Until last weekend’s 3-1 loss to Barcelona, Real Madrid had held the upper hand in La Liga but do not expect that to be reflected in Zurich next month. It would come as a major shock if any bragging rights are secured there by virtue of Cristiano Ronaldo beating Lionel Messi to Fifa’s Ballon d’Or. Many onlookers, and not just in Catalonia, will dismiss the mere notion of a debate about who will claim the prize.
Xavi is perhaps unfortunate to make up this year’s three-man shortlist.
His presence will not douse the latest debate about the relative merits of his clubmate and Ronaldo. There would be something poetic about Xavi’s creative talent and midfield influence being recognised fully by world football’s governing body but that is almost certain not to happen. Bookmakers have Xavi priced as long as 22-1 in what is, at the very most, a two-horse race.
In Spain, fuelled to such a large extent by the tribalism associated with a fierce rivalry, it seems no comment about Ronaldo or Messi is allowed to be made in isolation. Comparisons are routine between two players who are entirely different in stature and style.
A key explanation for that is the almost freakish nature of their scoring records. Stride by stride, they seem intent on matching each other.
This season, Ronaldo and Messi have scored 17 times each. Last season, they both notched 53. The fascinating duel is a subplot to the renewed battle between Madrid and Barcelona.
Ronaldo’s worth to Madrid is clear. The former Manchester United player scored 40 times in the Spanish league last season, a record in that competition. Ronaldo notched the headed goal that defeated Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey. Various individuals were blamed for Madrid’s exit from the Champions League at the hands of their oldest foes — José Mourinho is prominent on that list — but nobody pointed a finger at Ronaldo.
The past must not be used as motivation to hand out awards in the present. Nonetheless, the imperious Messi’s place as the instantly identifiable figure in a Barcelona team who have shaped football across the globe is pertinent. Statistics prove that Messi, even when not scoring, has unquestionable value to his team by offering assists. The 24-year-old has excelled on every stage except the Fifa World Cup. Even that must be taken in context: Barcelona are far more influential throughout football than Argentina could aspire to become.
Madrid could yet claim this season’s Spanish title but such an achievement would not register as anywhere close to the trends Barcelona have set on a wider scale. Even non-football supporters would instantly name Messi as pivotal to that.
The Argentinian’s form has been relentless since he was named the best player in world football last year. Throughout last season’s Champions League, it was Messi’s showings that earned plaudits time and again. Against Madrid in that semifinal, his two goals were especially memorable. In the final, Manchester United were, by their own admission, unable to cope with him.
Messi’s on-field attitude remains preferable to that of Ronaldo, who — although partly reformed by Mourinho — can be petulant and self-indulgent. Messi’s routine smile will surely be raised again on January 9.
Even more clear cut than the Argentinian’s success should be that of Pep Guardiola in the coach-of-the-year category. Mourinho has only that Spanish cup triumph to endorse his candidature. The case for Sir Alex Ferguson, also in contention, is undermined by Manchester United’s defeat at the hands of Barcelona in the Champions League final.
There may be a United win of sorts, however. Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick against Manchester City has been nominated by Fifa as a potential goal of the year. That category is easily more subjective than the others; Neymar and Messi could make equally strong claims after their own acts of scoring genius against Flamengo and Arsenal respectively. —