January 12 – Lothar Matthäus was the last German to win the World Player of the Year award -in 1991 title in front of Jean-Pierre Papin and Gary Lineker. Tonight Manuel Neuer, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo will be crowned. Matthäus spoke to SPORT1. By Reinhard Franke
SPORT1: The choice of the World Player of the Year is pending. Who is your favorite?
Lothar Matthäus: I would be happy for Manuel Neuer if he won this award. He deserves it because of how he has modernised and changed goalkeeping. There is something very special about a goalie who can play as part of the team and not just relied on to take care of his line, but permitted to play more. Manuel has a good eye, a great perception. If one includes modernisation in football in the election criteria, then Manuel has certainly a great opportunity to win.
SPORT1: What could be a disadvantage for Neuer?
Matthäus: He is not a striker. It (the award) was always about has scored the most goals and brought great performances. But I remember in 2006, when Fabio Cannavaro with Italy won the World Cup and the World Player award as a central defender – he was not necessarily a goal threat. Therefore, the world champion Manuel Neuer could help to stand on the podium at the top.
SPORT1: Would you be a little sad not to be the only German winner of the World Player award?
Matthäus: Not at all. Every year, I want a German player to win if he deserves it and Manuel deserves it. He has re-invented goalkeeping and has been successful with the German team and with Bayern. I am also of the opinion that in a football year like 2014 the award should go to a World Champion World Player.
SPORT1: Can see Cristiano Ronaldo winning?
Matthäus: He has a strong contender. Ronaldo was a little more dominant with Real Madrid last year. He won the Champions League with his club, with 17 goals set a new record in the Champions League and scored every week in the Championship.
SPORT1: But Ronaldo did not have such a strong World Cup.
Matthäus: That’s true of course, but he alone won Portugal the decider against Sweden that sent them to the finals. The numbers speak well for Ronaldo. He played 70 to 80 official matches, which is a number that is unparalleled. In my opinion it will be a close call between Cristiano Ronaldo and Manuel Neuer.
SPORT1: What about Lionel Messi?
Matthäus: Messi, for me, does not matter much in this vote. Anything less than a third place would be a great surprise for me. I don’t mean this badly, but actually he has nothing to show. For Messi this was not a good year, or certainly not one like we have been used to used from him. Arjen Robben had done more to make it into the last three.
SPORT1: Could it be a disadvantage for Neuer that Ronaldo sprayed more glamorous?
Matthäus: I think we all do something of a wrong to Ronaldo. He is from my own experience and from stories of colleagues, a top professional. One need only ask Toni Kroos or colleagues at Real Madrid. He does everything for success, puts in additional training and pays attention to everything that contributes successfully to play football. There is a lot of envy of him.
SPORT1: You seem to be a Ronaldo fan.
Matthäus: I got to know him personally. If one looks good, often affects and drives a Ferrari, then that’s okay. We have some players who drive a Ferrari in the Bundesliga. In Germany the eighth player to their appearance. I am not on the side of Ronaldo critics. He is an excellent player and has just as Messi made us in the past with his fantastic goals, the wonderful dribbling and the whole appearance very much. Ronaldo has a strong year behind him. Still, I would not vote for Ronaldo, because winning the most important tournament in the world, the World Cup, should be the deciding factor on the World Player of the Year award.