Ballon D'or 2021: Who wins it?

[luiginb]

Everyone knows how good Rodri is. I have no problem with Rodri winning. I just think if anyone should have been higher it’s Lautaro. I also don’t think the BDO voters are looking at FBRef

They're journalists, as long as they don't watch every single game the 30 nominees play, they should, it's one of many statistical sources they can use.

 

[Savant]

They're journalists, as long as they don't watch every single game the 30 nominees play, they should, it's one of many statistical sources they can use.

They should. But there is no way that they do

 

[les Habs]

The funny thing about Madrid here is that it isn’t really about poor Vinicius Junior not winning when he (according to them) was the rightful winner. It’s about the Ballon d Or winner, whomever that might be, not being in their team. That’s the issue for them. It’s all about perpetuating their phony image.

And if you really want to put Perez into context, their training ground is laughably called Florentino Perez Real Madrid City.

 

[les Habs]

Just to bust the revisionist myth that Carvajal had the best ever season for a RB, I’ll provide two clear examples to the contrary.

First is Dani Alves in 2010-11. On the way to winning both the league and CL with Barca, he had 2 goals and 15 assists (yes, 15) in the league and added another 2 goals and 3 assist in the CL.

Second is Philip Lahm in 2012-13. On his way to winning a Treble with Bayern as the team’s captain he had 11 assists in the league and another 4 assists in the CL.

Two obvious examples. Dani Alves’ 2006-07 season with Sevilla is up there to name just one more that is likely forgotten.

 

[Evilo]

Absolutely, but I find it hard to call 34 goals in 37 NT matches underperformance.

You should take a look at who he scores against.

 

[Corto]

Has it been, though? Sneijder finished 4th as the best player on a treble. Ribery finished 3rd as the best player on a treble. It’s generally been a loose “who is the best player in the world right now” award

And trophy counting does not a best season make. Carvajal finishing 4th is already insane, take the W.

TBF, Sneijder just had a monster season in a peak Messi era.
Messi (and peak Cristiano) was so much above anyone else that I think Sneijder maaaaybe would've won if he won the WC final to add to his treble. And maybe not.
This was peak Messi. There was no better player in the history.
It's not like they gave it to 2021 or 2023 Messi. 2010 Messi was not from this planet.

Most French fans have a great memory of OM's win.
And yet it doesn't compare. Entire nation is different from a single fan base.
And even for neutrals (Maradona 86 is just wow for everyone).

I remember the OM final, I watched it as Boksic was playing for OM.
And I agree about the whole nation thing, but me having great memories of 2018 doesn't mean that Croatia beating England will resonate better in history for some random Spanish or Dutch dude, who remember Madrid or Barca winning, or Ajax. Or hey, just a neutral will likely remember the Bayern-ManUtd better than 99% of WC games.

Anyway...

From my side, to sum up:
Rodri is a worthy winner.
Vinicius would've been a worthy winner, and he's the one I thought would win.
My vote would've gone to Carvajal.
(this isn't just trophy counting for him, he was an utter beast in winning all those trophies, fullbacks like him, so balanced and well-round and very few and far between in football history)

And lastly, as annoyed and frustrated as Madrid must've been when they found out Vini wasn't winning it, they shouldn't have pulled out of the thing.
He's not the first guy to not winning something they felt was deserved.

If they meet in the KO rounds this season, City v Madrid could be a proper grudge match.
Especially after Rodri and his boys singing "Vincius ciao, ciao" last night.