Ballon d'Or 2023 | Haaland finishes 2nd

normskih said:
Let’s be honest, the commentators were swept away with Messi at the WC, as were some posters on this forum. I for one was honest enough to admit I wasn’t falling for the fawning over side passes etc that Joe Bloggs makes in the Championship but was called out for it because I wasn’t joining in with the rest. I said at the time when Sky sports used to show La Liga I used to watch Messi (and Ronaldo) regularly and be amazed at how brilliant he was at his peak, so it wasn’t like I was denying what a world class player he was. Everyone knows it SHOULD have gone to Haaland for this season’s achievements, maybe a lifetime achievement award is a category that’s needed for players like Messi, Ronaldo, who, let’s face it players that rarely come round every generation let alone two in one generation.
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The idea that he needs a lifetime achievement award like he hasn't been sufficiently honoured throughout his career though. He's already won it 7 times, ffs.
 
alexmcity said:
Could Argentina win the PL or the CL, let alone both? Probably not. Messi's Barca were a joke in the CL in his last years there. Argentina's defence is too weak to compete in the CL/PL. But it's understandable that winning the WC is considered a greater achievement.
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No to mention PSG in the CL. They were humiliated and crashed out in the last 16. Messi got just four goals in the whole campaign (three against the mighty Maccabi Haifa). Messi was booed by his own fans.
Meanwhile Haaland was the leading scorer in the CL with 12 goals during City's unbeaten run to the final beating Seville, Bayern, Real Madrid and Inter Milan to win the trophy. The WC lasts a few weeks and, apart from the final stages, the quality of football is very low. The reality is that most of the so-called journalists who voted in the Ballon d'Or for Messi are either biased or ignorant. Mess is the greatest of all time...but not last season.
 
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normskih said:
Let’s be honest, the commentators were swept away with Messi at the WC, as were some posters on this forum. I for one was honest enough to admit I wasn’t falling for the fawning over side passes etc that Joe Bloggs makes in the Championship but was called out for it because I wasn’t joining in with the rest. I said at the time when Sky sports used to show La Liga I used to watch Messi (and Ronaldo) regularly and be amazed at how brilliant he was at his peak, so it wasn’t like I was denying what a world class player he was. Everyone knows it SHOULD have gone to Haaland for this season’s achievements, maybe a lifetime achievement award is a category that’s needed for players like Messi, Ronaldo, who, let’s face it players that rarely come round every generation let alone two in one generation.
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normskih said:
Let’s be honest, the commentators were swept away with Messi at the WC, as were some posters on this forum. I for one was honest enough to admit I wasn’t falling for the fawning over side passes etc that Joe Bloggs makes in the Championship but was called out for it because I wasn’t joining in with the rest. I said at the time when Sky sports used to show La Liga I used to watch Messi (and Ronaldo) regularly and be amazed at how brilliant he was at his peak, so it wasn’t like I was denying what a world class player he was. Everyone knows it SHOULD have gone to Haaland for this season’s achievements, maybe a lifetime achievement award is a category that’s needed for players like Messi, Ronaldo, who, let’s face it players that rarely come round every generation let alone two in one generation.
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It's a great story and that's what journalists love, so they were always going to be swept away by it. I wouldn't agree he was just playing sideway passes though, he was fucking class in the World Cup. Not as good as in years gone by, but still incredible. He was one goal shy of top scorer thanks to Mbappe's hattrick, but joint for assists and key passes. But he won the World Cup's best player for his performances there and the Ballon D'or should look at the wider picture and ultimately he didn't do enough to win it when compared to Haaland who won the treble and scored the number of goals he did.
 
R9 won the 2002 Balon D'or after being injured for nearly the whole season at Inter, playing around 10 league games in total, but winning the WC in the summer before moving to Real Madrid. The voting is done after the WC iirc (obviously this time the WC was before the end of season) so it's always fresh in peoples minds. Proves how much of a bollocks award it is, really.
 
As expected but a joke really. Comments on BBC from other fans sums it up.
Some very soft decisions given to Argentina in the World Cup and they only came alive when they started playing Alverez. And PSG fans turned on him in the farmers league before he retired to USA
 
Tuned in via TNT for a bit given City centric nominations. Only the French could come up with award ceremony so profoundly shit I felt nauseous watching it. From the rip off of the London Olympic torch journey up the Thames, to the Louis Vuitton cases the awards were delivered in, the ridiculous outfits some of players wore (City lads excluded), to the ticking the woke box by mentioning all the big current issues in football without referring to the venue of the last WC
KdB was spot on swerving it, oh & Messi knows btw he’s not stupid but I expect Inter Miami/MSL/next WC were all contributing factors into the mix.
 
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What criteria are used to vote on players?
The media members receive a list of the finalists to choose from and make their selections from that select group of candidates.

In the past a player's overall career performance was taken into account by the voters. That allowed for a player like Messi to win in 2021 despite having inferior numbers to Lewandowski. The body of work throughout Messi's career helped him stand above even Lewandowski.

Recognizing this flaw in the criteria, France Football made changes, asking voters to take into account the following three aspects for every player:
Individual performance in previous season (no longer by calendar year)
Team success during the previous season
Player behavior and fair play during season in consideration
The stricter parameters should ensure the player who performs at an elite level and helps their team win silverware will earn the recognition they deserve more often than not.

Well they certainly stuck to the rules this time. Not.
 
supercity88 said:
It's a great story and that's what journalists love, so they were always going to be swept away by it. I wouldn't agree he was just playing sideway passes though, he was fucking class in the World Cup. Not as good as in years gone by, but still incredible. He was one goal shy of top scorer thanks to Mbappe's hattrick, but joint for assists and key passes. But he won the World Cup's best player for his performances there and the Ballon D'or should look at the wider picture and ultimately he didn't do enough to win it when compared to Haaland who won the treble and scored the number of goals he did.
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Basically Messi got the award just for the World Cup final where he scored a penalty. Argentina had an easy group with Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland (they lost to Saudi!). Then they played Australia, a very poor Holland team, Croatia, and France in the final. The quality of football in the WC does not compare to the top end of La Liga, the PL, or the CL. Giving Messi the award this season is absurd.
 
bobbyowenquiff said:
Basically Messi got the award just for the World Cup final where he scored a penalty. Argentina had an easy group with Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland (they lost to Saudi!). Then they played Australia, a very poor Holland team, Croatia, and France in the final. The quality of football in the WC does not compare to the top end of La Liga, the PL, or the CL. Giving Messi the award this season is absurd.
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He got it because of the romance behind the story of him winning the World Cup. We all know it, and I've said it several times. He didn't deserve it. But he played very well in the World Cup, if it was easy to win England might have managed it by now and you can only beat who is in front of you. He was definitely one of the best players in the tournament. And he managed to score two penalties in the final, as well as another in the shootout. That might sound simple but Kane struggled!

It is what it is. I doubt Haaland is that bothered. He won the treble and the Gerd Muller award alongside many others last season so he'll be happy enough.
 
supercity88 said:
He got it because of the romance behind the story of him winning the World Cup. We all know it, and I've said it several times. He didn't deserve it. But he played very well in the World Cup, if it was easy to win England might have managed it by now and you can only beat who is in front of you. He was definitely one of the best players in the tournament. And he managed to score two penalties in the final, as well as another in the shootout. That might sound simple but Kane struggled!
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England's perfomances are a different debate. We will never win anything with Southgate as Manager! I think Messi is the greatest of all time but did not deserve this year's award. The World Cup was just three weeks in 12 months.
 
bobbyowenquiff said:
England's perfomances are a different debate. We will never win anything with Southgate as Manager! I think Messi is the greatest of all time but did not deserve this year's award. The World Cup was just three weeks in 12 months.
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Completely agree mate, and he won the Golden Ball for the best player...as well as the World Cup so he didn't need further plaudits. But it is what it is, and I'm sure Haaland is happy enough with what he did win.
 
Better on the Inside

Manchester City won the `Club of the Year` Award for the second successive year.
Five City players featured in the top 9 of the Ballon d`Or.
The individual award should have gone to Haaland for impact, freshness and a record breaking season at the very top of football. That is largely understood save for those with vested interests and a desire for nostalgia.
Ederson came second to Martinez.

The Ballon d`Or is contrived, like the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Back slapping and shoulder rubbing characterised by one in particular greasing and grubbing for his knighthood. All this said, it is better to be on the inside pissing out than the outside trying to piss in.

City`s profile and standing in football is now at its highest level. It was enhanced at last night`s awards. Watching every one of Haaland`s goals yesterday evening shown on one the biggest of stages and broadcast around Europe, was a joy. Erling`s interview was excellent. Ferran Soriano, Bernardo and Rodri all had their deserved moments to speak. World Cup Winner, Álvarez, got good coverage sat with Messi. All City`s contingent who were present and those not in attendance can be proud of their achievements.

City has left its mark - The Treble Winners and Club of the Year.

Now lets go on to win the Club World Cup in December. No club from England has ever achieved such a feat in a calendar year.

Lets look forward to those historic photos with FIVE TROPHIES.
 
Not really fussed, to be honest. Messi is the greatest of his generation and it's fair enough for him to be way out on his own at the front of the pack. Haaland's time will come again. I'm still just struggling to get my head around the fact that City have five players in the top 10 and that we've won Team of the Year twice in a row. When I was a kid I thought things like the Champions League, Ballon d'Or debates, World XIs, etc. were beyond our reach. The fact that we've got players in the conversation for these prestigious awards is too amazing for me to care who actually wins the thing.
 
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