Football's Individual Awards: An exercise in vainglory and futility

The curious case of Leo Messi

Messi and Ronaldo at FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2014

This is first time in a decade when Messi did not make the top 3 in these awards. Arguably the greatest player of his time, Lionel Messi has time and again failed to deliver his magic for Argentina; the same was true in last summer’s World Cup. The fact is that a well drilled and compact French side wiped the grass with Messi and Co. in their match. The same happened in South Africa when a flamboyant German side beat them in South Africa. Clearly, the total is greater than the sum of its parts and certainly one individual part, no matter how shiny and expensive.

On the other side, an extraordinary syncretism at Barcelona provides Messi the canvass to enhance his artistic endeavors. Barcelona, a team, is where every cog gets its due recognition as the collective produces victories and championships.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has always maintained supreme levels of team ethic and his reluctance regarding individual awards is a byproduct of a desire to win as a team. Winning championships and tournaments is what makes history, winning individual trophies makes the advertisements.