Advent children is after FF7, and he still had to be rescued by Vincent from being killed, so this either shows that link still isnt a power house, or that the leveling system like any JRPG is just game mechanics.
Wouldnt matter any way, I dont see cloud or sephiroth taking on Thunder god cid the OP of final fantasy tactics. Even if they joined forces. Cloud is not top tier compared to the great-sword knights of final fantasy tactics, if you power scale cloud, you have to power scale great swords men too, and these great swords men or aka arch knights, temple nights, dark/holy knights ect, pretty much wrecks clouds soldier class. Zack got killed by a small army/platoon, Thunder god cid along side Barbaneth beoulve pretty much dominated the fifty year war and was universally feared and honord in their universe, unlike cloud even in FF7 was pretty much a heroic drifter who went with the tide of following around his friends.