Topics: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Copa del Rey, Copa del Rey 2014 Final, El Clasico, El Clasico 2014, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi

“Ronaldo deserves to win the 2013 Ballon d’Or because he carries Real Madrid” – was Fabio Cannavaro’s unequivocal response when asked about whether the Portuguese deserved to carry home the 2013 edition of the most prestigious individual award in association football.

These words are not by any means an exaggeration of the forward’s importance to the capital club and statistics prove it all.


Real Madrid do not win 25% of their games, and without CR7 on the pitch the lose percentage rises to 35%. What this means, in simpler terms, is that without him the Spanish club loses 1 out of every 3 games they play.

As of December last year, El Commandante had netted 175 goals in 172 games, which means that by average, 40% of all Real Madrid goals had come off his boot. Since that time, the prolific forward-man’s success in front of goal has not waned and he has continued to wow fans with his all-round displays that also include setting up his teammates’ goals.

What of Ronaldo's overall performance against Barcelona? Though eclipsed by his nemesis Messi, who topped the all time list of El Clasico top scorers, by April 2014 CR7 was the second best player in the derby with all others on the list except Messi having hung up their boots.

Would Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been better off with him on the pitch for the 2014 Copa del Rey final against bitter rivals Barcelona rather than on the sidelines nursing his hamstrings? This question does not beg much debate - it is a BIG, BIG YES!