So with the Ballon D'OR shortlist being released, an awards show I don't care too much for, it was pretty obvious what the conversation will be. Will Lionel Messi get his hands on yet another personal award or would we see the emergence of the new kid on the block from Brazil staking a claim of being the best in the business?
Messi had a damn good year but it didn't start off too well. Getting used to Luis Enrique, as a new coach, and coming off the back of a disappointing end to a World Cup, it took a bit of time before he hit that stride we all know. Once Enrique figured out the logistics of the team and got Messi fitting in perfectly, he was his old self again. Being a ridiculously high influence on Barcelona and definining how they played.
From goals, to assists, to leading attacks, dribbling, creating space, everything went through him and it was also the first time where he played a greater creative role. It's perhaps a role that may be the key to unlocking glory for Argentina, by being far more of an orchestrator who makes plays and reads the game, much in the way that Maradona was able to do. With Barcelona, it worked to perfection as he had both the Cannibal and Neymar to play off of and all three of them were operating on a wavelength that no other team could compete against.
Messi has had some amazing seasons, including one where he racked up an insane goal and assist account. But even though this past season did not see him put up those numbers ( sounded very American then) the level of football that he displayed has probably been the best of his career. It's been evolution of a player who was already sensational. To think that he's gotten even better is just mind-wrenching.
The Truth, also known as Neymar.
After a bit of a shaky first season where critics dared doubt his talent, he came back strong this last year. Working superbly well with Messi, and scored some very important goals and now recently when Messi was out injured, he has taken charge of the team and has shown his amazing all-round game which is why he is captain and the very heartbeat of the Brazilian team, despite his age. This is why he is The Truth because this is the real deal, and the future of football.
I'm personally happy to see Neymar up on that podium. For a player who had so much hype, and many believing he couldn't live up to that hype based on playing in Brazil, it's great to see how he has ripped open the La Liga with some incredible performances and amazing pieces of skill, and control. It now makes you think of the same criticism that they throw at Pele for not ever doing it in Europe. Neymar has shown that if you're talented enough, football being a skill-based sport, Pele would have probably been just as effective if he had moved to a European team.
All in all, Messi deserves it. He's been the better player overall, so if he wins it, then nobody can argue about that. If it was down to me, and I had to decide which of the two should get it, I would perhaps go for the less popular option. It's not like Messi has been a thousand times better than his partner in crime, and he's got enough of these golden balls to start a Fort Knox farm. I'd give it to Neymar. Just to signal a slow changing of the guard and the future generation. It's never good seeing the same winner over and over again, especially when you can give a good excuse to give it to someone new just to freshen things up. I'm sure that even Lionel would be the first to get up and clap, cheering on his younger counterpart as he enjoys his first taste of being the winner of this "contest".
But I'm more a trophy guy than an
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