Player Focus: Lionel Messi - World Cup 2014 Player of the Tournament
It speaks volumes about the Lionel Messi's talents that the World Cup he has just enjoyed could still be considered such a catastrophic failure in so many quarters. Despite providing the strikes to all-but carry an otherwise goal-shy Argentina into the knockout stages of the 2014 World Cup, Messi still faces vast numbers of critics, and the decision to award him with the competition's Golden Ball was met with significant discontent.
Fans cried out that there were plenty of others more deserving of the gong: Colombia's unquestionably impressive James Rodríguez; Netherlands' rip-roaring Arjen Robben; eventual winner Thomas Müller. All three - amongst many more - had fantastic tournaments and were unfortunate to come away without the accolade for the best player in Brazil, but Messi has to contend with the expectations his performances over the years have built up.
Rodríguez, for example, came into the tournament after a good season at Monaco, but few would have hoped he would have such a good summer in Brazil, let alone expect it. This tournament for Messi, meanwhile, represented the platform upon which the Argentine was supposedly able to put all doubts to bed and establish himself as the greatest player of all time. On two occasions last night - when he ran clean through in the 47th minute and then when he stood over a free-kick in injury time at the end of extra time - it looked like the stage was set for the Barcelona forward to hit the World Cup knockout stages goal that has previously eluded him, and in the most spectacular of circumstances. He put the first chance just wide; the second flew some way over the bar.
It wasn't meant to be for Messi. There was no fairytale ending, no moment of magic akin to what we have seen from him so many times previously, even in this very World Cup, to save his ailing team. The sombre figure he cut as he collected his Golden Ball award showed just what victory would have had meant to him, and also just how unimportant personal gratification is in his eyes.
But while it wasn't the perfect World Cup with the perfect ending for Lionel Messi, it was still one in which he did enough to silence those who continue to criticise him. Statistically he was the best player at the tournament, with an average rating of 8.52 over his 7 games. Comparatively, Rodríguez maintained an average rating of 8.40, but only over 5 appearances. Messi also picked up the WhoScored man of the match award in each of Argentina's first four matches in Brazil. That his influence diminished in the latter stages - against better opposition after a favourable group draw - was understandable.
After the group games, after which Messi was joint top of the goalscoring charts, teams woke up - as if they needed to - to Messi's threat. His every touch in the latter stages was greeted by multiple opposition defenders and it was for this reason that the number of shots he was taking dropped from 4.7 per game in the group stages to 2.3 in the knockout rounds, while his dribbles per game rose from 5.7 per game to 7.3. Met with more obstacles, Messi beat more men but understandably struggled to get as many shots off.
One could think of this as a grave failure on his part, but with Messi occupying the thoughts of so many opposing players, their attack was in turn depleted. Louis van Gaal's Netherlands side had enough to stop Messi (although he completed a tournament-high 10 successful dribbles in that game) but they didn't also have enough to hurt Argentina themselves; they managed just one shot on target in 120 minutes and it took them 99 minutes to conjure that.
Not only did Messi complete more dribbles than any other player at the tournament (46), he also created more chances than anyone else (23). Attacking teammates Gonzalo Higuaín, Sergio Agüero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio managed 1 goal from 34 shots between them. Messi hit 4 goals from 23 shots. To blame on Messi Argentina's failure to net at all in the final 322 minutes of their World Cup 2014 campaign is highly misguided.
Much is also made of a lack of work rate on Messi's part, as if he isn't bothered with football's more menial tasks, and yet he made 1.6 tackles per game at the World Cup - up from 0.5 per game for Barcelona this season. He won possession in the attacking third 4 times in the tournament, which only 5 players bettered in the whole World Cup. What is more, is it not best for one of the best players on the planet to conserve his energies for more important attacking tasks and thus forgo at least some defensive duties?
It wasn't quite the ending he, his fans, Argentina and many neutrals alike wanted, but it certainly should not be considered a disappointing campaign for Lionel Messi. Yes, he did not produce the kind of World Cup winning performance that was far from unimaginable before last night's final, but a Golden Ball was indeed justified nonetheless. He might not be the greatest player of all time, but he was the best player in Brazil this summer and even if he never wins the World Cup, nothing should be taken away from his fantastic and almost unrivalled career achievements.
Do you think Messi deserved the Golden Ball? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
Your analysis has been on point.
I'm a fan of Who Scored ratings and appreciate the analysis that goes around them. And you're right that it is "best for one of the best players on the planet to conserve his energies for more important attacking tasks." And there's the problem. Argentina scored two goals in the knockout phase. Two goals in four games. You can't give him the Golden Ball on that fact alone.
messi deserved it.great article,i hope every football lover gets to read it.the noise is too much
Had any other player played the way Messi did during the tournament people would demand that he gets the player of the tournament award. People have double standards for Messi and they expect of him more than they do out of other (ordinary) players because they are used to his great performances.
@Ivannnnn "had any other player played the way Messi did". Other players did. And many more did even better. Whoscored giving Messi the highest rating doesn't tell the whole story. During the regular season, everyone knew Ronaldo was way better, but still got less rating. The truth is that Messi's style of play makes him get increadibly high rating even when he plays bad. also, Messi had an average rating of about 9 coming out of the group stage, and all of a sudden it falls to 8.5. This just proves that Messi only had a good group stage at the world cup, not a good knock out round, which is what really matters.
@may7even what? You do this statement and then say Ronaldo was better???? If numbers don't tell all the truth then Ronaldo except from scoring isn't better than many other players. Suarez bale di maria are better than him in the other aspect of the game. Ronaldo now is only scoring shooting and shooting and shooting just to prove he's at the same level of Messi. But Messi and the others defend, run, and create for their teams. Ronaldo play for himself, he was terrible for Portugal.
@Mattia if it was so easy to do what Ronaldo did, then why did he score 17 goals in the champs league. Almost double of what the next person scored. And for all the chances Messi created, why did he only manage to have just two more assists than Ronaldo. Also, did you really just say that Messi defends??? guess you lots all credibility with that one. BTW, Ronaldo was injured during the world cup and also didn't have the luxury of playing Iran, Nigeria, and Bosnia in the group stages.
@may7even those 17 goals mean nothing, it's all work by di maria and bale. Ronaldo is ridiculous in his race to the record, play all match, even the not necessary, and gets mad if the teammates don't pass him the ball always and just in front of the goal. Its easy to score the fourth at 120' while being shi*e all the match in the final against atletico, the most he scores are useless 4th or 5th goals or against ridiculous teams like osasuna. I rate with my eyes not with stupid race to the record, seems my lil cousin playing Fifa in easy mode to score 4/5 goals. Childish. P.s. you know assist don't depend on you, but with whom you play. Messi defends in important matches, just watch El classico or these WC matches, he runs until the ball has been recovered, the kind of stuff Barcelona teach to their children to be a team. Team, word unknown to ronaldo.
@Mattia This is about MESSI not Ronaldo....they both sucked at the WC ! The only difference is, that Messi did a few useless dribbles in no mans land...
Yes he deserve it in my own view........ Cos the kind of tackle given to him was much more than any other player in the tournament ........ Still He does not give up and manage to create chances for other players to score but most ar unable to score through passes and failed him
no
The way Messi was defended is just crazy. Nobody gave him a second of time. But people, take it easy, there is no way anyone is near Messi in terms of skill. This man is unrivaled in history, we all true football lovers know that. Of course there are haters people, just ignore them really. Saying that Rodriguez deserved it is stupid imo. Really, really stupid.
I wish to join those, who do not agree with Messi being the best. Rodriguez was best in my opinion. The impact he had on his team (just look at his performance when he came from the bench) was something more than Messi provided in my opinion. Messi's job was to score goals or make others in his team do that and he couldn't do so in the important matches. You can say that Higuain and others wasted lot of chances, they did, but so did their opponents.
@Exti Rodriguez was great. Problem is, his team only went to quater finals. So he played only 5 matches.
In my opinion, you shouldn't judge who is the best based on only goals, if the most marked player on earth is the best dribbler in a competition, then he obviously is the best player of the competition. He deserved the golden ball.
Yes he deserve it in my own view........ Cos the kind of tackle given to him was much more than any other player in the tournament ........ Still He does not give up and manage to create chances for other players to score but most ar unable to score through passes and failed him
Sometimes I think, people just want him to have that award because he is Messi and not because he has achieved anything at the World Cup ! Of course he is the best player on the planet when it comes to pure skills. But the Golden Ball was supposed to get the best PERFORMING player at THIS World Cup ! And Messi was invisible in the last four games and showed nothing to vote for. Even at the group stages he delivered nothing but the 4 goals. If dribbles in neutral zones would interrest anybody but whoscored.com, he might be worth a look. But best performing player at WC ? NO !
whoscored proves time and time again how idiotic their stats and writers are. well done you are indeed the stupidest people in all of football.