FIFA has just announced its shortlist for the Ballon d’Or (the best male player of the year for 2014). After votes from media, captains and managers from a list of 23 players, the following shortlist was determined:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina) and Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany) were announced this week as the three finalists that will be voted on. The winner of the Ballon d’Or will be announced on January 12, 2015.
There is no doubt that each of these players deserves to be on this list. Messi and Ronaldo are no strangers to the shortlist as Messi has been on the list six times and has won the award four times. Ronaldo has also been nominated six times and has won twice. This will be Manuel Neuer’s first nomination and he is the first goalkeeper on the shortlist since Oliver Kahn, also of Germany and Bayern Munich, in 2002.
It is very difficult to compare the statistics of two attacking players and one who is stuck between the goal posts. This Ballon d’Or will go to the player who has made the biggest difference to the teams that they play for and how they have influenced the game of soccer overall. Ronaldo is Real Madrid’s star and with him, they are an amazing force. Ronaldo would make any team better and gives soccer a face for the world. Messi, on the other hand, has transformed what soccer looks like. Throughout the years, he has continued to define himself as one of the best or even arguably the best player to ever live. Neuer has redefined goalkeeping and has proven that keepers can be the star and anchor of the team as well as any good defense does.
Messi has played consistently and has broken many records this year including the records for all-time top scorer in La Liga, the Champions’ League and in all European competition. He made an impressive run at the World Cup, leading Argentina to the final and winning the Golden Ball as the Player of the Tournament. Unfortunately, he was not able to lead his club to any major titles up this year as Atletico Madrid won the La Liga title.
Ronaldo has been a goal-scoring machine over the last two seasons. He helped Real Madrid win their 10th Champions League title, his second time winning the tournament and the first with Real Madrid. He also won the European Golden Boot as the continent’s top goalscorer. There is no doubt that he is the most feared player in the world and the most valuable to his club and country. He did not do as well as Messi in the World Cup, but was the ruler of Europe last season
Here are Messi’s and Ronaldo’s statistics from last season. Messi is in Yellow, Ronaldo in Blue.
Neuer has redefined what goalkeepers can and cannot do. With his amazing athleticism and confidence, he has added a dynamic characteristic to both Bayern Munich and Germany. He likes to spend much of his time outside of the box acting as a 5th defender or a “Sweeper-Keeper”. He gets touches on the ball, helping the team move forward from deep. Nowhere was this more evident than in Germany’s World Cup 2nd-round win over Algeria, when he cut off Algeria’s attempts to play long balls from their own half numerous times.
Most people would get scared when their keeper touches the ball so much, but Neuer makes no mistakes and is just as good on the ball as he is between the posts. He helped Germany to their 4th World Cup title this year and is helping Bayern Munich in their run to attain the Champions League. This season, he has appeared 18 times and has a total of 13 clean sheets and concedes goals at an average of .23 goals per game. He has made the best of his time at Bayern Munich, proving himself to be the best goalkeeper in the world today. He won the IFFHS Best Goal Keeper Award in 2013 and the Golden Glove at the World Cup.
It is hard to distinguish who can be named best player in the world when a goalkeeper is held to different standards in the game. Nonetheless, Messi, Ronaldo and Neuer have all excelled this year and have done amazing things. Messi and Ronaldo may have a run for their money this year because of Neuer’s presence and the way that he has changed his position. There is a real possibility that we will see a new face hold the Ballon d’Or other than Messi or Ronaldo for the first time in six years.
Featured Photo Credit: fifa.com