Messi and Ronaldo Ballon D or

Beyond Messi and Ronaldo: The Ballon d’Or’s New Era

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo controlled the Ballon d’Or for nearly a decade. One of them won the award 13 times between 2008 and 2023, turning a celebration of footballing genius into a routine.

Messi and Ronaldo’s battle was fascinating on the pitch, but their dominance as superstars made the Ballon d’Or dull.

Before this age, the prize was notoriously unpredictable. The Ballon d’Or was won by 17 players from diverse countries and footballing backgrounds between 1990 and 2007, reflecting the game’s worldwide aspect.

From classics like George Weah and Marco van Basten to outliers like Igor Belanov, the award celebrated achievement. As Messi and Ronaldo won the cup year after year, the modern period made it a symbol of their excellence.

The first Ballon d’Or was awarded to Stanley Matthews in 1956 by France Football magazine. Johan Cruyff, George Best, and Franz Beckenbauer won over time.

Individualism in modern football transformed the prize. Neymar moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain to win the Ballon d’Or and escape Messi’s shadow.

Despite the preoccupation, the Ballon d’Or inspires. George Weah’s 1995 achievement as the only African player to win the accolade gives the continent pride and shows African players’ growing prominence in European football. Weah is the lone African winner, which is concerning. More diversity is needed.

The 2023 Ballon d’Or was disappointing. Messi’s seventh win after Argentina’s World Cup win appeared superfluous. His club form had dropped, and many thought Kylian Mbappé or Erling Haaland deserved it more.

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France winning the World Cup final may have given Mbappé the award. This showed how arbitrary the Ballon d’Or had become, decided by missed shootout penalties.

However, a new era is possible. The 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist lacks Messi, Ronaldo, and past winners. Young players like Vinícius Júnior, Rodri, Mbappé, and Haaland are emerging challengers.

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This is refreshing after years of predictability. The future appears more diverse and interesting as these young stars hit their primes.

To restore the Ballon d’Or’s greatness, we must change our perspective. It should celebrate football’s art and inspiration again, not just individual triumphs.

Football has data, awards, and records to assess success. The Ballon d’Or should be an uplifting, empowering reward of greatness that respects sports’ unpredictability and magic. Only then can it be a football-worthy celebration.

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