Is Ovi NHL's Ronaldo?

[JeffreyLFC]

Cristiano Ronaldo is a genetic freak. Ronaldo is arguably the best soccer player of all time and to me he is. Absolutely insane tools, height, speed, shot and a complete utility player. No one is looking for Messi in the box.

I love Ovechkin and I’d be comfortable to saying he’s probably one of the best to ever lace them in the NHL however I have to also acknowledge the fact that Ronaldo is the goat in the most competitive and easy to access sport of all time.


There’s probably a kid in Brazil right now who can outclass Gretzky that has never even heard of the NHL

Ronaldo is not a genetic freak. He is one of the most dedicated player outside of the field in history with his crazy workouts, diet and ability to stay fit. So a workout freak.

A genetic freak I would say: Wembanyama, Bolt, Phelps are true physical freak with insane genetics and if we stay in football I would say Haaland and Adama Traoré are more genetically gifted than Ronaldo.

 

[kerrabria]

Is Ovi NHL's Ronaldo? Many people won't like this cross sports comparison but I will try

Obivously Ronaldo is greater in his own sport as he arguibly the GOAT or close 2'd behind only Messi. While Ovi is barely a Top 10 NHL player ever but there are a lot in common between the two.

- They are both (left) wingers who LOVE to score goals
- Both had a breakthrough season in 2007/08 season
- Both have aged gracefully and still scoring goals. Ronaldo in Saudi and Ovi in NHL (The best hockey league by far) in 2025

Nah, they have more differences than similarities.
The biggest one being their attitude and general approach to being a professional athlete.

 

[Sol]

Ronaldo is not a genetic freak. He is one of the most dedicated player outside of the field in history with his crazy workouts, diet and ability to stay fit. So a workout freak.

A genetic freak I would say: Wembanyama, Bolt, Phelps are true physical freak with insane genetics and if we stay in football I would say Haaland and Adama Traoré are more genetically gifted than Ronaldo.

Ronaldo had unbelievable dexterity for his size, unbelievable agility for his size, and even an insane vertical leap. There’s a reason why he was and is so accomplished. It’s his dedication plus an insane genetics. Some people forget how nimble, strong and coordinated he is at his size.

Slightly faster than Neymar and he’s 6’2.

 

[JoVel]

Ovi is a superior player and person than Ronaldo, bar none.

Messi and Ronaldo separated themselves from the field much more than Crosby and Ovechkin ever did, in a sport that is a thousand times more competitive than hockey. Ronaldo is the better player.

Neither of the two are people I would ever want anything to do with in real life.

 

[Holkoun]

Currently
In sports, Ovechkin >>> Ronaldo
In other issues, Ovechkin << Ronaldo

What? Not even close. Neither R9 nor to CR7.
Both of them are more complex players (in case of CR7 especially his MU times)

 

[Foppberg]

Messi and Ronaldo separated themselves from the field much more than Crosby and Ovechkin ever did, in a sport that is a thousand times more competitive than hockey. Ronaldo is the better player.

Neither of the two are people I would ever want anything to do with in real life.

Ronaldo is one of the most overrate athletes of all time.

 

[Holtbyisms]

While Ovi is barely a Top 10 NHL player ever

Are you high?

 

[Acallabeth]

Their personalities couldn't be more different.

An ultra dedicated fitness maniac vs a natural talent with a relaxed attitude to discipline outside of the rink.

One of the most individualistic football players vs a popular team player.

Changed clubs many times partially due to ego reasons vs loyal to his only 2 career teams, Caps and Dynamo.

Obsessed with being the best vs loving the game above anything else.

That being said, Cristiano Ronaldo's accomplishments dwarf any hockey player, even Gretzky.

 

[Turbonium]

Aside from that, Ovi is pure class and not a narcissistic shit person. Odd to compare such different athletes and people.

Cristiano Ronaldo has done extensive work for charities and other organizations like Save the Children and UNICEF. He donated 1.5 million to a Portuguese cancer center, sent 5 million in aid to the Nepal earthquke victims, paid off numerous medical bills, etc etc.

 

[EHCler]

Their personalities couldn't be more different.

An ultra dedicated fitness maniac vs a natural talent with a relaxed attitude to discipline outside of the rink.

One of the most individualistic football players vs a popular team player.

Changed clubs many times partially due to ego reasons vs loyal to his only 2 career teams, Caps and Dynamo.

Obsessed with being the best vs loving the game above anything else.

That being said, Cristiano Ronaldo's accomplishments dwarf any hockey player, even Gretzky.

Ronaldos show belongs to his image. There are few players who had more ambition to win (even outside the personal records). I have never heard a bad word from one of his teammates. (similar to Ovi)
The title collection says everything. Outside World Cup won everything - World Cup not easy for Portugal.
From professionalism one of the best raw models for kids.

His antics i do dislike but he earns my highest respect as Ovi. 2 all time greats of for their sport.
Ovi so needs the second Lord Stanley. That must be the goal this year.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Ovechkin is more of the NHL's Barry Bonds/Roger Clemens I'd say.

 

[qcal1427]

Yea I say this with truly the utmost respect but personality-wise Cristiano is maybe the archetypical "sports psychopath." Much closer to MJ or even Crosby. Maybe MacKinnon is the best NHL comparison in that way.

Stylistically though I think it is a good comp

 

[Hoglander]

but can Ronaldo play hockey?

 

[Matsun]

I think this is a good comparison. Both Ronaldo and OV had a huge short historic peak that ended long ago, but they kept scoring goals at an all time level without being the dominant force they used to be,

Ronaldo from 08-13ish would be incredible on any team ever, but after that I feel like he very very rarely if ever was actually the best player on the field in the big games even if he scored the most goals and the deciding goals.

What a dumb comment...he still makes the National squad and he performs well there for the most part. He's had good Euros since he joined Al-Nassr

He was horrible in the Euros? He has 1 goal in 9 Euro/WC games since joining Al-Nassr and it was a group stage goal against Ghana back in 2022.

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

Is Ovi NHL's Ronaldo? Many people won't like this cross sports comparison but I will try

Obivously Ronaldo is greater in his own sport as he arguibly the GOAT or close 2'd behind only Messi. While Ovi is barely a Top 10 NHL player ever but there are a lot in common between the two.

- They are both (left) wingers who LOVE to score goals
- Both had a breakthrough season in 2007/08 season
- Both have aged gracefully and still scoring goals. Ronaldo in Saudi and Ovi in NHL (The best hockey league by far) in 2025

Cristiano’s NHL equivalent was always Pavel Bure for me. Prime Cristiano was one of the fastest players on the pitch, and what separated him from the rest was the way he was able to control the ball at max speed, and scoring tons of goals.

 

[Summer Rose]

I mean, not a bad comparison, although I don't really care for soccer or watch it much.

I'd also compare Vladislav Tretiak to Lev Yashin.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

I think the comparison is good for one reason; sour Crosby fans are as pathetic as sour Messi fans.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Cole Caufield is the NHL’s Messi

He took PED's to become great?

 

[Gerulaitis]

Looking at football history,
Ovechkin is more like hockey's Ferenc Puskas.

Both kept scoring lots of goals in their 30s when past their peak.

 

[JoVel]

I think the comparison is good for one reason; sour Crosby fans are as pathetic as sour Messi fans.

You have it backwards. Both Messi and Crosby have achieved more than their rivals and are considered better by the majority of people. Why would they be the sour ones?

 

[spintheblackcircle]

I think the obvious comparison is LeBron

 

[miscs75]

Closest comparison I can think of

 

[Plastic Joseph]

I think the obvious comparison is LeBron

To some degree for sure. #1 picks with a lot of hype (although Crosby was more like lebron in this regard) , both LeBron l and ovi are the scoring leaders, goals = pts in the nba as assists are separate. Both have insane longevity.

Where they differ is that lebron is actually one of the best playmakers and not considered a pure scorer like Ovi. Ronaldo is , which is why the comparison is there

 

[spintheblackcircle]

To some degree for sure. #1 picks with a lot of hype (although Crosby was more like lebron in this regard) , both LeBron l and ovi are the scoring leaders, goals = pts in the nba as assists are separate. Both have insane longevity.

Where they differ is that lebron is actually one of the best playmakers and not considered a pure scorer like Ovi. Ronaldo is , which is why the comparison is there

As far as style of play, yes. But as far as quality deep into his 30's, LeBron and Ovechkin are much closer to their peak than is Ronaldo.