Barcelona’s failure to qualify for the Champions League final, thanks to a 3-2 aggregate loss against Chelsea has cracked open the door for a new Ballon d’Or king to be crowned come 2013.
The Catalan giants could only manage a 2-2 draw against the London side who had beaten them by Didier Drogba’s solitary goal at Stamford Bridge in the first leg match-up the previous week.
It has been a week to forget for the Blaugrana by any standards. After losing to Chelsea in the first leg encounter, they lost 2-1 at home to their ultimate nemesis Real Madrid in the last El Classico encounter you will see this season. The loss ended their lean hopes of winning their fourth successive Liga BBVA title as Real Madrid are 7 points to the good with only 12 to wrestle for.
Barca’s failure to get a positive result from any of their last three games has been defined by the inability of their star player Lionel Messi to get on the scoresheet. It’s not easy to shut out the mercurial Argentine in 90 minutes of football. Doing so for over 270 minutes is unthinkable. But that’s exactly what has happened.
So much a hero and the Roy of Rovers for the Catalan club, Messi was the villain on Thursday night riffling a penalty against the crossbar, the eighth time he’s missed from 12 yards for Pep Guardiola’s side in 34 spot kicks.
His latest miss, however, proved much costly. Costly to the club, and costly to him as well. The club missed a chance to reach the finals and perhaps become the first ever team in Champions League era to defend title. On a personal note, Messi will surely not be crowned the FIFA Ballon d’Or player of the year.
This is in spite of having a record-breaking season for Barcelona, one that saw him become Europe's all-time topscorer in a single season, and one that saw him eclipse Cesar Rodriguez as the Barcelona’s all-time record goalscorer. That was just but a highlight of many highs the No. 10 has achieved this season, including becoming the first player in Champions League history to score a quintuple of goals in a single Champions League match in the 7-1 rout over Bayer Leverkusen.
Add to the fact that he became only the second player after Filippo Inzaghi to score three hat-tricks in the Champions League and the first to score two hat-tricks in one season in the competition and you could clearly see why he was on the driving seat for world football’s most prestigious individual award, the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
But how quick things do change. In just three games but arguably the biggest in Barca’s season, Messi flopped and that’s not a word you would regularly use to describe the Argentine. Of course he hit the post against Chelsea twice but that’s a statistic that will be overlooked when the coaches and captains of international teams as well as journalists from around the world will be voting for the winner.
Messi will surely make the top-three cut for the award after his imperious season with the 21-time La Liga Champions. But winning it for the fourth season in a row after failing in the last hurdle both at home and abroad would be an injustice that would measure a level higher than when Wesley Sneijder was overlooked for the 2010 award.
The man who could walk away with it is the one who he gets mentioned with in the same breath when you think of the best player in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid forward leads the Pichichi race as well as the European football scoring chat and should Madrid go ahead and win the La Liga, as many expect them to, and at least reach the Champions League final, CR7 will be a worthy winner.
Arsenal's Robin Van Persie will also probably get the nod but for the lack of even a 'mickey-mouse' domestic cup to show for his form this season, he won't be a favourite while Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez will also be a good bet should he steer his team to the May 19 Allianz Arena finals, and score.
And That's thesteifmastertake!!
I strongly disagree with the above. If Ronaldo or any other player wins 2013 Ballon d'Or it will surely be a great injustice. Despite the failure to win la liga and champs league titles, Messi has broken almost every imaginable record set by an individual player in the history of Football and he deserves to get yet another Ballon d'Or. No doubt about that. I appreciate the talent of other players but they don't even come close to Messi in skills and performance.
ReplyDeletelast year messi didn't break no record but he yet won now that injustice
DeleteC'mon..... Ronaldo and messi had equal number of goals, with messi having many more assists. He was the cl top scorer, won the la liga, super copa, etc. What else do u want?? Ronaldo scored equal no. of goals had lesser assists and won only the copa del ray, so stop with your immature comments.
Deletelool, Messi is a fail thsi year, he could bet 10000 records if his teams doesnt win, those records do not mean anything!!!
ReplyDeleteLets see, who will win? Its only Messi no one else. This award is not for title winner. Its only for individual performance.
DeleteI want to agree with anonymous (2)....goals don't count for nothing if they don't bring a trophy of any kind to your team. I actually want to think if true justice is to be done, then Didier Drogba should get the Ballon d'Or. He scored the winning goal for Chelsea in the FA Cup final and who needs reminding of what he did in the Champions League final...the biggest of em all. Messi is a no no this season...probably 3rd best to Drogba and CR7
ReplyDeleteRONALDO WILL WIN IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteDrogba should in no way be even on the short list. That's a joke, yeah he showed up for a couple of big games but where was he for 3 quarters of the the epl season along with rest of Chelsea? He scored 5 goals all season in the premiership and Chelsea ended up at a lowly 6th place, the player of the year would never let that happen. Drogba is not even top 5, end of story.
ReplyDeleteMessi has had a wonderful season, but so did Ronaldo last year when he broke the previous single season scoring record and won the pichichi, but due to his teams lack of success domestically (copa del Rey does not mean anything) and internationally, he did not win. This is why Ronaldo wins it this year simply because Madrid won La Liga. Ronaldo first, Messi second, Van Persie third in voting.
no ways messi Will win it this yr. world's greatest player is the one who calls upon his talents when it is most needed. he couldn't do it in the 2 biggest games of the season against Real Madrid and chelsea . CR7 performed when his team needed him, all season long. hence he deserves it this yr.
ReplyDeleteso its go for drogba, who cl and fa cup?
DeleteWell said...Messi's goals counted for nothing this season...just a copa del rey to show for those records...he should be 2nd runners-up at best
ReplyDeletei think what they said is kinda of right however you must also see it in this way, Barcelona almost had no good strikers except for Messi this season which put Messi under for pressure unlike Ronaldo because Real Madrid had Higuain and Benzema and many other people. So if you take this in account, for a team to stop just one player is basically nothing compared to stopping 3 or more player hence i hink Messi was under pressure and people depended on him too much. But still think won't get it this year as much as i want to think that he will :(
ReplyDeletewinning doesn't mean anything...u'll just become a history & will be forgotten slowly after tht...creating a record is more important...as u'll become the benchmark of the next generation...
ReplyDeletebut,truth be told...cr has the higher chance to win balon d'or as he's the sensation of this season...
ReplyDeleteWhoever wrote this article is a clown
ReplyDeleteThe idea that Messi doesn't deserve the Ballon D'or because his team won nothing is ridiculous. Teams win games, not players. Lionel Messi did absolutely everything in his power to win games for Barcelona, Barcelona likely wouldn't be as dominant as they have been had it not been for the emergence of Messi.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt they have great players, but Messi is te X-factor, he's the main reason they are so good and why they win, but he can't do it all.
Messi scored 81 goals this season in ALL competitions (that includes games for Argentina) and only 9 of those goals are credited to Xavi and Iniesta as assists, that alone says just how much of an impact Messi has.
He absolutely deserves to win the Ballon D'or.
last season ronaldo did the same and messi won the ballon d'or and this time cr is gonna win the player of the year
Deletehow dude...?? Messi n Ronaldo same scored last year...
DeleteMessi is taking it. Why? Not because the records. Not because he scored more goals. But because he is simply out of this world. No one comes close. He is better. No one plays like him. Everyone who has gone up against him will tell you he is the best. And guess what. Those are the people voting. This award has nothing to do with titles nor records. People are stupid.
ReplyDelete4 titles and beat any record MESSI 4th ballon d' or IDIOTS NO JUsT copa del Rey 4 titles this year and GAYNALDO 1 STOLE LIGA AFTER a BRIBE JUST MADRIDISTAS COCK SUCKERS THINK GAYNALDO DESERVE IT
ReplyDeleteShut the fuck up ronaldo is the best you fukin wee twat
Deletemessi should win the best player in the world and the best ever, on another level to all, ronaldo is good but hes not in the same league as natural ability as ronaldo, ronaldo needs his big muscular physique and speed and height to help him score, messi has none of this and still is much better, also hes youngerm he had no striker with him , ronaldo scores 65 percent of his goals when madrid are already 1 and 2 up messi wind 70 percent of games with the winner says it all, when u are 2 nil up and the team is down ronaldo scores, benzema hiquain 40 odd goals between them big help to ronaldo, anyway ronaldo is nothing compared to messi no matter what we all know it!1
ReplyDeleteLet people who deos n't no d law dat gard best player writ nonsence, if d world best is gven by title drogba wil win it, n't mess or cr7. Messi is in d right form 2 win it. go and check his profil and cr7 and tel me wht u get
ReplyDeleteRonaldo will win he is the best! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteRonaldo deserved the next ballon d'or,no complain
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletecr7 fool.. messi is the best
ReplyDeletestop writing snuggy baby comments
Deletecr7 nao presta nada..... messi e melhorrrrrrr
ReplyDeleteLast season, Messi won the champions league and la liga. He and Ronaldo both scored 53 goals in all competitions, with Ronaldo outscoring Messi in la liga. Ronaldo won the copa del ray and nothing else. So, last season messi won 2 major trophies, and scored 53 goals. Ronaldo won one minor trophy and scored 53 goals.
ReplyDeleteThis season, Messi won 4 minor trophies, had more assists than Ronaldo and scored more goals in all competitions and in la liga than Ronaldo, breaking the record Ronaldo set last season and also breaking the record for most goals scored in a single season. Ronaldo won 1 major trophy and was outscored and out assisted by Messi.
Last season, Messi and Ronaldo performed almost identically individually, with Ronaldo having the edge for breaking a la liga record for goals scored in a single season. Team wise, Messi beat Ronaldo easily. Messi had a better season overall, therefore Messi won the ballon dor.
This season, Messi was far superior individually. No question. Team-wise, Ronaldo was marginally better, winning one major trophy while Messi won 4 minor ones. Overall, Messi was better, so Messi should win the ballon dor.
:)
messi the king of football any time any day betten then cr7 the goat
ReplyDeleteronaldo king messi goat
DeleteBallon d'or is for the best INDIVIDUAL performances!! Those people saying that you have to get trophies to qualify are IMBECILES!!! Trophies go to the best TEAMS not best individuals! Can't you fools get your heads around that basic logic!! Do you need a diagram? Messi will win easily.
ReplyDeleteof course mess will win easily ,,,,but only with his daddy xavi n mummy iniesta...
Deletewhat he s done in home..nothing...cr 7 leads his home up tp semi two times
I agree that last season ronaldo scored more but cuz barca had trophies so messi won...
ReplyDeletebut barca had alredy won 5 trophies be4 the ballon d'or award!
madrid have jus 1 trophy...n last season ronaldo jus broke the la liga record..but messi broke almost all international soring records! so if ppl consider this then mesi shud win!
or instead torres or mata shud win cuz they won 3 trophies :P
People! People! People!! This is not a one man team to win trophies! Its about team work! Dude! Ronaldo would most certainly not get it! Don't forget his failure in champions league penalty and getting the 5th spot at euro2012! And + messi had a poor season do to the team dam to many injuries! Like xavi! Pique! Villa! The team had most of their stars injured! How can a team win with the best players injured! Ronaldo has a dam consistent freekick taking no doubt! Messi became the first to score 5 in champions league! Record broken even if didn't win trophy its a record that got set! Not even in ronaldo dreams or any other to do that! And barca did win trophies! 4 trophies! Club world cup trophy, supercopa, supercup, copa de rey! So don't judge on one dam trophy or la liga! That's all people! Just investigate about the player and what he has done to the team even if he didn't bring trophy (champions league, la liga) just remember its not a one man sport.
ReplyDeleteplease remember messi also wasted penalty cl semi
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ReplyDelete