The 2013-14 season was the first time in six years that Cristiano Ronaldo had bested Lionel Messi in terms of goal scoring.

Ronaldo finished the year with 51 strikes, while his great rival had "only" 41 goals in just one fewer appearances. It was not even close this year, with Ronaldo winning not only the goal scoring race, but also picking up two trophies to Messi's goose egg.

But last year featured Messi struggling to overcome a nagging leg injury that benched him for weeks at a time. Ronaldo struggled with injuries at the end of the year as well, but his problems did not last as long as Messi's. The two enter the new season with a question of their own: which one will have the better year?

If you are a Real Madrid fan, then there is tremendous concern over Ronaldo's knee. He reportedly has knee tendonitis, which indicates that he will probably continue dealing with the issue for the balance of his career. It clearly hampered his World Cup, as Ronaldo struggled to make much of an impact in Portugal's first two games. Moreover, he is 29 and his body has been overworked for years on end.

He is reportedly in top form, but he did not engage in the pre-season that much and his knee has yet to be tested. How will he do upon taking physical contact?

Messi has some injury issues of his own. Despite some moments of brilliance at the end of the season and in the group stage of the World Cup, the Argentine has not had the killer instinct of past years. During the 2013-14 season, he scored 28 goals in 31 Spanish league games. A year earlier, he scored 46 goals in 32 matches. A year before that, he had 50 in 37 games. While this certainly does not prove a decline is on the rise, it is a major question that beckons. At 27, Messi should be entering his prime years, but when one considers how many games he has played over the years, it might indicate that his prime could come quickly.

Unlike Ronaldo, Messi is no physical freak. He runs wondrously, but the displays of vomiting on the pitch in Brazil are a huge cause for concern. As the tournament developed, Messi disappeared more and more. He was never spectacular, save for some glimpses of brilliance, but he never seemed to find his top gear for long. In the final, he had a glorious chance to win it all for Argentina but flopped in his big moment. He never materialized again throughout the remainder of the game.

For Argentina, he had to carry the anemic offense on his own, while Barcelona offers him with more players to work with. However, Messi is still required to shoulder the majority of the pressure and there are indications that it might starting to crush him.

Messi might have to sit out some time as well, especially with Barcelona's crowded midfield. So it would not be surprising to see neither of these superstars hit the 50-goal mark on their respective teams.

Messi is unlikely to ever hit the peak he did in 2011-12 when he netted 73 goals in 60 games. But he should get another 50 or so, especially if Barcelona plays better than it did last season and if he stays healthy.

Ronaldo should theoretically hit 50 again, as well, but it is a bit more complicated for him. He is not expected to carry the load, he simply likes to carry it. This season could see Ronaldo's numbers take a bit of a dip if Carlo Ancelotti decides to rest him more often as a precaution. Whether Ronaldo is happy with that or not may cause some problems between player and coach, but it could very well be a reality that he must face.

Ronaldo has hit 50 goals in each of the last four seasons, but his Spanish League totals have declined every year. He had 40 in 2010-11, 46 in 2011-12, 34 in 2012-13 and 31 in 2013-14. He got a huge boost from Champions League and Copa del Rey play. Whether he gets all of those starts, especially with Madrid's six Cup competitions this season, could determine how many goals he winds up with. He could very well play in every tournament and inflate his goal totals that way, but with chronic knee tendonitis, it is inevitable that he will miss some games.

Who do you think has the better season in 2014-15? Comment below to give us your thoughts.

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