Guardiola rolls his eyes Messi’s election is a gigantic FIFA farce
A comment from Tobias Nordmann January 15, 2024, 11:14 p.m
Lionel Messi is allowed to cheer again – but he doesn’t even do that. There is no trace of the Argentine in the 2023 World Footballer election. Completely surprisingly, he is named the best player. This is bad news for Erling Haaland, but also for football.
What a farce! Lionel Messi is officially the best footballer in the world of 2023. This is the result of the FIFA election. But that has nothing to do with the truth on the pitch. Yes, Messi led Argentina to the World Cup title at the end of 2022. He was the protagonist of his team, the leader. Winning the 2023 Ballon d’Or was a fitting tribute to his life’s work. But the fact that he has now also picked up the award in the competition is an indictment for football.
FIFA justifies the choice as follows: “The winner of the 2022 World Cup (editor’s note: Messi) and the Norwegian national player Haaland were tied with 48 points. They were separated by the number of nominations for the first choice, which Messi received from the captains of the national teams, in accordance with the allocation rules (Article 12).” When Messi was announced on stage, there was silence in the room. A silence that expressed bewilderment. Pep Guardiola, a friend of the Argentine and previously named last year’s best coach, even rolled his eyes.
Where was Messi actually?
Particularly absurd: The assessment period for the election was from December 19, 2022 to August 20, 2023. This is what it says in the official rules of the world association. So that means: Messi’s life’s work and coronation should no longer have played a role. Because the World Cup final was on December 18, 2022, one day before the new “The Best Year” was announced. But life’s work and coronation played a prominent role; there is no other way to interpret this completely surprising (albeit brief) and absurd result. All coaches and captains of the national teams as well as specialist journalists and internet users voted.
With Messi’s award, as deserved as it has been over the past few years, the election itself is devalued. Like the election for DFB national player of the year, which Dortmund captain Emre Can only won because two strong user X- Accounts had become for him. The Argentine himself, as both his absence and the lack of a video link or video message suggest, apparently did not expect to be honored again for his achievements. Presenter Thierry Henry accepted the award. What an absurd scene.
Better Ronaldo then!
Messi has long since disappeared into sporting obscurity after his departure from Paris St. Germain and his move to the MLS to Inter Miami. He even missed the playoffs with his new club. He didn’t have any other major titles to show for it, nor any personal records. It is only his charisma that has put him on the podium once again. Even the choice of Cristiano Ronaldo, his eternal rival, would have had more sporting substance. Even if he has long since disappeared into the Saudi fantasy league. But: CR7 ended the year 2023 with the number 54 on its goal account and thus overshadowed all other top scorers. He is the world top scorer in 2023. At least an argument. Messi didn’t have one.
This is particularly bitter for Erling Haaland, for whom even an incredible year is not enough to at least officially be the best player in the world. In 2023, in addition to the triumphs in the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup, the Norwegian goal monster also scored an outstanding 44 goals in 54 games across all competitions. Messi only scored 20 goals in 36 games and is a world footballer, a farce.
2024-01-15 23:15:58
#election #Messi #gigantic #FIFA #farce
