Golden Ball: Closer to the shirt (Europe) than the coat (South America)

For the seventh time, Argentine striker Lionel Messi is the best footballer in the world in the traditional Golden Ball poll of the French magazine France Football. Although he is a sound and proven name, his coronation aroused much controversy. Even I, as the representative of the Czech Republic, did not put him in the first place. But I recognise that he deserves the honour.

My pick was clear and well-reasoned:: Jorginho, a prominent figure of the Italian European champions and the English club Chelsea FC, which dominated the Champions League. No one else has so linked team triumphs in the two most prestigious competitions of the year.

After all, Jorginho dominated the Best Player UEFA poll of the German magazine Kicker, which announces the best player in Europe, but in a competition year (i.e. 2020/2021) where, in addition to European journalists (Ruik also votes for the Czech Republic), national team coaches (Jaroslav Šilhavý) also vote.

There was also no reason to look for someone else, the autumn season is rather a preparatory period for the subsequent peaks.

However, Messi took the crown and it is not an off target shot, it was not just a matter of merit. Messi also had an excellent year, literally a breakthrough year from his point of view. For the first time in his career he allowed his countrymen, his native Argentina, to bask in a major trophy. With his generous contribution, they conquered the Copa América, the South American championship.

And therein lies the diversity of perspectives. The Europeans watched their top tournament, where the Italians were great. They played attacking, attractive football, delighting the crowd. For the old continent, the games on the other side of the globe were a bit out of hand. Few missed all or most of the encounters between the South American magicians.

Whereas voters in the Golden Ball poll from other continents perceived both tournaments to be on the same level. It wasn’t directly theirs, so they were mainly noticing the performances. Moreover, the EUROs threw many of them off – and they probably did – by the prevalence of politics and business over sport.

Few could have been amused by UEFA’s favouritism of the English, their fans’ overlooking of their crimes – the laser glare, the booing during national anthems, or even the assault of a little Danish girl. And unkind speeches came from other camps too. Whereas the Copa América – with its traditional almost boundless emotionality – did not allow such ugliness into the matches.

Messi is once again the king of world football, although this time he did not leave a significant imprint on the European scene. A much deeper one was carved by Jorginho, the representative of the Italian champions.

Czech voice::

1. Jorginho (Italy, Chelsea FC)

2. Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern Munich)

3. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City)

4. Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)

5. Leonardo Bonucci (Italy, Juventus Turin)

Source: France Football