It seems as though Lionel Messi has got Cristiano Ronaldo where he wants him.
Sure, Ronaldo has the advantage of winning more international trophies than his rival once again, but Messi has emerged victorious in just about every statistic under the sun in 2019.
As a result, despite Messi suffering Champions League and Copa del Rey heartache, it seems as though he's in with a much better chance of winning FIFA's 'The Best' award and the Ballon d'Or.
It actually looks likely that Virgil van Dijk will collect both awards, but just because he's enjoyed a better 2019, it doesn't mean that the hottest debate is anything short of Ronaldo vs Messi.
Football fans have spent the last decade and a half trying to settle the argument and their different styles of play often makes it a case of sheer subjectivity.
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Ronaldo vs Messi
There are so many ways you can approach the question and one of the most interesting is by looking at EA Sports' FIFA series, which is forced to cast their own opinion every year.
And after a few editions of Ronaldo and Messi sharing the exact same rating, early 'leaks' from FIFA 20 suggest that the Juventus man has been downgraded to 93 and below his biggest rival.
However, before the exact ratings are confirmed for definite, we've decided to breakdown FIFA's decision process to the minutia and want to explore every in-game statistic they assess.
Every single attribute
Going into the challenge blind and completely disregarding the choices from FIFA 19, here are our predictions for who will be rated highest for each and every data-set on the game. Check it out:
Pace
Acceleration: Cristiano Ronaldo
Sprint speed: Cristiano Ronaldo
Shooting
Positioning: Cristiano Ronaldo
Finishing: Lionel Messi
Shot power: Cristiano Ronaldo
Long shots: Lionel Messi
Volleys: Cristiano Ronaldo
Penalties: Cristiano Ronaldo
Passing
Vision: Lionel Messi
Crossing: Lionel Messi
Free kick: Lionel Messi
Short passing: Lionel Messi
Long passing: Lionel Messi
Curve: Lionel Messi
Dribbling
Agility: Cristiano Ronaldo
Balance: Lionel Messi
Reactions: Cristiano Ronaldo
Ball control: Lionel Messi
Dribbling: Lionel Messi
Composure: Lionel Messi
Defence
Interceptions: Cristiano Ronaldo
Heading: Cristiano Ronaldo
Marking: Cristiano Ronaldo
Standing tackle: Cristiano Ronaldo
Sliding tackle: Cristiano Ronaldo
Physical
Jumping: Cristiano Ronaldo
Stamina: Cristiano Ronaldo
Strength: Cristiano Ronaldo
Aggression: Cristiano Ronaldo
Final score: Cristiano Ronaldo 17-12 Lionel Messi
There's a reason why Ronaldo is referred to as the ultimate footballer.
Sure, some of the statistics are absolute landslide victories for Messi and he completed a whitewash in the passing category, but Ronaldo comes into his own with the physical side of the game.
And that's where, despite neither player being great defensively, he takes the victories by just having a more rounded game in terms of tackling, marking and interceptions.
Certain categories like agility and positioning could swing either way but if you disagree, then be thankful that our say isn't final and that EA still have a few days to fuss over their big verdict.