Can Messi and Ronaldo play in the same team?

Penalties

Ronaldo tips Messi over penalties

Choosing one of out of these two for the penalty duties would've been a tough choice if you had asked me a few years ago.

Leo Messi has missed many-a-penalty in recent times, even in times of dire need like in the Copa America final against ex-teammate and friend Claudio Bravo.

Ronaldo has missed too, but it hasn't happened as frequently as the Argentine.

In the last two seasons (16/17 and 15/16), Messi has had a go at 18 penalties of which he has missed 5 (conversion rate 0.72)*, whereas Ronaldo tried his luck at 20 penalties, missing 5 (conversion rate 0.75).

This still is a tough choice. Although Ronaldo has an edge over Messi with a better conversion rate, it is only by a minuscule margin. Nobody want's another episode of "penaltygate", do we? (looking at you, Cavani and Neymar)

Penalties: Cristiano Ronaldo

*NOTE: One of Messi's 'misses' actually led to that Luis Suarez goal, when the kick-taker cleverly passed the ball for the Uruguayan to bang it into the back of the net. If this accounts for a goal, then Messi's conversion rate goes up to 0.77, higher than Ronaldo.