The FIFA Ballon d’Or – the award that says you are the best in world football. Previously the name given to the best player in Europe, the award was merged with FIFA World Player of the Year in 2010 to make the decision unanimous. Previous incumbents have been Lother Matthaus, Marco Van Basten, Roberto Baggio, Romario, Brazilian Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and most recently, one Lionel Messi has picked up the award on no fewer than three occasions (2009, 2010, 2011). Can Messi pick up the award for 2012 making him the only player in FIFA history to win it four times? One man stands in his way, Christiano Ronaldo, the 2008 winner.
So who is better, Messi or Ronaldo? It’s safe to say any manager in world football would want them in their team. Whether it’s the glamour of the Champions League final, or a wet and windy night in Middlesbrough – both these players have the ability to win the game single-handedly.
In the 2011-12 season, Messi has scored an incredible 73 goals in 60 appearances for Barcelona (Messi is also incidentally La Liga’s eleventh all time top scorer – while Ronaldo sits around 42nd/43rd), while Ronaldo has helped himself to 60 goals in only 55 appearances – both having a scoring rate of more than a goal a game. But with Ronaldo’s haul helping the Galacticos to the La Liga title for the first time in three years, breaking Pep Guardiola’s grip on the trophy, and helping himself to the Trofeo Alfredo Di Stefano for the best player in La Liga.
So far, pretty inseparable. On the career trophy count, Messi has to his name 5 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Rey’s, 3 Champions League winners medals, 2 UEFA Super Cup winners medals and 2 World Club Cup medals. To add to this, an Olympic Gold Medal with Argentina from 2008 and a FIFA Under-20 World Cup winners medal. In comparison, Ronaldo has 3 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup winners medal, 2 League Cup medals, a Champions League medal, a Fifa World Club Cup winners medal, 1 La Liga and 1 Copa del Rey. So on the trophy count, Lionel Messi is in the lead.
However, look at the players around Messi. At Barcelona he sits at the head of a well orchestrated symphony containing the likes of Xavi and Iniesta passing to death the opposition, the attacking threat of David Villa and Alexis Sanchez, and the defence of Puyol, Pique, Abidal and Dani Alves – it’s a dream team in itself, containing many players who would widely be regarded as their countries best in their positions. Looking at his international credentials, although Argentina have not won a major world or Continental competition during his playing time, he has rarely set the field alight with his international performances. Up until now, recently bagging a hat-trick against the Brazilians. Bt again, look at the players surrounding him – Tevez, Aguero, Higuain, Di Maria to name a few – again he is surrounded by World Class players.
Looking at Ronaldo, he is the superstar of the Galacticos (with a price tag to match) – but certainly without his contributions, Real Madrid would be nowhere near the La Liga title this year. At Manchester United, he won titles while playing alongside the likes of Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba (hardly Xavi and Iniesta). And now, he too is taking his form to international level – almost single-handedly dragging the Portuguese through the Group stage and quarter finals with Helder Postiga, Patricio, Rolando and Miguel Veloso – hardly the hedonistic golden generation of Figo, Rui Costa and Nuno Gomes.
The question of who is more deserving is definitely a subjective one. It is impossible not to watch Messi without admiration for his flair, technique and honesty while remembering his accolades and performances from over the years. But then similarly you cannot watch Christiano without the awe of his strength, pace, power and arrogance. Ultimately, I believe the award should go the Portuguese man, what he has achieved this season, almost single-handedly for club and country (incidentally, the Portuguese have a good chance of going all the way still) is nothing short of phenomenal. Yes Real Madrid have spent the money to win the title, but haven’t so many others over the last few years without getting even with touching distance of Messi and Pep’s dream team? It’s took Chelsea 9 years to spend their way to the Champions League title.
If Ronaldo takes the Portuguese to the final, I do believe that his name will be on the Ballon d’Or and he will be shaking the hand of Sepp Blatter.
Pint Pie Bet & Balls 