While Packer fans thought losing Aaron Rodgers was devastating, imagine how Barcelona fans feel after losing forward Lionel Messi to a hamstring injury likely for the rest of the calendar year.
The debate over who will win 2013’s FIFA Ballon d’Or rose to the top of the headlines again.
Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA was asked for his stance on the most argued debate in the sporting world: Barcelona’s Messi or Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo?
There is a reason that most people in countless realms of athletics and politics tend to give answers so typical one could almost write their response before it was even said.
There are times as a journalist that I have to applaud the honesty. This is not one of those times.
Blatter blessed us all with his dim-witted thoughts and made himself look like the unprofessional moron people accuse him of being.
“Lionel Messi is a good boy that every father and every mother would like to have at home,” Blatter said. “And naturally he always gets a lot of votes [for the FIFA Ballon d’Or] because he is this nice man and he plays well ... I like both of them, but I prefer Messi.”
Ronaldo, who Blatter openly mocked and referred to as, “the other one,” did not shy away from the issue on Twitter and called out FIFA for what they appear to be.
“This video shows the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, my club and my country. Much is explained now.”
To say that Messi is not worthy of the award is different than saying others deserved it more, and unfortunately inconsistencies have plagued the voting committee.
People report that their votes were cast for the wrong person, certain votes were never cast at all and it is very likely that I myself watch more of the world’s top players than some coaches or players who, rightfully so, focus more on their leagues and their jobs and might not even give a wink to El Clasico in Spain to see Ronaldo and Messi.
Flawed system aside, Ronaldo deserves more credibility as the world’s best player than he has received in the past few seasons. This can start by winning his second career Ballon d’Or.
First, all athletes have different motivations and personalities. An award based on performance should not take into account absolutely anything regarding how they personally function.
Messi is more introverted, humble and reserved, while Ronaldo is more outwardly competitive.
Michael Jordan, one of the top basketball players of all time, was competitive beyond belief, sometimes to the point that he was an arrogant ass. But he used that competitiveness to drive him. Should his basketball accomplishments be marked down because he wasn’t a “good boy”? Absolutely not.
Second, attacks on Ronaldo’s character are misguided.
I cannot be certain either way, but Ronaldo’s personality is wrongfully mixed in with his character.
In a game this summer, a fan ran onto the field and hugged Ronaldo. This can be very dangerous, but he sensed that this fan was not intending to hurt him and embraced him.
The story does not stop there. Ronaldo formally asked for the fan to get a reduced punishment.
Without detailing all of his abundant financial and personal charitable contributions, does that example make him seem like a selfish person?
Finally, at long last we arrive at what the issue should be based on, soccer ability.
Messi plays a as a striker, and Ronaldo plays as a left winger. The striker should score more goals based on the nature of the position. It acts as a focal point for the offense in the danger area and entails less defensive responsibilities than a winger, who plays up and down one side of the field and is required to track back and play defense.
Ronaldo’s goal-per-game average (1.09) is significantly better than Messi’s (0.87) in La Liga.
Although Messi spent more time developing in the league, Ronaldo’s average and the position he is getting those goals from speak to his right for more recognition.
For far too long, the FIFA Ballon d’Or and its ambiguous (or even absent) criteria have led to some questionable decisions. Lionel Messi is undoubtedly great, but Cristiano Ronaldo deserves more credit for the level of player he is, and people like Sepp Blatter seem to be doing all they can to prevent that.
Who should win 2013’s FIFA Ballon d’Or? Let Jonah know what you think by emailing jonah.beleckis@dailycardinal.com.
