Just days ago, FIFA and France Football announced a four year partnership which would see their annual football awards merged into one. So in January of 2011, FIFA will be presenting the new Ballon d’Or to the Best Player in the World, as voted by coaches, captains and media.
The question is will these collective minds see the beauty and greatness of Spain midfielder Xavi Hernadez, which was on display in the World Cup semi-final against Germany, and give him enough votes to be named Best Player?
Martin Rogers, a media guy for Yahoo! Sports, seems to be making a case if not starting a campaign to get Xavi Hernandez voted in ahead of the usual suspects:
“…the man simply known as Xavi is the finest soccer player on the planet right now and the most accomplished performer at this World Cup. Ahead of Messi. Ahead of Ronaldo. Even ahead of his Spain teammate David Villa, who has scored five goals to Xavi’s none in South Africa.”
Having watched every delicious moment of the absorbing tactical battle between Spain and Germany myself and seen how the mind and feet of Xavi conducted the game from his midfield podium, I will say that he would be an easy vote for me.
I love Xavi. He is my kind of player: smart, creative, tough. And a proven winner. He has been the key player in recent Champions League and Euro 2008 wins for his club (Barcelona) and his country (Spain).
Having said all of that, I feel for the likes of Messi – and other superstars like Wayne Rooney.
The fact is that the days of one player winning tournaments all by himself are long gone. Diego Maradona, a player known for his brilliant one-man-shows and now in the role of team manager, lamented this fact just a few days ago, saying: “I think we were more selfish…Maybe before it was about being selfish players who [made the] rest of the team work for us.”
Well it doesn’t work that way any more. Now the star has to work for the team and the manager and the system of play – which can vary from day-to-day depending on the opposition or the coach’s mood.
This week, in an open criticism of manager Raymond Domenech, France defender William Gallas outlined how the modern star player is dependent on the quality and the whims of his manager: “You can have the best players in the world in your team, but if you don’t have the coach you need then the results will not be achieved.”
Results for both your team and the individual player.
I feel for Lionel Messi who I think is “actually” the Best Player in the World but was forced into a situation where his brilliance would have needed to overcome the incompetence of Maradona the manager. Either Messi wasn’t brilliant enough, or Maradona too flawed or the supporting cast of players not appropriate, but the fact remains, Messi didn’t have as good a platform to be great as Xavi.
Just look at what manager Vicente Del Bosce had to say after someone asked about how the Spanish team that beat Germany was influenced: “I don’t know if it looks like the Dutch style. It is based on a good, organised midfield,” Del Bosque said. “If you have order, then you can showcase individual talents. We have great players, excellent players, and that makes everything easier.”
If you have order.
Then talent can shine. Can win.
It seems that the modern superstar needs order. Needs the right platform to bring his genius to bear on a match, on history.
Xavi was given the best possible environment, while Messi was not. That’s what I say.
But I guess that’s life.
On the surface then, since Xavi was able to produce his genius, I think he should be given the Ballon in January – if of course he continues his heroics in the final on Sunday and for his club Barcelona in the fall.
And because he wasn’t able to produce, I say that Messi should not get the award. But I feel for Messi because in my heart I actually think he is the Best Player in the World.
Maybe I am like the fans of the world. If you look at our poll below you’ll see that Messi gets the lion’s share of online fan votes for best player. Trouble is Xavi gets very, very few votes. And I don’t agree with that either.
Anyone have a perfect voting system? Please let me know. Maybe it would be as simple as getting Messi a better coach and supporting cast when he is with Argentina.
In any case, If Xavi wins the new Ballon d’Or in January I am sure that he will be thanking his lucky stars for the genius that surrounds him.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Xavi is a genius, and it takes another genius to see that. Look how messi gets all the attention in Barca, but people forget that Xavi has the highest assists in barcelona history!. He doesn’t care about goals, he just makes the opportunity for other players to score. and in my eyes, he’s just amazing. The new Zidane for sure.
Yep – the new Zidane – because he controls everything.
I want Cesc win this great football award.
Cesc win the award.
Cesc is a brilliant player. He could win the award someday. It’s a shame that Arsenal are now denying him a move to his beloved Barca – after all he has done for Arsenal. He even signed a long contract so that Arsenal could make big money from his sale. But now he is trapped – poor boy. I think that Papa Wenger has screwed him over…