Messi Claims 2009 Ballon d'Or
by Richard Farley on Nov 30, 2009 10:12 PM EST
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Barcelona's Argentina attacker Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or, it was announced Tuesday in France.
World soccer's most prestigious individual award, the Ballon d'Or is awarded annually by France Football to the player deemed to have been the best player in the world during the preceding calendar year.
Voted on by 96 journalists worldwide, the honor was awarded to then-Manchester United attacker Cristano Ronaldo last season. The season before that, then-AC Milan attacker Kaka took home the award.
In 2008, Messi finished second behind Ronaldo. In 2009, Messi won the treble with Barcelona, leading the Blaugrana to a domestic championship in Spain, victory in the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League crown. Along the way, Messi accounted for 38 goals and 18 assists in all competitions.
Those results led to the most lopsided vote in the history of the award. Where voters could list their top three choices on their 5-3-1 ballot, Messi received 473 out of a possible 480 points. Ronaldo was second with 233 points.
At 22-years-old, Messi is the youngest winner since Michael Owen took home the award in 2001. He is first Barcelona player since Ronaldinho in 2005 to win the honor, while the award's restrictions pre-2007 (when it was opened up to players playing outside Europe) and pre-1995 (when non-European born players could win it) help make him the first Argentine winner.
I would have voted for Xavi Hernández, and I'm a little disappointed that the vote was so lop-sided. For whom would you have voted? Use our poll and tell us why in the comments section.
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I'm shocked that you're shocked at the results
There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the talents of the players that were up for consideration of the Ballon d’Or. However, this is still a stats-and-results driven award – it’s given out by journalists, not afficionados of the game – and there wasn’t anyone in the world this past year that could match the goals, the assists and the silverware like Messi. Further, I don’t believe Xavi is the best midfielder at Barca (Iniesta for me).
by Twin Cities Hawk on Dec 1, 2009 5:16 PM EST reply actions
Well said ...
… regarding statistics.
I think Iniesta is great, but his best virtue is his versatility. We see him playing on the right a bit since he got back, which I’m intrigued by. But there is a reason why Xavi is running the engine room for Pep, something Iniesta will do once Xavi is gone.
But absolutely well said, and even though I disagree on Iniesta, it needed to be said.
by Richard Farley on Dec 1, 2009 6:55 PM EST up reply actions
More on my Xavi thoughts ...
I published this a second ago at another site:
http://www.setpieceanalysts.com/20091201/xavi-the-present-is-hernandez/
Not really in this blog’s wheel house.
There’s also this, which I wrote before Rome, where the site’s redesign kind of messes with the formatting:
http://worldsoccerreader.com/2009/05/xavi-from-the-shadows-with-the-assist/
Good articles
Being an Arsenal fan and a massive admirer of Cesc Fabregas, I see your reasons why you think Xavi is one of the true greats in the world right now. To me, they both have similar styles of play and both possess leadership qualities.
But think of it this way: Does this award do anything more to Messi’s career? He was already considered one of the top 2-3 players in the world for at least a couple years going, so it only solidifies this. However, with all the achievements Xavi recorded this past year, his 3rd place finish brought his name out to many people who only follow the game on the fringe and only know the “marquee” stars of the game (Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney, etc.). I wouldn’t be shocked if he has another season like last year if he moves up to 2nd or perhaps 1st in the 2010 results.
I’m not saying that he was deserving of only 3rd place and I’m not saying that you have to be a big name to win the award. But we all shouldn’t be too surprised that one of the marquee names on a winning team won it this year.
by Twin Cities Hawk on Dec 2, 2009 10:04 AM EST up reply actions
Again, Twin Cities ...
… good points. I definitely see that logic.
I also wonder if Xavi is merely an untenable preference of mine, the kind of critical preference that makes these discussions fun. My view might be nothing more than a contributor to a conversation, having no correlation with the underlying truth.
by Richard Farley on Dec 2, 2009 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
I don't know if I would call your preference for Xavi "untenable"
It’s not like you’re trying to defend the omission of Ryan Bable from the Ballon d’Or ballot. Also, your objective examples of his talent and greatness clearly back up your strongly-held opinions about him as a player.
Keep up the good work with this new blog.
by Twin Cities Hawk on Dec 2, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks, TCH!
And please, keep coming back. The comments on this blog, yours included, are outstepping my analysis, and I’m stoked about it.
by Richard Farley on Dec 2, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
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