Ballon d'Or 2023 | Messi wins for 8th time

Rigged. Messi done next to fcuk all over the last 12 months to even be in the running. One or two good games in the World Cup doesn’t exactly equate to being the best player In 12 months.
 
Let's be real he should be on 10 by now. It's just too easy for him, miles ahead for the most of the past 15 years.
 
Rigged. Messi done next to fcuk all over the last 12 months to even be in the running. One or two good games in the World Cup doesn’t exactly equate to being the best player In 12 months.

The World Cup matters a lot more than bog standard league games, it’s always been that way. There’s nothing rigged about it.
 
Should Mbappe really be over KDB and Rodri?

Had a great world cup, but didn't end up winning it, and ghosted vs Bayern in the only game that really mattered for PSG.

It was arguably one of the best 5 World Cups this century so 3rd place is probably fair. I imagine it was close between him and De Bruyne for 4th. A player like Rodri isn't fashionable enough really to finish ahead of him.
 
Best player in the world winning the best payer in the world award shocker...

But seriously anyone thinking Haaland should win it need their head shaking.
 


No Allison in the top 10 and Ramsdale 8th. What the actual feck are these awards.
 
Best player in the world winning the best payer in the world award shocker...

But seriously anyone thinking Haaland should win it need their head shaking.

Bizarre take. He absolutely should have won it.
 
The World Cup matters a lot more than bog standard league games, it’s always been that way. There’s nothing rigged about it.
Not necessarily, World Cup is ever 4 years, so the bog standard leagues as you put it account for most of the football. Over 60% of those so called country’s wouldn’t beat our Premier League teams, There’s the bog standard leagues for you.
 
Looking forward to the Ronaldo fan tears. I think a 3 Ballon D'or gap between the two is fair. That's the difference in quality between them.
 
This award is just nonsens since few years back. Nobody cares because it dosn’t have anything to do with football.
 
This award is just nonsens since few years back. Nobody cares because it dosn’t have anything to do with football.

Yeah, obviously Messi got it for his good taste in tattoos. Nothing to do with him winning the world cup while being Argentina's best player whatsoever.
 
Yeah, obviously Messi got it for his good taste in tattoos. Nothing to do with him winning the world cup while being Argentina's best player whatsoever.
Look, Messi was great player and one of the best ever. That doesn’t mean he is best player now.
 
Should Mbappe really be over KDB and Rodri?

Had a great world cup, but didn't end up winning it, and ghosted vs Bayern in the only game that really mattered for PSG.
Mbappe should have been second
 
I think Messi is the GOAT and I've thought so for at least 5 years. But let's be real: this Ballon d'Or is purely because of the great story. Haaland has him beat on performances and arguably also achievements. And Mbappe is clearly the better player last season.

It's easy to accept this outcome though. There is something soulless about that robot winning it for that cheatcode of a club.

Hypothetical: how far down the list does Messi fall if Argentina loses the final? That kind of answers it for you. Haaland is still top 3 even if City lose the CL final. Mbappe got 3rd despite neither winning the CL nor the World Cup.
 
This award is just nonsens since few years back. Nobody cares because it dosn’t have anything to do with football.
translation: "nobody cares because I don't care because Messi won it 8 times and I don't like it". You should hear what the players said at the event, and how much they care for this award. When you stop crying, obviously.
 
Bizarre take. He absolutely should have won it.
Messi deserves this way more than anyone else, period.

Haaland was not even the best player of his team last year, that was KDB or Rodri, with Haaland always ghosting in semis and finals. 7 semis & finals, and 0 goals + assists. In these 7 games, City scored 12 goals with Haaland 0, the worst player by far on the pitch when he does not score. Not surprisingly, Rodri was chosen as the official CL player of the year.
www.reddit.com/r/PremierLeague/comments/13wv4m6/who_would_you_say_is_man_citys_best_player_how/

You don't win Ballon D'or as a striker with those 0 goal stats in 7 semis & final games when your team scored 12 especially in a WC year when one guy led his team to WC glory in a legendary manner. Oh, also forgot to add the 8th game, the Super Cup Final where he once again ghosted as usual. He should definitely be a contender for the ghosting awards..

If France won the WC, it would be Mbappe getting Ballon D'or with that WC performance not Haaland again..

Messi won the WC as the best player in an iconic fashion establishing himself as a WC legend. He was chosen as the IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker in the world over KDB, won FIFA Best. His club stats are quite impressive as well. He led Europe in assists, dribbles, chance creation, per game ratings, MOTM stats matching KDB and young stars Vinicius, Mbappe at the club level. Mbappe had 45 g+a in 42 games in Ligue 1 & CL while Messi had 39 g+a in 40 games..
 
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I think Messi is the GOAT and I've thought so for at least 5 years. But let's be real: this Ballon d'Or is purely because of the great story. Haaland has him beat on performances and arguably also achievements. And Mbappe is clearly the better player last season.

It's easy to accept this outcome though. There is something soulless about that robot winning it for that cheatcode of a club.

Hypothetical: how far down the list does Messi fall if Argentina loses the final? That kind of answers it for you. Haaland is still top 3 even if City lose the CL final. Mbappe got 3rd despite neither winning the CL nor the World Cup.

How can you win Ballon D'or as a striker scoring 0 goals & 0 assists in 7 semis & finals with City when City scored 12 goals in those 7 games. The guy was basically bailed out by an already great City team that easily dominates PL even without a striker prior to Haaland's arrival. The guy was not even the best player at City with KDB and Rodri..

Messi 2022/23
68 g&a
WC MVP
WC g&a leader
FIFA Best
IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker
Laureus Sportsman of the year

Ligue 1 assist leader
Most MOTM in Europe (14 vs Mbappe with 7)
Highest per game rating in Europe
Europe 2nd most assists total in the league + CL (right after KDB)
Europe 2nd most big chance creation (right after Bruno)
Europe 2nd most successful dribbles (right after Vinicius)
39 G+A in 40 games in Ligue 1 + CL (vs Mbappe with 45 G+A in 42 games).
 
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It was pretty much the Messi story at the World cup: 10 goal involvements, same as Maradona in '86

Worth noting neither Beckham or Keane won it in 99 finishing 2nd and 6th place respectively, Wesley Sneijder didn't win it in 2010 placing 4th, so Haaland not winning it after a treble isn't that rare (not saying it's right or wrong), just staying it's not unprecedented.
 
I don't see any argument for why Messi should win this in 2022. They didn't give it to Mbappe in 2018 or a German player in 2014 or a Spain player in 2010.

Below is the argument.. Why should Mbappe win in 2018 when he was not even the best player for France let alone the WC?

Messi 2022/23
68 g&a
WC MVP
WC g&a leader
FIFA Best
IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker
Laureus Sportsman of the year

Ligue 1 assist leader
Most MOTM in Europe (14 vs Mbappe with 7)
Highest per game rating in Europe
Europe 2nd most assists total in the league + CL (right after KDB)
Europe 2nd most big chance creation (right after Bruno)
Europe 2nd most successful dribbles (right after Vinicius)
39 G+A in 40 games in Ligue 1 + CL (vs Mbappe with 45 G+A in 42 games).

Enough argument for you?
 
Everyone knew Messi had it won the moment he lifted the World Cup.
 
People who wanted Haaland to win it just wanted Messi to loose it.

Haaland already has the award for being a top goalscorer. Golden shoe and that’s it.
 
Nothing to do with that. Messi's the better footballer, I don't know how anyone can even question it.

Messi has been the best footballer in the world since 2009.

This award isn't about who is the best footballer... It takes actual performances into consideration.

It's a WC year so the award was given to the person who performed the best at the WC. There's nothing more to it
 
People who wanted Haaland to win it just wanted Messi to loose it.

Haaland already has the award for being a top goalscorer. Golden shoe and that’s it.

And, his season as a goalscorer is not even comparable to Benzema's Ballon D'or worthy performance as a striker the prior year. That's how you carry your team as a Ballon D'or worthy striker. I would not be surprised if City players were fed up with his shitty performances in 8 semis & finals, having to bail him out each game.

CL final - 0 goal & 0 assist
CL semis (2 games) - 0 goal & 0 assist
Super Cup final - 0 goal & 0 assist
FA Cup final - 0 goal & 0 assist
FA Cup semi-final - 0 goal & 0 assist
Community Shield final - 0 goal & 0 assist

City total goals in these 8 games: 12

Such an impressive Ballon D'or worthy performance from a striker, just like Benzema last year..
 
Not necessarily, World Cup is ever 4 years, so the bog standard leagues as you put it account for most of the football. Over 60% of those so called country’s wouldn’t beat our Premier League teams, There’s the bog standard leagues for you.

What so called countries are there in the World Cup? They're all countries. The World Cup is the biggest tournament in football, if England won it then Harry Kane would have won the Ballon d'Or, that's how it's always worked. It goes World Cup > Champions League > domestic competition.
 
Messi has been the best footballer in the world since 2009.

This award isn't about who is the best footballer... It takes actual performances into consideration.

It's a WC year so the award was given to the person who performed the best at the WC. There's nothing more to it

Yep this trophy is about 'who won the biggest trophy in football that year' essentially.

Messi arguably was above Ronaldo in several seasons individually (when Real Madrid went on the CL runs) so Ronaldo automatically clinched them those years.

Arguably Messi should be sat at around 10 Balon d'Ors.

Haaland is the best goalscorer in the world now, but hes nowhere near Messi in terms of general play and thats where Messi won it IMO.

Yes City won the Treble but Haaland wasnt there in the big games.
 
Another reason to admire Messi is the lack of scandal in his career. Never read about him being with other women, partying, treating people disrespectfully. He’s so quiet off the field, despite being the best ever on it.
 
It's mostly a World Cup MVP prize at this point.
 
Maradona did it with a lesser team, and no protections from the refs.

And Maradona did it without VAR which would have disallowed the hand of god (the game finished 2-1).

The 1986 team were no slouches, he had a good team around him that was competitive. Yes Diego had the best world cup in history but full credit to Messi in 2022, he showed up for the entire tournament and Argentina fully deserved it.