominated. Lebron never had any serious injuries even when coming down hard and twisting his leg/ankle.
Correct. Durability is huge for a sport that may not be physical in the traditional sense but is high-impact nonetheless.

[deja vu]

Christiano probably can't even dunk a basketball.
And LeBron can't score a free kick.

Apples and oranges.

Edit: Cristiano can dunk. He's more than 6 ft tall. I've seen 6 ft flat guys who can dunk and they're nowhere near the leaper Cristiano is.

[TonyMontana]

NBA players vertical jumps do not differ much from other elite athletes who play explosive oriented sports.

The illusion comes with wingspans. NBA players have freakish wingspans so they don't have to jump as high to reach as high.

Soccer is not a sport where wingspan matters at all so it would be foolish to say they are "less athletic" for not being able to dunk a basketball.

Cristiano and Messi are two of the best athletes in the world, any sport.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

NBA players vertical jumps do not differ much from other elite athletes who play explosive oriented sports.

The illusion comes with wingspans. NBA players have freakish wingspans so they don't have to jump as high to reach as high.

Soccer is not a sport where wingspan matters at all so it would be foolish to say they are "less athletic" for not being able to dunk a basketball.

Cristiano and Messi are two of the best athletes in the world, any sport.
Agreed both top 25 athletes

[tgan3]

http://www.ronaldo7.net/extra/body/cristiano-ronaldo-body-manchester-united-2006-2007-picture-photo2.jpg

I put my betting money that Ronaldo can dunk a basketball. Look at that body. This guy works out hard. He is a fit and muscular (All natural no steroids).

He is a legit 6'1 some more, with basketball shoes will be listed as 6'2.
Someone like Chris Brown who is 6'1 and is a rapper can also can easily dunk a ball, why are you doubting a professional athlete in Ronaldo then?

[FKAri]

The way Messi can't be bullied off the ball is quite an athletic feat imo.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

http://www.ronaldo7.net/extra/body/cristiano-ronaldo-body-manchester-united-2006-2007-picture-photo2.jpg

I put my betting money that Ronaldo can dunk a basketball. Look at that body. This guy works out hard. He is a fit and muscular (All natural no steroids).

He is a legit 6'1 some more, with basketball shoes will be listed as 6'2.
Someone like Chris Brown who is 6'1 and is a rapper can also can easily dunk a ball, why are you doubting a professional athlete in Ronaldo then?
First of all LOL Cristiano does use steroids
2nd he has a 30 inch vertical and his hands dont seem that long. He cant dunk

[Budadiiii]

Ronaldo can easily dunk a basketball you fools.

He is above average athletically compared to NBA players

[Budadiiii]

First of all LOL Cristiano does use steroids
2nd he has a 30 inch vertical and his hands dont seem that long. He cant dunk
He was tested and his running vertical was like MJ type shit. He can dunk a basketball easily.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

He was tested and his running vertical was like MJ type shit. He can dunk a basketball easily.
Damn u got a vid?:confusedshrug: :confusedshrug:

[Budadiiii]

Damn u got a vid?:confusedshrug: :confusedshrug:
http://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-vertical-leap-2014-6

He can almost hit his head on the goal post which is the exact height of an NBA rim.

He is a monster athlete

[Budadiiii]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp2F5SKCUAAp5q4.png

[oarabbus]

Id say him, Lebron, Bolt, Megatron and AP


No boxers? MMA? Michael Phelps? Male gymnasts? Honestly male gymnasts are WAY more ripped than football players proportionally. These guys laugh in Megatron's face. And their coordination, dexterity, strength, and balance is unreal. On another level than NBA/NFL athletes.

http://www.t-nation.com/img/photos/04-080-feature/image002.jpg


http://www.johnnyfit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Olympic-gymnastic-rings.jpeg
http://jefflarsonfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/male-gymnast.png

http://looklikeanathlete.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/male-gymnast-body.jpg

Phelps has dominated the olympics like no one in the history of mankind.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1376185498_phelpsmedals.jpg

http://www.monroefreelibrary.com/portals/3/Michael-Phelps-Wins-8-Gold-Medals[1].jpg

Anyway CR is pretty damn athletic, very underrated. It's funny how overrated NFL/NBA players athleticism is compared to the rest of athletes though.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

No boxers? MMA? Michael Phelps? Male gymnasts? Honestly male gymnasts are WAY more ripped than football players proportionally.

Phelps has dominated the olympics like no one in the history of mankind.


Anyway CR is pretty damn athletic, very underrated.
Fighters arent on that level.

Whos the best MMA athlete? Jon jones?
6'5 longest reach in UFC history and.................

http://i47.tinypic.com/2gt3g5v.gif
:roll: :roll: :roll:

Isnt Phelps retired? But hed be up there not better than those 5 tho

[yungtyrekeevans]

First of all LOL Cristiano does use steroids
2nd he has a 30 inch vertical and his hands dont seem that long. He cant dunk

bruh, that article u done read said he had a 18 inch standin vertical. shit wasn't on point. cristiano is sportin at least a 35inch vertical. im talkin minimum bruh. look at dis shit...

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/10/article-2536768-1A883A2800000578-430_306x427.jpg

http://www.markkislich.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/cristiano-ronaldo-567-superman-jump-in-barcelona-vs-real-madrid-for-la-liga-2012-2013-490x300.jpg

[oarabbus]

Christiano probably can't even dunk a basketball.


:biggums:

Don't display your ignorance THAT blatantly, dude can dunk easily.

"Ronaldo isn't athletic"

http://nesncom.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/cristiano-ronaldo-abs.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/14/article-2278671-0155BF3500000578-791_634x466.jpg
http://p0.storage.canalblog.com/00/46/1029856/79065068_p.jpg

http://footdribbler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Ronaldo-Jump.jpg



Olympic powerlifters put football players to shame too.

http://www.olympiclifting.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/olympic-weightlifting-vertical-jump.jpg

http://ukolympicweightlifting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/huster_jump.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/27f72b3cb6d996e872b2cc4962a008f5/tumblr_mkyp328pGL1s7wpm8o1_1280.jpg


This guy can probably outjump everyone in the NBA except MAYBE James White or Gerald Green.

http://38.media.tumblr.com/efc2157ac9de93fe6c443bec9bf74eba/tumblr_mvedi6wPNa1qjbjdyo2_400.gif

Hes a high schooler. The collegiate guys jump much higher and the pros even more so.


Lol @ the extreme overrating of football/basketball players in this thread. Pro football and bball players are professional because they are skilled at their game. Look in various track and field events, and gymnastics too, and any component of athleticism you can think of - vert, strength, explosiveness, speed, agility, dexterity, etc... NBA/NFL players are not on the same level. They became NBA players because they're damn good at basketball.

[hahaitme]

Christiano probably can't even dunk a basketball.

Ehhh I've seen 6 footers dunk at pickup and these guys only play on the weekends. Im sure Ronaldo has enough hops in him to get a ball up there

[hahaitme]

Fighters arent on that level.

Whos the best MMA athlete? Jon jones?
6'5 longest reach in UFC history and.................

http://i47.tinypic.com/2gt3g5v.gif
:roll: :roll: :roll:

Isnt Phelps retired? But hed be up there not better than those 5 tho

6'4", 7' wingspan, and he can barely hit the rim :roll:

to be fair though he jumped like a retard. I'm sure if he got some practice in he'd be able to do it

[oarabbus]

http://giant.gfycat.com/ThatSnoopyBoubou.gif

Ronaldo can jump higher than the average NBA player. It's been measured at 30", some in game plays (posted again) have him at 40"+

http://footdribbler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Ronaldo-Jump.jpg

[Budadiiii]

http://giant.gfycat.com/ThatSnoopyBoubou.gif

Ronaldo can jump higher than the average NBA player. It's been measured at 30", some in game plays (posted again) have him at 40"+

http://footdribbler.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Ronaldo-Jump.jpg
His head was over the goal post.

That's a pretty big deal

[oarabbus]

His head was over the goal post.

That's a pretty big deal


It is a big deal. That's some insane shit right there. I'm gonna post this one again


http://ukolympicweightlifting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/huster_jump.jpg

This man is clean and jerking 470lbs ladies and gentlemen and from the looks of it is probably >30" vert.

Megatron, LeBron, AP would go home crying if you asked them to do this.

[Hittin_Shots]

How about AFL players?

http://freebet.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/AFL+Rd+18+Essendon+v+Carlton+mAk7FBxnWeel.jpg

[Smoke117]

Fighters arent on that level.

Whos the best MMA athlete? Jon jones?
6'5 longest reach in UFC history and.................

http://i47.tinypic.com/2gt3g5v.gif
:roll: :roll: :roll:

Isnt Phelps retired? But hed be up there not better than those 5 tho

I watched that video on youtube and that shit was pretty funny. To be fair, he's never really played basketball much and never tried to dunk. It's still hilarious watching his horrible jump trying to dunk, though.

[iamgine]

Well soccer usually are more lower body, skill and vision than upper body athleticism. While in basketball both lower body and upper body athleticism are useful so yeah I would say NBA players are more athletic than soccer players.

[oarabbus]

Well soccer players usually are more lower body, skill and vision than upper body athleticism. While in basketball both lower body and upper body athleticism are useful so yeah I would say NBA players are more athletic than soccer players.


Again, by that logic (male) gymnasts >>>>> NBA players. Their upper bodies are WAY stronger and their lower bodies comparable, if not stronger.

[iamgine]

Again, by that logic (male) gymnasts >>>>> NBA players. Their upper bodies are WAY stronger and their lower bodies comparable, if not stronger.
Well yes they are arguably more athletic than NBA players.

[kshutts1]

I've long considered NBA players to be the best athletes in the world. Obviously, other sports can have athletes that are better, but on average I think it's NBA.

Traits I look for in athleticism:
Hand-eye coordination
Foot-eye coordination
Balance/body control
Strength relative to size (Pig Miller may not get extra points, but Shaq would)
Speed
Jumping
Acceleration
Stamina

As for the male gymnast, they're undoubtedly stronger relative to their weight than your average NBA player, but their sport does not show speed, HEC, FEC, acceleration. There are some events/aspects where they're on display, but not as regularly.

Soccer, as a sport, has a minimal strength factor. Their players will typically take the cake in the bottom four attributes I listed (though tennis and track are up there), as well as FEC.

I just think that the NBA, as a whole, demands more of the list than any other sport so, almost by default, you need to be a great athlete.

One other super-subjective measurement is effectiveness in another sport without practicing. So, stripping a sport of its skill-based attributes (shooting, ball-handling/dribbling, QB play/route running, etc) can Athlete X be even remotely successful in another sport?

Just as a super quick example, there were athletes in my school that had never played... Ultimate Frisbee, Tennis, Badminton, etc... and the first time I saw them play, it was apparent they had not been shown how to play, but they were still effective. Not tennis-team good, but effective.

[SpanishACB]

Ronaldo is built like a sprint runner but there are faster players all over the Spanish league. He's a 100 meter 11 seconds guy, like many. But he has a nice vertical and can "stay on the air".

Messi's first step probably matches those of plenty NBA players.

Either way, athletism covers much more than just running fast and jumping. These two probably dwarf most NBA players in endurance, for instance.

Totally different sports mind. No one makes a living in soccer by being just athletic or tall, skill is the number one priority and by quite a margin. It's not like in the NBA were you can make it as a C with minimal actual basketball skill or starting at the age of 20 or something...

[LBJHEAT]

Here's Mario Balotelli dunking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8UTQ8IWixk

He is 6'2 and doesn't come close to Ronaldo athletically. LMAO at you guys thinking Ronaldo can't dunk.

IMO the best athlete in the world is Ashton Eaton. The only thing LeBron has over him is his strength.

[ArbitraryWater]

First of all LOL Cristiano does use steroids
2nd he has a 30 inch vertical and his hands dont seem that long. He cant dunk


:facepalm

[ThickassGlasses]

Athleticism can't be generically defined; it depends on the specific task that's being performed.

Ronaldo is extremely athletic in the realm of soccer, put him on basketball court or football field and he'd be average. All three sports require different traits of athleticism to be successful.

[ThickassGlasses]

Here's Mario Balotelli dunking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8UTQ8IWixk

He is 6'2 and doesn't come close to Ronaldo athletically. LMAO at you guys thinking Ronaldo can't dunk.

IMO the best athlete in the world is Ashton Eaton. The only thing LeBron has over him is his strength.

I bet LeBron is much better at changing directions and moving laterally.. Which are traits, major ones in fact, of athleticism. It depends on the task being performed.

[ak47buffalo]

Do any NBA players have the stamina of soccer players? No.

Different traits are required for different sports. Soccer demands incredible stamina and agility, but less strength and explosiveness then basketball.

So what are you really asking? Can Ronaldo or Messi jump as high as the averag NBA player? No. Can they run for much longer? Yes.

[ak47buffalo]

Here's Mario Balotelli dunking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8UTQ8IWixk

He is 6'2 and doesn't come close to Ronaldo athletically. LMAO at you guys thinking Ronaldo can't dunk.

IMO the best athlete in the world is Ashton Eaton. The only thing LeBron has over him is his strength.

Balotelli is a beast, not in a million years is Ronaldo more explosive then him. Balo is incredibly strong and he'll have a lot easier time dunking a basketball then Ronaldo who is far more stamina and finesse then Balo is.

[oarabbus]

Do any NBA players have the stamina of soccer players? No.

Different traits are required for different sports. Soccer demands incredible stamina and agility, but less strength and explosiveness then basketball.

So what are you really asking? Can Ronaldo or Messi jump as high as the averag NBA player? No. Can they run for much longer? Yes.


Dude, Ronaldo's vert is higher than the average NBA player. Sure, LeBron, Westbrook, etc have a higher vert... but Ronaldo has a higher vert than 50% of the NBA at least.

[Papaya Petee]

Wait , did somebody call Ballotelli more athletic than Ronaldo?:roll: Ronaldo is faster than any NBA player, has a better 40 yard dash than Lebron and has realistically a 36 inch vertical. He can DESTROY the ball. I hate the guy but hes a freak athlete one of the best in the world. Messis amazing quickness, BEST footwork in the world (would embarass any NBA player in footwork) strength (hes a midget yet he almost never gets pushed off the ball) amazing control and great finishing put him as a top world athlete too. Messi and Ronaldo are "Average athletes"? Please dont embarass yourself.

[inclinerator]

Again, by that logic (male) gymnasts >>>>> NBA players. Their upper bodies are WAY stronger and their lower bodies comparable, if not stronger.
u have to factor in height

all gymnast are manlets

[ILLsmak]

:facepalm


You don't think dude's on PEDs? UCRAY.

-Smak

[oarabbus]

You don't think dude's on PEDs? UCRAY.

-Smak


Maybe, I don't really know. But he can't be unathletic AND be on PEDs. People are saying on one side he can't dunk and is not a good athlete and on the other hand the only reason he has a >30" vert is because on PEDs.


Ronaldo 31" measured vertical jump http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/754936-cristiano-ronaldo-workout-haircut-portugal-striker-said-to-have-higher-vertical-jump-than-many-nba-players/
Average NBA vertical is 28" souirce: http://www.topendsports.com/testing/results/vertical-jump.htm


Harrison Barnes had the highest vert of that class at 38", and he's an amazing athlete.

Then you have TRUE jumping freaks like Justin Bethel and his 60" standing vert :eek: :eek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08RJgDJS8Dgm


Keep in mind that usually people's best vertical jumps happen in-game when the adrenaline is flowing, especially in things like missed alley-oops.

[Eat Like A Bosh]

Messi and Ronaldo are athletic, in a different way. Doesn't mean they'll succeed when going against nba players.
On a basketball court, they'd probably look like a bench warmer or something. They won't be as strong or have any explosive hops, but their agility and stamina will surely trump a lot of nba players.

[yarrak]

Lol at anyone saying Ronaldo isn't athletic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6qegA1PB7k

He is fast af:bowdown: His vertical is most likely higher than the average NBA player as well.

http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2013931/rs_634x844-131031135521-634.Cristiano-Ronaldo-CR7-Ad.2.ms.103113.jpg

Dude is ripped as hell too.

[oarabbus]

I've long considered NBA players to be the best athletes in the world. Obviously, other sports can have athletes that are better, but on average I think it's NBA.

Traits I look for in athleticism:
Hand-eye coordination
Foot-eye coordination
Balance/body control
Strength relative to size (Pig Miller may not get extra points, but Shaq would)
Speed
Jumping
Acceleration
Stamina

As for the male gymnast, they're undoubtedly stronger relative to their weight than your average NBA player, but their sport does not show speed, HEC, FEC, acceleration. There are some events/aspects where they're on display, but not as regularly.

Soccer, as a sport, has a minimal strength factor. Their players will typically take the cake in the bottom four attributes I listed (though tennis and track are up there), as well as FEC.

I just think that the NBA, as a whole, demands more of the list than any other sport so, almost by default, you need to be a great athlete.

One other super-subjective measurement is effectiveness in another sport without practicing. So, stripping a sport of its skill-based attributes (shooting, ball-handling/dribbling, QB play/route running, etc) can Athlete X be even remotely successful in another sport?

Just as a super quick example, there were athletes in my school that had never played... Ultimate Frisbee, Tennis, Badminton, etc... and the first time I saw them play, it was apparent they had not been shown how to play, but they were still effective. Not tennis-team good, but effective.

I might have come off as saying basketball players aren't good athletes and that isn't what I meant. Westbrook, LeBron, Gerald Green, these guys are world-class athletes for sure.

But if you truly don't think gymnastics of all sports requires hand-eye and foot eye coordination, I don't know what to tell you. These guys swing from different sets of rings, balance themselves at any angle with one arm, jump through shit and do flips on rails... basketball requires basketball skill but to say it requires more coordination of any type than gymnastics is simply not true.

Soccer may not require certain traits of athleticism like you mentioned, but as a sport you cannot discredit how dominant it is in requiring stamina. I can play ball for 3 hours, but soccer requires ridiculous levels of endurance.

Hockey players also have a crazy amount of strength, hand-eye coordination, and other types of athleticism.

I just don't think it's as simple as saying Bolt, Megatron, and Lebron are the greatest athletes. There are too many types of athleticism to say that. And he might be a skinny twig but you can't discredit someone like those high jumpers or Kenenisa Bekele. Guy holds the world record in the 5000m and 10000m, he dropped a 12:37 5k and a 26.17 10k.


That's averaging 4.04 for 3.1 miles or 4:14 for 6.2 miles :biggums:



That's just insanity. It doesn't make sense, I read before "those times are just so out there"... You could take the best at running athletes from every other sport, and this guy would make it look like Shaq vs. high schoolers. Now I'm not saying he's as good of an athlete as Westbrook or Calvin Johnson, but that kind of greatness needs to be respected. I just don't think it's that simple. We just get more exposure to football/basketball players so we have a bias they must be the greatest athletes. But who can name a world champion decathlete? That's literally the ultimate test of athleticism. I can't name a single decathlete, but that's because that isn't televised.

I'm willing to hear any arguments how Calvin Johnson or Lebron is as athletic as someone who has posted world class marks in:

100m, 400m, 1500m -pure explosive speed, fast prolonged sprinting, fast running)
Long jump, high jump, pole vault -apparently the decathlete WR is 2.27m which is jumping over an 89 inch bar. No football or basketball players will come close to that. Plus pole vaulting is hard as shit :lol
And don't forget strength, they do discuss, shotput, javelin. These guys gotta be pretty strong to throw a shotput 60+ feet

and on top of that, just for the KO the 10th event is the 110m hurdles. The event where they have to leap over 42" hurdles, a height that most football and basketball athletes cant reach once. Ten times. While sprinting.

Decathletes pretty much meet elite marks in every facet of athleticism you could test, and they would probably be more able to translate into other sports than anyone.

Maybe you disagree that decathletes are the best athletes, and you have the right to, but my point is the sports that are popular are being weighted, when lesser known athletes aren't being given credit.

[Trollsmasher]

Lol at anyone saying Ronaldo isn't athletic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6qegA1PB7k

He is fast af:bowdown:
now imagine if someone actually taught him how to run:lol

dude's strides are short as **** because he does not raise his knees at all

[Papaya Petee]

now imagine if someone actually taught him how to run:lol

dude's strides are short as **** because he does not raise his knees at all
Is this a joke

[StephHamann]

Some of the best football players in the world are terrible atheltes, but you dont need to rely on athletisism and hight, thats why football is much more popular around the world than Basketball or American Football.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeOT351TD6k

http://www.hiilkubad.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Xavi.jpg

one of the best of all time and he is a skinny short dude with under average stamina.

[kurple]

http://p0.storage.canalblog.com/00/46/1029856/79065068_p.jpg
First of all LOL Cristiano does use steroids
2nd he has a 30 inch vertical and his hands dont seem that long. He cant dunk

dude can dunk. easily

i bet he's faster than 95% of the NBA as well

[kurple]

and look at the best basketball team in the world (Spurs). talk about a non athletc bunch

[LeBird]

http://www.hiilkubad.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Xavi.jpg

one of the best of all time and he is a skinny short dude with under average stamina.

Nonsense. Xavi may be less athletic than a Ronaldo but he has crazy stamina, that's his main strength. He covers a lot of ground and makes a lot of passes with ridiculous accuracy. He's definitely a player that is renown for his skill, but let's not dismiss his athletic ability. In football you simply can't be one of the best players in the world these days without having a high level of it.

[Nikola_]

Soccer needs Steve Nashs not LeBrans

[stanlove1111]

Messi and Ronaldo are athletic, in a different way. Doesn't mean they'll succeed when going against nba players.
On a basketball court, they'd probably look like a bench warmer or something. They won't be as strong or have any explosive hops, but their agility and stamina will surely trump a lot of nba players.

Would you guys stop with the stamina crap. Why would you say that a Soccer player would have more stamina then a basketball player..Have played both and watched both plenty and Bball requires more stamina.



I think its pretty simple to decide what athleticism is. Its a combination of speed,stengh and size. If you matched up the 2 soccer players against the average NBA player ( and don't use bog men who are just there for their size ) in a decathlon after 2 months training who would win? That's you better athlete.

If you had to pick the average NBA player or the 2 soccer players to train to be a safety in Football which is all about athleticism then which would you take..That will tell which which is the better athlete.

[Wade3]

Ronaldo is incredibly fast and powerful. Just an amazing athlete by any metric.

Messi has the BEST Agility I have ever seen by any athlete ever with the exception of Barry Sanders. The way his joints move isn't natural.

He'd probably set the NFL combine record for the cone drills.

[dannywpt]

What is ridiculous is that someone like Ronaldo can be as fast, agile, athletic and explosive WHILE having incredible stamnia for 90 or 120 minutes.

Footballers/soccer players run like 12km/13k yards a game. It's ****ing ridiculous to be as explosive as him late in the game after jogging around for that long.

[stanlove1111]

What is ridiculous is that someone like Ronaldo can be as fast, agile, athletic and explosive WHILE having incredible stamnia for 90 or 120 minutes.

Footballers/soccer players run like 12km/13k yards a game. It's ****ing ridiculous to be as explosive as him late in the game after jogging around for that long.

There is a lot of standing around in soccer. Not impressed with their stamina at all..

[stanlove1111]

He'd probably set the NFL combine record for the cone drills.


LOL..

[R.I.P.]

Some of the best football players in the world are terrible atheltes, but you dont need to rely on athletisism and hight, thats why football is much more popular around the world than Basketball or American Football.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeOT351TD6k

http://www.hiilkubad.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Xavi.jpg

one of the best of all time and he is a skinny short dude with under average stamina.

Well he doesn

[Trollsmasher]

Is this a joke
no, watch Tested to the Limit

they compare him with a sprinter and basically tell to him that he runs like a retard:lol

[bukowski81]

no, watch Tested to the Limit

they compare him with a sprinter and basically tell to him that he runs like a retard:lol

No they dont. They actually say he runs the way he does because thats whats required for a soccer player. The sprinter beat him running on a straight line and ronaldo won running on zig zag.

[qrich]

If your only perception of athletic is the ability to Mozgov someone, then yes, they are average.

But, overall, no, they aren't.

Most NBA players wouldn't be able to spend 45 straight minutes on the pitch without asking for a time-out.

[Papaya Petee]

no, watch Tested to the Limit

they compare him with a sprinter and basically tell to him that he runs like a retard:lol
He has a better 40 yard dash than any NBA player yet he runs like a retard? :lol

[FKAri]

now imagine if someone actually taught him how to run:lol

dude's strides are short as **** because he does not raise his knees at all

A soccer player who has to control a ball in between his strides has shorter strides? Who wouldve thunk?

[Nick Young]

stamina + quickness of both >>> NBA
They have more endurance (because they train for it) but they aren't quicker.

Do you think if Ronaldo trained for NBA he would be athletically comparable to Westbrook? I don't.


I can't even imagine if a guy with Westbrooks size and stamina trained in football (soccer) their whole life. That player would be unstoppable as a striker or a wall as a central defender.

[wally_world]

People realise athleticism is more than jumping high right? :rolleyes:

[yarrak]

They have more endurance (because they train for it) but they aren't quicker.

Do you think if Ronaldo trained for NBA he would be athletically comparable to Westbrook? I don't.


I can't even imagine if a guy with Westbrooks size and stamina trained in football (soccer) their whole life. That player would be unstoppable as a striker or a wall as a central defender.

It's all about the skill bro. Being very athletic doesn't mean shit in soccer unless you're talented.

[abuC]

Maybe, I don't really know. But he can't be unathletic AND be on PEDs. People are saying on one side he can't dunk and is not a good athlete and on the other hand the only reason he has a >30" vert is because on PEDs.


Ronaldo 31" measured vertical jump http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/754936-cristiano-ronaldo-workout-haircut-portugal-striker-said-to-have-higher-vertical-jump-than-many-nba-players/
Average NBA vertical is 28" souirce: http://www.topendsports.com/testing/results/vertical-jump.htm


Harrison Barnes had the highest vert of that class at 38", and he's an amazing athlete.

The average vertical for PG, SG, SFs in the NBA is 35" (step vertical like the one Ronaldo did), for PFs and Cs it's 33" and 31" per Draftexpress averages. Barnes had a high no step vertical, but the highest vertical overall from the 2012 class of people that were actually drafted was 40.5" from Marquis Teague.


Then you have TRUE jumping freaks like Justin Bethel and his 60" standing vert :eek: :eek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08RJgDJS8Dgm


Keep in mind that usually people's best vertical jumps happen in-game when the adrenaline is flowing, especially in things like missed alley-oops.


That's not how vertical's are measured, Justin's actual vertical from the NFL combine is 39.5".

http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Justin&l=Bethel&i=10068

[EnoughSaid]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/10/article-2536768-1A883A2800000578-430_306x427.jpg

Ronaldo is one of the best athletes on the planet. Strong, fast, quick, explosive. He is as ridiculous as it gets.

[abuC]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/10/article-2536768-1A883A2800000578-430_306x427.jpg

Ronaldo is one of the best athletes on the planet. Strong, fast, quick, explosive. He is as ridiculous as it gets.

He got a boost from contacting those other two guys, sort of like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NREJAtsyBM

[stanlove1111]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/10/article-2536768-1A883A2800000578-430_306x427.jpg

Ronaldo is one of the best athletes on the planet. Strong, fast, quick, explosive. He is as ridiculous as it gets.

Rubbish. Almost any pro or major college defensive back would laugh at a guy like him.

[AirTupac]

You can tell retards like stanlove have never touched a sport :oldlol:

[Y2Gezee]

I've always wished that US Soccer and MLS would place more (MLB also FWIW) of an emphasis on putting money into urban neighborhoods and African, providing scholarships for better elementary education (private or charter school funding) as well as training and equipment and land for African Americans to to gain interest and skills for Soccer (or Baseball).

Simply put these neighborhoods are producing the best athletes in the World (Track/Field, Football players, and the clear best athletes in the world NBA players). Not saying take them away from these sports, but look at what an Andrew Mccutchen is doing in Baseball, he's got athleticism that says NFL DB or WR and it translates into being a phenomenal baseball player.

The idea of providing better schooling is a way to both help the neighborhoods, and also commit these players to playing the sports as well and gaining skill in the sports...thus of course interest enough to make it a career. I'm a huge college football (and somewhat hoops) fan, and year after year I see some of these phenomenal athletes that are better overall athletes than some others that are currently in the leagues not make it (and maybe some go to Europe or China or NBDL, but many don't) and I wonder if it's because they chose the wrong sport. Many of them clearly have the coordination, footwork, and imagination to have been better soccer players than some of these bums that are currently representing US in Soccer.

Hell jurgen klinsmann has been relogated to recruiting German players that had African American fathers stationed in Germany to bring talent to the States.

[Andrei89]

LOL

I see not many people know Ronaldo around here except for his name.

Ronaldo is 6 foot 2 and has around 40 inch vertical leap. Of course he could dunk the ball you dumbfks :lol :lol

[brantonli]

Shouldn't this whole thread be about which metrics you measure athletic ability? It seems ridiculous to belittle football stars at their vertical when they have no need of it, it's like pointing at a cross country runner and laughing why he can't jump very high.

Something better would be km/minute for each sport, and baring in mind basketball you get far more rest than in football.

[stanlove1111]

Something better would be km/minute for each sport, and baring in mind basketball you get far more rest than in football.


I call total BS on that. I have played and watched both. You get more rest in a Soccer game.

[PsychoBe]

I call total BS on that. I have played and watched both. You get more rest in a Soccer game.

a soccer field is like 10x's the size of a basketball court....

i've played soccer basketball and football and i wrestled in high school (basketball as a freshman, soccer as a sophmore, wrestled junior year and football as a senior)

by far the sport that pushed me the hardest was soccer. we would run the field back and forth until we nearly puked and then we had to run the track some more just so we could be conditioned enough for games.

the games move almost a thousand times faster than you realize, you have to chase and watch the ball and move in sharp cuts and zig-zags and sprints and accelerate and decelerate in a much larger space than any other sport.

i quit soccer before the season was over because between that and my studies i just couldn't take it anymore the things the coach demanded out of us was simply unreal to me but we were a very good team i'd give him that.

you need almost world-class endurance, speed, and stamina (as well as extraordinary lower body strength) from top to bottom to be a soccer player, and the great ones are just that much better.

[stanlove1111]

a soccer field is like 10x's the size of a basketball court....

i've played soccer basketball and football and i wrestled in high school (basketball as a freshman, soccer as a sophmore, wrestled junior year and football as a senior)

by far the sport that pushed me the hardest was soccer. we would run the field back and forth until we nearly puked and then we had to run the track some more just so we could be conditioned enough for games.

the games move almost a thousand times faster than you realize, you have to chase and watch the ball and move in sharp cuts and zig-zags and sprints and accelerate and decelerate in a much larger space than any other sport.

i quit soccer before the season was over because between that and my studies i just couldn't take it anymore the things the coach demanded out of us was simply unreal to me but we were a very good team i'd give him that.

you need almost world-class endurance, speed, and stamina (as well as extraordinary lower body strength) from top to bottom to be a soccer player, and the great ones are just that much better.


Again I call vs,, it doesn't matter which playing field is longer, it matters who is moving more and how often they are going all out..the ball player needs more stamina.. A lot of standing round in soccer.

[FKAri]

I've always wished that US Soccer and MLS would place more (MLB also FWIW) of an emphasis on putting money into urban neighborhoods and African, providing scholarships for better elementary education (private or charter school funding) as well as training and equipment and land for African Americans to to gain interest and skills for Soccer (or Baseball).

Simply put these neighborhoods are producing the best athletes in the World (Track/Field, Football players, and the clear best athletes in the world NBA players). Not saying take them away from these sports, but look at what an Andrew Mccutchen is doing in Baseball, he's got athleticism that says NFL DB or WR and it translates into being a phenomenal baseball player.

The idea of providing better schooling is a way to both help the neighborhoods, and also commit these players to playing the sports as well and gaining skill in the sports...thus of course interest enough to make it a career. I'm a huge college football (and somewhat hoops) fan, and year after year I see some of these phenomenal athletes that are better overall athletes than some others that are currently in the leagues not make it (and maybe some go to Europe or China or NBDL, but many don't) and I wonder if it's because they chose the wrong sport. Many of them clearly have the coordination, footwork, and imagination to have been better soccer players than some of these bums that are currently representing US in Soccer.

Hell jurgen klinsmann has been relogated to recruiting German players that had African American fathers stationed in Germany to bring talent to the States.

The Spanish team that was so dominant did not have superior athletes. They had talent and unrivaled technique.

[BigMacAttack]

Again I call vs,, it doesn't matter which playing field is longer, it matters who is moving more and how often they are going all out..the ball player needs more stamina.. A lot of standing round in soccer.

Give it up bro you are clueless about soccer. When you and your fat mates kick a ball around maybe there is a lot of standing around but guys playing at the pro level never stop moving basically.

[oarabbus]

I call total BS on that. I have played and watched both. You get more rest in a Soccer game.

Never played soccer confirmed


Soccer is way more physically taxing (endurance wise) than bball.

[iamgine]

Soccer and basketball takes a different kind of stamina. A pure soccer player would soon get tired playing basketball and vice versa.

Heck even full court vs 3 on 3 half court basketball takes a different kind of stamina. While I can last full court basketball for hours, I felt very tired playing a single game of 3 on 3.

[SyRyanYang]

Then you have TRUE jumping freaks like Justin Bethel and his 60" standing vert :eek: :eek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08RJgDJS8Dgm



lol box-jump=/=vertical

are you literally retarded or have you never seen the inside of a gym?

[SpanishACB]

I love the argument "i've played basketball and soccer"...

because none of the people using it acknowledged that in soccer the position you play plays an incredibly key role in the motor needed, with some players running up to 15 kilometers a game, in sprints.

kind of shows that if they really played soccer it was but a game amongst friends were no one ran for shit.

[Collie]

Football (soccer) only looks like players are standing around because the camera is usually zoomed out farther, but believe me, they're always moving and running and doing small sprints around the field.

When a single goal might be the difference between winning and losing, you better damn believe these guys are always following the movement of the ball. Even defenders are always active.

[ArbitraryWater]

Cristiano Ronaldo


http://31.media.tumblr.com/c37d789d713c17799768c89b6a3cfb68/tumblr_mtqt7eFH3d1qiy96so1_500.gif

http://24.media.tumblr.com/cd1aa14bb2ada89cf426795fa1344542/tumblr_mrw69n9nvQ1r49asho1_250.gif

http://25.media.tumblr.com/6d424c783f353b8285957f8b014485ca/tumblr_mtpmahHSzQ1rl2q0io1_500.gif


http://25.media.tumblr.com/03a9f510984403f4aa633ab80e9384e9/tumblr_mvlfzkPem31qih2jwo2_500.gif

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/969594_592405870779853_102611840_n.jpg


http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2012/08/best-dressed-athletes-victor-cruz-lebron-james/_jcr_content/par/cn_contentwell/par-main/cn_slideshow/item10.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.ss11-cristiano-ronaldo-ibdl-men-in-sports.jpg

http://clmlkbks.s3.amazonaws.com/lg_4eb7d4e2-e9f8-4d62-8205-7f690a7a1917.jpg

https://31.media.tumblr.com/eba464bbd774f157b85dae3d425a4138/tumblr_myadaedVhg1rt0n6no2_250.gif

Everyone wants a piece.

GOAT Footballer, GOAT Looks, GOAT Personality.

Anyone's self esteem level dropped yet?

And no, I didn't need to google these. I had them prepared right from my fap folder :rockon:

[SpanishACB]

his greasy face is about average in looks

that's how a great body looks without peds mind you. Notice how footballers have normal jaws and still have their hair?

http://amenzing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/aitor-ocio1.jpg

http://www.tikiytaka.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/akinfenwa-01.jpg

[stanlove1111]

Give it up bro you are clueless about soccer. When you and your fat mates kick a ball around maybe there is a lot of standing around but guys playing at the pro level never stop moving basically.

Moe BS..There are actually games on tv that can be watched. A lot of standing around..

Can you show me some examples of soccer players not having stamina? Give me the list of soccer players who didn't have the stamina to play..

[stanlove1111]

Never played soccer confirmed


Soccer is way more physically taxing (endurance wise) than bball.

You can post that 100 times in a row and its still wrong.