By Andrew Warshaw
July 14 – The choice of Lionel Messi as the recipient of the Golden Ball award as the best player at the World Cup was somewhat controversial after an in-and-out performance by the Argentine maestro in Sunday’s showpiece finale.
Whilst there can be no argument about Manuel Neuer as the best goalkeeper and thus winner of the golden glove award in a tournament where keepers were for once conspicuous by their brilliance rather than mistakes, social media sites reflected the general surprise at Messi’s selection as the outstanding outfield player.
Few would argue with Messi’s status as the best player on the planet, an accolade that has earned him comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona. His four world player of the year awards testify to that. But the fact is that in Brazil, he did not score a single goal in the knockout stage, when there was most at stake, whilst his country managed only eight goals in all.
In the final against Germany, he flashed one golden opportunity wide but otherwise struggled to influence proceedings. However FIFA’s technical study group rated Messi’s overall contribution ahead of the likes of Colombia’s James Rodriguez – who earned the golden boot prize for his six goals – Holland’s Arjen Robben and German duo of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller. The young player award, meantime, went to 21-year-old France midfielder Paul Pogba.
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