It’s awards season in the football world and the shortlist for the biggest award of all has been announced. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi are the three footballers battling for the coveted Ballon d’Or.
Last year the shortlist caused controversy because all three nominees (Messi, Xavi and Iniesta) were from FC Barcelona. This year sees a slightly more inclusive list with Iniesta being replaced by former winner, Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid, however once again all three nominees are based in Spain. This move has unsurprisingly drawn the odd compulsory complaint from English and Italian representatives, slightly annoyed that their leagues aren’t represented on the shortlist. But the vast majority of observers are in agreement that the three best footballers in the world over the past twelve months were Messi, Ronaldo and Xavi.
Some are arguing that the shortlist proves that La Liga is the best league in the world. Whilst there’s no doubt that the nominations prove that La Liga has the world’s best players, it certainly doesn’t prove that it’s the best league. After all, the three nominees play for either Real Madrid or Barcelona. In the extended shortlist, released on 1st November the only Spanish clubs represented were Real Madrid and Barcelona (although Kun Aguero and Diego Forlan played for Atletico Madrid before their summer moves).
Now that I’ve dismissed that argument, I’d like to concentrate on the nominees by assessing their performances and experiences over the past 12 months.
Xavi
I might as well start with the underdog. This is the third year in a row that the Catalan midfielder has made the shortlist. I’m a huge Xavi fan. There isn’t a more elegant, intricate passer of the ball in the world at the moment, and it’s possible that there never has been. In any other era Xavi would have won at least one Ballon d’Or. He combines outstanding skill and ability with the vision of a kestrel. His intelligence puts him in a different category to most players.
Many argue that Xavi is Barcelona’s most important player. His passing and game-control has been key to Barca’s successful 2011.
He began 2011 by breaking Barcelona’s all-time appearance record, previously held by Migueli. Xavi’s consistency alone is enough to justify his nomination. One of world football’s most consistent performers, it’s unknown when the pint-sized playmaker last had a bad game. He has captained Barca many times in the absence of Puyol, and has led my example. The team have found the going tough at times away from home so far this season, but Xavi has been a driving force, not least when he curled a great free-kick into the top corner to clinch victory in Granada.
His big moment of 2011 came in the Champions League final in Wembley. Xavi alone was more stylish, composed and creative than Man Utd’s entire midfield. He was a major reason why Barca managed to retain over 70% of the possession. He was also instrumental in last season’s bruising encounters with arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Xavi ends 2011 a Spanish, European and World Champion. He has achieved pretty much everything in the game apart from the Ballon d’Or. Will 2011 be his year?
Messi
The Barcelona and Argentina winger aims to emulate UEFA President Michel Platini in winning a third consecutive Ballon d’Or. The Frenchman is the only player in the 56 year history of the award to have won it three times in a row, but Messi has a great opportunity in 2011 to add to his 2009 and 2010 trophies.
Messi has had another superb year. His quick feet and goals have entertained us all and despite being surrounded by stars Messi’s always managed to stand out. Aged just 24, Messi has won everything there is to win at club level. He is just 29 goals away from breaking Barcelona’s all-time scoring record. Many of those goals have come in the last 12 months, including some pretty special ones. Despite scoring in the Champions League final in May his two most memorable strikes came in earlier rounds. In the semi-final against Real Madrid, Mourinho’s negativity had stifled Barcelona in what was a turgid affair in the Spanish capital. Messi took the bull by the horns and sped through the Real defence like a hare before finishing neatly past Iker Casillas. His other unforgettable goal came in Arsenal’s last 16 demolition of Arsenal at the Camp Nou when he latched onto an Iniesta through-ball and with glorious speed of thought, chipped the ball over the head of the unsuspecting Wojciech Szczesny. With the Arsenal keeper still wondering what had happened, Messi volleyed the ball into the empty net from close range. It was a piece of skill that typifies Messi’s genius, and it’s one of the nominees for FIFA’s goal of the year competition.
Like Xavi he’s achieved everything at domestic level. But could his disappointing Copa America hold him back when the voting takes place?
Ronaldo
Just over a year ago Cristiano Ronaldo was taught a lesson by Barcelona when he was marginalised in an incredible 5-0 El Clasico thrashing. If there’s one man in world football that hates being out-played it’s Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger began a personal mission to better himself, and boy has it worked.
Last season Ronaldo scored the only goal as Real Madrid beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final; the only competition in the 2010/11 season where Real beat Barca. Ronaldo’s biggest achievement in 2011 was winning the Pichichi, scoring an astounding 41 league goals, finishing above Messi in the scoring charts. Ronaldo’s goal-scoring in 2011 has been phenomenal, but his other physical attributes have been the subject of intense study. In the show “Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit” experts analysed Ronaldo’s fitness and technique and drew the conclusion that he was one of the most perfect athletes in world sport.
This season he’s managed to continue his incredible scoring run (17 goals so far in La Liga), whilst contributing far more in the way of assists and, more importantly, defensive effort. He has been on red hot form throughout 2011, and will be looking at Saturday’s El Clasico as a golden opportunity to prove himself the best player on Earth.
Ronaldo has also performed exceptionally for Portugal, at times being the difference between victory and defeat. He was instrumental in Portugal’s emphatic triumph against Bosnia in Lisbon.
I believe that in the first half of the 2011/12 season Ronaldo’s been the world’s best player, outshining even Messi and Xavi. However the winner is judged on his performance throughout 2011. Ronaldo might have been sensational for Real last season but he was consistently outdone in El Clasico matches in the league and Europe. Could those games count against Ronaldo in the final voting.
Verdict
Lionel Messi is the favourite for the prize, having won it in 2009 and 2010. However I have a sneaky suspicion that Ronaldo could clinch it. Statistically Ronaldo has been better than Messi over the last year. More importantly Ronaldo’s been better than his Argentinian rival so far this season. In previous years the voting has tended to be based very heavily on the events of the summer and the autumn of the year. Over the summer Ronaldo worked hard on his game, whilst Messi had a below-par Copa America in his homeland. Since the summer Ronaldo’s been more consistent than Messi and has bulldozed nearly every single opponent he’s faced.
Despite his consistent, technically brilliant performances, Xavi doesn’t possess the same wow-factor as Messi and Ronaldo. Rightly or wrongly, the voters will probably overlook his intelligent passing and playmaking in favour of Messi and Ronaldo’s unpredictability and spontaneity
There’s very little between Messi and Ronaldo. Messi has the medals but Ronaldo is statistically superior (though not by much). Whoever wins there’s sure to be controversy and disagreement. Whatever the result, the great rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo is sure to continue into 2012 and beyond.
