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When Argentinean forward Lionel Messi walked dejectedly up the stairs of the Estádio Maracanã to greet Sepp Blatter and company following the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, more than a few people raised their eyebrows in surprise.
He was there to collect the Golden Ball, cementing his status as the tournament’s best player, at least according to the governing body’s technical committee.
German keeper Manuel Neuer had previously collected the Golden Glove, rightfully, in recognition of his presence between the sticks for his country.
Yet, while Neuer’s award was unsurprising, was Messi the right man to receive the Golden Ball?
It could be argued that three German players – Neuer himself, Thomas Müller, and Mats Hummels – deserved it more than Messi. While Javier Mascherano was arguably Argentina’s player of the tournament. And that’s without mentioning the talents of Colombian James Rodriguez.
While Messi may not have played out of his skin in the group stages, his four goals had almost single-handedly ensured Argentina finished atop of Group F.
The diminutive maestro also produced a moment of magic to set up compatriot Angel di Maria in the round of 16 clash against Switzerland, helping to seal a 1-0 extra-time win with a crucial assist.
Yet he remained goalless in the knockout stages, and didn’t conjure up much more than a few half-chances.
His runs were halted when man-marked by three opposition players, he failed to find teammates with decisive passes, and, like always, his work rate was questionable.
While there’s no doubt Lionel Messi is not required, or asked, to run around the pitch like a mad man, his approach to the World Cup at times did not impress.
Further, his reactions during the final could be described as nothing short of disgraceful, unbefitting of a talisman and most certainly unbefitting of Argentina’s captain.
The key moment was during the break following full-time, with the scores level at 0-0. Argentina had put in an admirable performance, based on their defensive prowess, and coach Alejandro Sabella attempted to rally his troops one final time.
Yet captain and star man Messi looked uninterested, and appeared to walk away from the team talk halfway through. Mascherano was left to take over.
https://vine.co/v/MxjWOHhlgFw
Surely a captain should be in the mix, adding encouraging words to his manager’s impassioned speech?
He was likely frustrated, and it’s well publicised that Messi doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Sabella, but that doesn’t excuse his actions.
Messi did produce moments of brilliance in the first half of the finale, but he faded in the second half, blazing wide his one opportunity, and he failed to inspire his side to victory.
As he begrudgingly accepted his Golden Ball award, there was a sense that this loss was more about him than about Argentina.
Fans didn’t feel sorry for Argentina, they felt sorry for Messi. Sorry that one of the world’s greatest ever players had once again failed to live up to expectations, sorry that he had failed to emulate the exploits of Diego Maradona and Pelé.
This was supposed to be Lionel Messi’s World Cup, but Mario Götze’s injury-time winner put an end to that. Handing Messi a conciliatory award did not impress anyone, certainly not the recipient himself.
He was sour upon receiving the award, and looked like he just wanted to crawl into a shell. And fair enough.
But just because the tournament’s most talented player lost a World Cup many felt he deserved, doesn’t mean he should be rewarded.
Maradona led the calls lambasting the decision, labelling it a “marketing” gimmick, while Sabella stood by his star man, describing his tournament as “extraordinary”.
Everyone apart from Sabella, though, is most likely aware that Rodriguez, Colombia’s golden child, was the more deserved Golden Ball winner.
He was a shining light in the World Cup, and the Golden Boot winner too. How he was overlooked is a mystery, especially as France’s Paul Pogba pipped him to the honour as the tournament’s top young player.
Messi may be an extraordinary talent, and he will easily go down as one of the game’s greatest ever players, but he was not the player of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and he did not deserve the Golden Ball.
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