FIFA’s recent award of the Ballon d’Or 2014 (Environment Participant of the 12 months) to Cristiano Ronaldo proves that the accolade is a lot more about politics and particular attractiveness than about functionality on the industry.
Even though players from a number of nationalities are nominated and win the award, they always all engage in for European clubs though individuals lively in other leagues these as in South America and Mexico are commonly disregarded. The most effective participant is decided on by players and managers based on favoritism alternatively than merit which generally creates unworthy winners. Therefore the award has shed its recognition and turn into the item of amusement and ridicule.
The Ballon d’Or was set up by a magazine identified as France Soccer in 1956 to identify the record-makers of the game. But that is not what it has turned out to be.
LA LIGA
Amongst January 1 and December 31, 2014 in this competitiveness Lionel Messi scored 35 aims in 36 matches (11 with the proper foot, 23 with the still left and the other with the head) whilst Cristiano Ronaldo scored 38 but with considerably less versatility as only 4 ended up with his head and unfavorable remaining foot.
In addition Messi designed 97 possibilities, 24 far more than any other player and done 164 dribbles, 63 more than the nearest rival Iker Muniain of Atletico Bilbao (MAILOnline – Why Lionel Messi should get Ballon d’Or after a history-breaking calendar year with Barcelona by Kieran Gill, January 12, 2015).
EUROPE
Messi conquered the continent on November 25 when he became the all-time top intention scorer in the Champions League in Nicosia, Cyprus. It was his 23rd European town, his 16th European region and recorded the 24th distinctive stadium in which he experienced scored (MAILOnline etcetera.)
World CUP 2014
At soccer’s most essential competitiveness Messi led Argentina to the closing, was voted Guy of the Match in 4 online games (the most of any player in the opposition) and gained the Golden Boot as the greatest player of the event.
He had the most influence on the competitiveness. His objectives were all match-winning goals which propelled Argentina to the ultimate. He was the 3rd joint greatest goal scorer with 4 aims and 1 guide, developed the most likelihood, experienced the most productive dribbling runs, manufactured the most deliveries into the box and developed the most by way of balls of any participant.
In contrast, Ronaldo was a non-aspect and only scored a late aim versus minnow Ghana and had an guide versus the United states of america.
Background MAKER
Messi’s effectiveness in 2014 was what the Ballon d’Or is all about, particularly, history-generating performances. On March 16, he became Barcelona’s all-time prime intention scorer (371). A person 7 days later he became the El Clasico (matches involving Authentic Madrid and Barcelona) best purpose scorer (21) with a hat- trick.
He scored his 400th job intention on September 27 towards Granada and surpassed a 59-year-previous report to become La Liga’s all-time leading target scorer (253) on November 22. Three times afterwards he overtook Raul by scoring a hat-trick to turn out to be the leading purpose scorer in the history of the Champions League (74).
Given all these achievements a person would believe that of the a few nominees Messi was the most deserving to win the award. Alternatively he not only missing to Ronaldo but he and the other nominee Manuel Neuer received less votes combined (31.48 {4794e2a5af98421425d757e3e406e9ebc22e0d7579733cf825e9c79e4a650b20}) than Ronaldo (37.66{4794e2a5af98421425d757e3e406e9ebc22e0d7579733cf825e9c79e4a650b20}).
In 2013 Ronaldo received practically nothing and Franck Ribery won anything but nevertheless Ronaldo beat him.
How can all this be described?
POLITICS Behind THE VOTING
FIFA’s criteria phone for nationwide managers, captains and media officers to vote for the most superb performer of the preceding twelve months.
Not unexpectedly players vote for their workforce-mates and compatriots. In the 2014 contest for instance, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) gave all three places to Germans, Manuel Neuer, Phillip Lahm and Thomas Muller.
Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid) voted for his former group-mates Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois.
Vincent Kompany (Belgium) voted for workforce-mates Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard as the world’s two most effective players with Arjen Robben 3rd.
The finest case in point of the politics in all of this is illustrated by Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) who declared devoid of giving a explanation that he regretted voting for Ronaldo alternatively of his workforce-mate Neuer. This ‘change of heart’ can only be defined as coming from a player who would like to help save face with workforce-mates in the dressing place fairly than from a voter with any serious conviction.
The exact same criticism applies to managers who only vote for national players. For illustration, Argentina’s manager Gerardo Martino gave all a few sites to his fellow countrymen namely, Lionel Messi, Angel di Maria and Javier Mascherano, Belgium mentor Marc Wilmots voted for Belgian Thibaut Courtous for third area, Didier Deschamps (France) gave the ultimate location to French striker Benzema and Holland’s Guus Hiddink gave leading honor to compatriot Arjen Robben.
Players will get a lot of votes if they are well-known ‘with the boys’ and can enjoy to the cameras to publicize industrial merchandise. Those who protect the decision of Ronaldo as finest participant stage to the fact that in the second 50 percent of 2014 he scored 32 plans. The issue is that 9 of those people aims were penalties so his non-penalty plans have been 23, the very same amount as Messi who experienced no penalties. Ronaldo is nicknamed “Penaldo” simply because of his mastery of drawing and scoring penalties.
In a Earth Cup calendar year this kind of as 2014 your general performance in that match is what defines you. On the world’s major stage Ronaldo was a nonfactor and his supporters justification this by stating he was carrying an damage. If that is accurate that is regrettable but injuries is a misfortune, not a privilege and he can only be judged on true efficiency and not on speculation as to what he may have reached had he been thoroughly suit.
The Participant of the 12 months award has dropped its authenticity. But it does not have to be so. It is not a personality or school prom contest. It is meant to figure out performance on the area. Probably the officials of FIFA must them selves become the judges, give extra thing to consider to non-European golf equipment and use standards like achievements and fair play to choose the winner. This would not be a best method but would be preferable to the present just one which is deeply flawed and simply cannot be taken critically.
Victor A. Dixon
January 18, 2015