This is pretty dumb even by FIFA standards. Almost all major competitions, including the flagship World Cup, finish in the May-July region yet they wait 5 months to announce their awards. Have the bloody vote in August and remove any ambiguity about what to consider and there will be few legitimate complaints.
And Sanchez also scored 2 goals? What's your point? That Messi playing prevents Villa and Sanchez from scoring?
It can be argued that Alexis Sanchez' goal (which Messi assisted brilliantly on) against Madrid last season was more important than Ronaldo's goal. It was the difference between the title race being over in December versus the title race extending into April. Yes, Madrid won anyway but that's hindsight. At the time, Alexis' goal seemed massive and totally changed the game in the Bernabeu. At the time of Ronaldo's goal, Madrid already had a 95% chance of winning La Liga. His goal increased it from 95% to 100%. Just saying...
I agree, but I can recall as far back as 1979 when Keegan was announced as the winner of France Football's "European Player of the Year" in December of that year. Before then I don't know because I didn't really follow, but the Ballon hasn't been an end-of-season-announcement since 2010. It hasn't just been a FIFA issue.
Lol no... Say we have a cup final match. Real Madrid, for example, is winning 1-0 against Barca. Sanchez scores to level the match. Ronaldo then scores right at the end. Whose was more important? I really don't see how PROLONGING a title is more important than the goal that WINS the title.
Right, but that's isn't a great analogy. Madrid didn't have to win the clasico last April. A draw would have also ended the title race, even a loss would probably still have been okay.
Tomasz Rosicky for "Al Jazeera"papers: "I swear I gave my vote to Cristiano Ronaldo, but surprisingly Lionel Messi's name was on my paper!" Gianluigi Buffon for "Gazetta dello Sport": "I voted for Cristiano Ronaldo and my vote was given to Pirlo. I don't know what happened!" "I voted for Cristiano Ronaldo, but according to FIFA my vote went to Messi. It's a pitty these things happen." — Thiago Silva (PSG) A journalist from Indonesia claims he voted for Xavi, Barcelona midfielder, but his vote was given to Messi. José Pekerman, Colombia coach to local news: "I gave maximum points to Radamel Falcao, off course. According to FIFA, I gave it all to Messi, I don't know what happened but it is not how I voted." Gabon Coach :I didn't Vote But they give my Vote to messi !
Knowing the FIFA and UEFA they will likely give a punishment on verbal dissent. Just like they successfully do and did with players who complain about refereeing. In the past a commonplace, nowadays heavily punished by them.
Wow really? can you post the original link or copy? I knew this prize became so much "media event" (to sell stuffs) but this is too much if its' true?
T. Silva dismisses controversy over Golden Ball and belies TV The defender Thiago Silva denied through its advisory that their votes for the Golden Ball have been wrongly computed by Fifa. The television Al Jazeera had reported that the vote of brazilian captain had gone to Balotelli, not Messi, but the defender of the Paris Saint-Germain confirmed that actually chose Messi in first. http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebo...fe957bb50c43c310VgnVCM4000009bcceb0aRCRD.html
They are too much maligned to be sports athlete and organization (Thiago and FIFA) 1- If Thiago did vote "right" (according to the procedure) ... then there is no such things 2- If FIFA should not imply some votes (blank or undefined) by their own "right" - as doubt