“In football, everything is up for debate, but not Messi’s Ballon d’Or,” Madrid’s Juan Castro wrote in Marca, stressing the impartiality of the award. Breaking through the thick layer of Real Madrid fans to pay tribute to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is a brave task. Anything that is not Real Madrid should not be considered.
If it’s Messi, Madrid’s antichrist, any praise has to go through the commissioner: that’s worth observing. Although Marca is not as stubborn as A on the Messi issue. Regardless, Marca had no choice but to award the Spanish League’s top scorer, eight-time Pichichi Award winner, to Leo. They have known each other for many years.
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In Berlin in northern Spain, Lothar Matthäus, the outstanding German midfielder in the 1980s and 1990s, said that “choosing Messi is a farce.” He added: “It’s unfair that Messi won the Ballon d’Or. But you can see that the World Cup is more valuable than anything else.” Lothar is forgetful: he, a footballer without any outstanding advantages, was He won the 1990 Ballon d’Or as Germany won the World Cup. In that game, he scored four goals, including two against Yugoslavia, one against the United Arab Emirates, and one goal from a penalty kick against Czechoslovakia. He failed to score in either the semi-finals or the final. It was his only title that year. Yes, it seems the World Cup is more valuable. Lothar is leaning toward Erling Haaland, who is also a good option. There, somehow, classic Eurocentrism emerges: everything that is not European and not European is invalid.
But ignorance aside, Messi’s eighth award was the least controversial of them all. The award is awarded for performance during the period August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. During that time, the World Cup was held, which was beautiful and, by the way, had the best final in history. We already know what happened there. Away from the World Cup, Messi has had an excellent season in France (league title and best foreign player) and is off to a brilliant start in the United States, although only his first three games with Inter Miami count. Everything is Messi-level, the ultimate in sophistication and power.
The arguments defending Messi’s new Ballon d’Or
“I voted for Messi. In a World Cup year, the World Cup is the rule and there is no discussion: Leo staged an extraordinary tournament, led his team to failure on debut and was on the verge of elimination, but He lifted the championship.” Chilean journalist, who has voted for years in France Football and FIFA’s best elections. Expansion: “France Football never suggests who to choose or change your vote, that’s all out of respect. Yes, it emphasizes taking into account the importance of each match, the relevance of the protagonists in the controversy, their actions, titles…”
(Also: Fluminense finally clinched the Copa Libertadores title in a thrilling final against Boca)
Paché Andrade is a renowned representative of Colombian broadcast storytelling (no easy feat) and has represented Colombia in the Ballon d’Or competition for two decades. “My vote goes to Messi – he admits – he is the central figure of the world championship and an undeniable driver of the future of football. Yes, those of us who have almost settled in the United States will know…” From Laba, Bolivia Carlos Enrique Rivera, the ATB commentator in Spain, celebrates the twentieth anniversary of voting in French football and perhaps owns a record: “Eight times voted for Messi to win the Ballon d’Or, I voted Give it to him. This time, won the World Cup. I chose him not only because he is the best player in the world, but he is also an outstanding person, humble, simple and family-oriented. The second one I put is Haaland Germany. It’s an honor to take part in this competition. Transparency in French football is absolute.”
In turn, Peruvian TV commentator Ricardo Montoya, who is neither a member of the jury (which is attended by 100 journalists, one for each country in the top 100 of the FIFA world rankings), There is no doubt: “I am a Christian, not Messi,” but Messi has done enough in the World Cup to win the Ballon d’Or. ”
Current Valencia coach Ruben Baraja has endured fifteen years of misery on Spanish pitches. At the press conference, he was full of praise for the eight-time champion: “If you have seen Messi play, you will not see anyone who can play like him. I would give all the gold in the world to Give him the ball. “I’ll do one for him and one for everyone else. ” He further said: “No player can do what he does on the pitch. There is nothing better than knowing how to play football and knowing how to interpret it. “I think it’s a fair award for his career and winning the World Cup with Argentina.”
His teammate Lautaro Martínez was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or among 30 people, and his reaction didn’t sound exaggerated: “Without Cristiano Ronaldo, Leo would have won fifteen Ballon d’Ors.” Brazilian President Lula made him a role model for all young people in Brazil: “Messi must be an inspiration to all our girls.”
However, the column by Henry Winter, editor of The Times of London, and his argument for voting for Lionel on the trophy was particularly moving:
“This may be the last time we celebrate Messi as the best player in the world, but this issue has nothing to do with nostalgia or clinging to a fading romance. Instead, Messi deserves the Ballon d’Or. When I vote for England’s Ballon d’Or At the time, I mulled over the incredible work of Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, looked at their staggering statistics and top shots, and then returned to Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup last season with a performance that Comparable to Maradona’s 1986 World Cup. Football is a championship, and Messi’s performance in Qatar proved that he deserves the first place and six points. Although Messi has won four Champions League titles in his brilliant career, he needs a World Cup. All The pressure is on their shoulders, especially with a young coach like Scaloni and a team that includes three key young players in Enzo, Alvarez and Mike Allister. At times, Especially after the unexpected loss to Saudi Arabia in the first game, Messi was under even more pressure and responded when his country needed him most. He won the World Cup’s best player award and Scored 7 high-quality and diverse goals: long-distance goals against Mexico and Australia, deep goals against France, and penalty kicks with left, right, high, and low goals. Messi also sent 3 assists and played every minute of the game. No player had more shots than him (32). Only Griezmann had more key passes than Messi, who had 21 The ball. Only Musiala and Kylian Mbappe have dribbled the ball more than him, and no player has received more fouls than him. If some who mock him may think referees are influenced by his reputation, then the reality It is Messi who is under attack, his stunning movements confusing opponents who jump to catch him. By all standards, Messi is the most efficient in the most important competition in sport, but Messi is not only It’s numbers, it means more. Messi is poetry. Messi is the one who surprises you. Messi is that sudden burst of speed and that touch that keeps the ball away from defenders like Gvaldiol . Messi is a special role model for the younger generation, who follow not only the team but the stars. Watching one game with your team is completely different to another. “Messi’s game is seen as an event in itself tournament. ”
Your Honor, stop arguing.
(In other news: Boca fan used his match draw to reach the Copa Libertadores final, but he didn’t have a ticket!)
last tango…
Jorge Barraza
temporary
@jorgebarrazaOK