5 reasons why Lionel Messi is bigger than the Ballon d'Or

#1 The World Cup, and not the Ballon d'Or, is the only thing on Messi's mind

So close, yet so far away

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. If that's true, Lionel Messi is, perhaps, borderline obsessed with the one trophy he has failed at getting his hands on. Yep, it so happens that this one trophy happens to be one of the biggest trophies in world football - The FIFA World Cup.

The magical Argentine has represented his country at 3 different editions of the World Cup, but has never run away with it. Messi made his World Cup debut in 2006 in Germany, against Serbia and Montenegro. Argentina crashed out of the 2006 World Cup, after losing to hosts, Germany in the quarter-finals, through penalties. Notably, Messi did not feature in that game.

4 years later, at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Argentina were widely hailed as one of the favourites to win the cup. However, Germany stepped up yet again, to send La Albiceleste right back home, humbling them 4-0 in the quarter-finals, yet again. Worst case of Deja Vu, eh?

In the 2014 World Cup, in Brazil, Leo Messi looked like he meant business and nothing else, as he captained Argentina, who subsequently romped past their group stage opponents. Messi, specifically, was in red-hot form as he picked up the Man of the match award in all of their first 4 games (including the round of 16 win against Switzerland)

He then played a crucial role in Argentina's 1–0 quarter-final win against Belgium, helping the Albiceleste qualify for the semi-finals of a World Cup, for the first time since 1990. They subsequently edged past the Dutch, knocking them out through a penalty shootout, before bowing out to Germany in the finals, who were boosted by Mario Gotze's 113th-minute winner.

Despite not winning the World Cup in 2014, Messi was named the best player of the tournament and was awarded the Golden Ball.

Now, Argentina have never won the World Cup in Messi's presence. Messi has not tasted as much success with Argentina, as he has with Barcelona. Both statements hold true. The 30-year old's significance is often undermined simply because he hasn't won a major tournament with his international side.

Argentina are a good team, no doubt. However, football still happens to be a team sport, and Leo Messi, as inhuman as he may appear, is still only human, and can only do so much on his own. Despite several stars seemingly vanishing when it counts, most of the criticism is, most often than not, unfairly hurled at Leo.

After 3 failed attempts, 1 of which, was by a whisker, you sure can bet that Lionel Messi only has one thing on his mind. Just one solitary agenda. Lift the World Cup. Silence all doubters. Which it will, mind you. As the World Cup, or lack thereof, is the only bone to pick, in what has been an otherwise glittery career.

As such, should someone offer him an option to trade a Ballon d'Or or two, for the World Cup, there's a sliver of possibility that Messi could indeed opt for a swap, albeit grudgingly.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. The World Cup is the only thing absent in the wizard's trophy room, and not the Ballon d'Or. Lionel Messi is the kind of person who goes after what he wants on a football pitch.

You do the math.