Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo (BBC) v Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar Jr. (MSN): A detailed analysis of the best Real Madrid and FC Barcelona forward trios
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The world of football has witnessed some of the best footballers playing in the same team and contributing equally to their respective clubs. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are among the greatest of all times to have embraced this beautiful game of Football. They have played alongside many footballing legends in their playing times in Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. They have broken several records and have a rivalry to become the best in Football.
However, there was a time when the two were assisted by two of the most dominant forward trios, not just in Spanish but in world football history. They were that of the BBC (Bale, Benzema, and Ronaldo) for Real Madrid and (Messi, Suarez, and Neymar) for FC Barcelona.
BBC v MSN: Goals scored by Real Madrid’s forward trio as compared to that of FC Barcelona
Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid in 2009 along with the Frenchman Karim Benzema. Gareth Bale signed for the Los Blancos in 2013 and since then the forward line has been named “BBC”. They have played for a total of five seasons in all club competitions.
Barcelona star Messi started his career playing for the Catalans from 2004 onwards. He was joined by Neymar, the Brazilian star, in 2013, and Luis Suarez in 2014. This attacking trio was popularly called the “MSN”. They have played for a total of three seasons.
Since the 2014-15 season, the Ronaldo-led BBC Trio has scored 100 goals in 148 appearances in all competitions, whereas the Messi-led MSN trio scored 122 goals in 151 appearances in all competitions.
In the next season, 2015-16, BBC contributed 98 goals out of 115 appearances in all competitions to MSN’s 131 goals in 151 appearances. In the 2016-17 season, BBC possessed 70 goals in 120 appearances to MSN’s 111 goals in 148 appearances.
BBC v MSN: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi-led trio’s achievement for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively
BBC in its term of five years has won one Laliga, three UEFA Super Cups, three FIFA Club World Cups, four Champions League trophies, and one Spanish Super Cup.
On the other hand, the MSN trio were together for three seasons and in their duration, they won one Champions League, one Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, one Supercopa de Espana, two La Liga titles, and three Copa Del Ray titles.
Thus, it is quite impossible to declare who was the better trio based on the above-mentioned stats. While the MSN trio maintained its hegemony over La Liga and outperformed the BBC trio in terms of goal scoring, the latter’s three-peat at the UCL is a feat that is simply unparalleled.
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Aakash Sadhukhan
(178 Articles Published)