Ballon D'or 2021: Who wins it?

[luiginb]

@Scandale du Jour even though you handed me my longest ban in my 16 years on the forum the fact you liked @N o o d l e s ' comment (with you being a Real fan) makes me think you're cool

 

[cgf]

Jude is a fair pick for the young player award. Musiala hit the higher high with his form in the first half of the season, but Jude was more consistently excellent across the whole campaign and has had the better start to this season.

 

[Albatros]

That makes it two pure legacy awards then.

 

[Miro4Norris]

That makes it two pure legacy awards then.

Was world cup a legacy award too?

 

[robertmac43]

MLS with its first ever Ballon D'or!

 

[S E P H]

If you didn't already know that Ballon D'Or was a rigged trophy, Messi winning it somehow again with his performance at PSG is hilarious.

 

[Jussi]

If you didn't already know that Ballon D'Or was a rigged trophy, Messi winning it somehow again with his performance at PSG is hilarious.

He's guaranteed to win it after his retirement, just out of old habit.

 

[luiginb]

The World Cup is important for the Ballon d'Or, otherwise I can't imagine a universe where Modric deserved it.

 

[Evilo]

If you didn't already know that Ballon D'Or was a rigged trophy, Messi winning it somehow again with his performance at PSG is hilarious.

Avtually Messi was spectacular for the first part of the season and then the WC. He pretty much checked out afterwards. Same for Neymar (with injury).
Mbappe is the only one with a consistent season and IMO he was just as good at the WC. But of course a penalty shootout decided the whole thing.
IMO Haaland is only 3rd and not 2nd. Because while he scored a bunch he disappeared in key games and his Norway team which should be good enough is failing every time.

 

[Evilo]

Another mindblowing fact about the Ballon d'Or ranking.
Griezmann was 21st. He was arguably a top 4 player at the WC. He put up 15+17 stats with Atletico.
In front of him are Lautaro, Kane, Bellingham, Kvara, Benzema, Martinez, Gundogan, Bounou, Lewa, Salah, Modric, Silva, Osimhen, Alvarez who are all either behind him IMO or at least very arguable.

 

[maclean]

Another mindblowing fact about the Ballon d'Or ranking.
Griezmann was 21st. He was arguably a top 4 player at the WC. He put up 15+17 stats with Atletico.
In front of him are Lautaro, Kane, Bellingham, Kvara, Benzema, Martinez, Gundogan, Bounou, Lewa, Salah, Modric, Silva, Osimhen, Alvarez who are all either behind him IMO or at least very arguable.

But they're all either "hotter" than him now, or in a capable of cases it's more lifetime achievement. Any award that's based on people voting is going to be a bit of a popularity contest and above all about perception. And I do agree it's a bit weird that the winner really was decided by that penalty shoot-out.

What I find it harder to get used to is it not being about the calendar year and about the season. It took such an effort to force one's brain into thinking about it as the calendar year and then they go and change it.

 

[Evilo]

Now doesn't matter though. It's for the 22-23 season.
Yes I like it better over a season but the award should be given at season's end not 4 months later.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Another mindblowing fact about the Ballon d'Or ranking.
Griezmann was 21st. He was arguably a top 4 player at the WC. He put up 15+17 stats with Atletico.
In front of him are Lautaro, Kane, Bellingham, Kvara, Benzema, Martinez, Gundogan, Bounou, Lewa, Salah, Modric, Silva, Osimhen, Alvarez who are all either behind him IMO or at least very arguable.

Lautaro - best player on a UCL finalist
Bellingham - BuLi POTY
Kane - 30 goal season
Kvara - Serie A POTY
Osimhen - Serie A Top Scorer
Alvarez - key player on both WC and Treble

These ones I think all their cases for being above Griezmann are relatively plain and straight forward. The others I'll give you.

 

[Evilo]

You take a backup at City and some scorers over a guy that was much better than all of them in the WC?
How Was Lautaro at the WC?

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

You take a backup at City and some scorers over a guy that was much better than all of them in the WC?
How Was Lautaro at the WC?

There was a whole season in addition to the World Cup, guy. All of those guys were some combo of best player in their domestic leagues, top scorer in their domestic league, or key player on a successful club team.

 

[luiginb]

 

[robertmac43]

The Ballon D'or takes on a different meaning in WC years, it just does.

Voters have the WC top of mind.

 

[cgf]

It's cool Evilo, Mbappe can lose the BdO to Wirtz next year

 

[Evilo]

There was a whole season in addition to the World Cup, guy. All of those guys were some combo of best player in their domestic leagues, top scorer in their domestic league, or key player on a successful club team.

Griez wasn't a key player with 32 G/A?
Bellingham had 13 and won nothing.
Lautaro had 27 and won SA on was terrible at the WC.
Kane had 33 and won nothing
Kvara had 25 and won SA
Osimhen had 31 and won SA
Alvarez had 10 and won everything as a backup (as his numbers suggest)

If you think those guys plain and straightforward had a better season than 32+ and an incredible WC then by all means more power to you.

The Ballon D'or takes on a different meaning in WC years, it just does.

Voters have the WC top of mind.

Hence my Griez comment?

It's cool Evilo, Mbappe can lose the BdO to Wirtz next year

No idea why people talk about Mbappe. I think Griez should have been top 6/7 this year.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Did Griezmann win POTY in his league? No? Kvara and Bellingham both did.

Did Griezmann lead his team to a UCL Final? No? Lautaro did.

Did Griezmann win a Golden Boot en route to his team's first title in decades? No? Osimhen did.

Was Griezmann on the team which won the Treble AND the World Cup, playing a pivotal role in the latter? No? Alvarez was.

Did Griezmann have a year which would've won the Golden Boot in 95% of seasons? No? Kane did.

Griezmann had an excellent comeback season and, frankly, was recognized for it. Griezmann ALSO has historically been extremely well recognized by the Ballon d'Or, so this is not a case of him being ignored by it.

 

[Evilo]

Did any of these guys had half of Griez's WC?
Nope. And that's worth more than any of those guys' accomplishents.

 

[Wee Baby Seamus]

Alvarez's World Cup was just as good as Griezmann lmao, c'mon man. Bellingham was also brilliant.

Griezmann has two 3rd Place Ballon d'Or finishes - I doubt he's losing sleep over this. Why are you?

 

[Albatros]

The Ballon D'or takes on a different meaning in WC years, it just does.

Voters have the WC top of mind.

No World Cup top scorer has made the Ballon d'Or top 6 since Ronaldo in 2002.

 

[koyvoo]

What

No World Cup top scorer has made the Ballon d'Or top 6 since Ronaldo in 2002.

What about golden ball winner?

 

[Albatros]

The Golden Ball is another media prize.