Lionel Messi winning a record sixth FIFA Ballon d’Or men’s title as Footballer of the Year for 2018-2019, has been a hot topic lately in sporting circles.
The 32-year-old contributed to his team’s attacking play and success in a way that far exceeded the output of any other attacking footballer, during the qualifying period from July 9, 2018, to July 13, 2019.
Messi, who captains champion La Liga Club Barcelona and South American Country Argentina, scored 56 goals and logged 21 assists (seven penalties), this, in a total of 60 games.
He won ahead of Liverpool central defender and captain, Virgil Van Dijk, who won the European Champions League, and was runner-up in the European Nation’s final with The Netherlands. Van Dijk played in 59 matches, 29 of which ended in clean sheets and he was Man of the Match in the UEFA Champions League final.
Real Madrid striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the European Nation’s League Cup with Portugal and Serie A title, with Italian club Juventus, finished third. Ronaldo scored 33 goals (six penalties) and provided 10 assists in 48 matches. He has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or award on five occasions.
It can reasonably be argued that the award is skewed towards attacking players, which is natural because after all, it is goals that win matches. Also, as far as targets are concerned, it is the clearest measurable indicator in the game.
Goalscoring is no easy feat, but Messi makes them look effortless and ridiculously easy at times.
He topped La Liga with 36 goals and 13 assists, contributing to 54.5 per cent of Barcelona’s team goals; led UEFA Champions League scoring with 12 goals in 10 matches; won La Liga’s Pichichi Award for top goal scorer for a record-equalling six times (equalling record that stood since 1953 – Telmo Zarra); scored 50+ goals in all competitions for a sixth season; and scoring 35+ goals in a La Liga season for the fifth time.
Also, Messi topped La Liga with total shots; shots on target; chances created; big chances created; fouls won in the final third; goals from outside the box; free-kick goals; hat-tricks and braces to be ranked the number one La Liga player and MVP. He also won the most Man of the Match awards for the UEFA Champions League and La Liga; Most UCL Man of the Week; won a record sixth UCL Golden Boot; and scored the highest number of goals against England’s top six teams.
There is far more to Messi, though than statistics. This includes his exceptional skills, which allows him to evade opponents and put them in positions that almost kill their potential to make a decent, let alone harmful challenge when he goes on one of his controlled dribbles; his eagle-eyed vision, which allows him to see the game so early; and a range and precision of passing, oft comprising a weight of perfection hardly ever seen in the game.
Then there is scoring, which he does ever so often with exceptional technique, trademark curling, side-footed finishes from outside the penalty box and free kicks. It all adds up to the total package.
Analysing the 2018-2019 season, other leading strikers paled in comparison.
Ronaldo, a high-quality performer, who has rivalled Messi for leading honours for much of this generation, did well at his new club with 21 Serie A goals in 31 matches, also hitting six goals and two assists in UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scored 29 goals in 57 matches (five penalties), netting 22 in the English Premier League and providing 11 assists.
Poland’s Robert Lewandowski counted 32 goals in 46 matches total, burying 22 and dishing out seven assists for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Messi’s Uruguayan strike partner, Luis Suarez, scored 29 goals and registered 13 assists in 56 matches combined, with 21 of those goals coming for Barcelona in La Liga, where he laid off six assists.
The enormity of Van Dijk’s performance throughout the year is significant enough for him to have claimed second, even as a defender.
In fact, a couple other non-attacking male players stood out at the awards, including Liverpool keeper, Allisson Becker, who finished seventh overall among the men’s nominees, and won the inaugural goalkeeper’s award, named in honour of Lev Yashin. The Russian is the only goalkeeper to have the Ballon d’Or, in 1963.
Youthful Netherlands defender, Ajax Amsterdam’s Matthijs de Ligt, was recognised with the Kopa Trophy for best young men’s player.
In the final analysis, in a year when practically all the leading players ended with a single major trophy, the enormity and disparity of Messi’s exploits was such that the magical Argentine simply could not be overlooked as the men’s best player for the year.
Even top nominees were largely in agreement with the selection. Responding to the question as to who should win, Van Dijk said: “I think Messi’s the best player in the world. He deserves it as long as he plays, so the Ballon d’Or is not something I’m thinking of. If it happens, obviously I would take it, but I don’t think there’s any chance. He is still the best player in the world. It doesn’t matter if he’s not in the Champions League final.”
France’s Kylian Mbappe, who plays for Paris St Germain, said: “In individual terms, he (Messi) was the best this year.”
Dutchman Frenkie de Jong, who left Ajax for Barcelona, picked Messi.
He said: “I have said many times that Messi is the best player in the world and he should win the Ballon D’Or. Van Dijk had an amazing season, he is a great defender and one of the best players in the world. But Messi is without a doubt the best in the world.”
Belgium’s Eden Hazard, who moved from Chelsea to Juventus, favoured Liverpool players.
“I would give it to a Liverpool player. Mane or Salah or Van Dijk deserve it. If Sadio had won AFCON with Senegal, there would have been no debate. It would be beautiful if he won it. Or Momo, who is one of my friends. It would be a good thing for both African and English football.”
Mane finished fourth overall.
Ronaldo admitted wanting to head off Messi with more Ballon d’Or titles. Following the awards, he said: “Messi’s in the history of football. But I think I have to have six or seven or eight to be above him. I’d love it. I think I deserve it.”
Given his quality, Ronaldo could yet achieve that dream.
For 2018-2019, however, Messi had no equal.
Audley Boyd is a former sports editor at The Gleaner.
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