Is the Ballon D'Or losing its relevance?

Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese striker who plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has slammed the Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best awards as ‘losing credibility’ after his arch-rival Lionel Messi won both in 2023.

Ronaldo, who scored 54 goals in 59 games in 2023 for Al-Nassr and Portugal, told Record that he did not watch the awards ceremony because he no longer believes in them. He said that the awards should be based on facts and numbers, not on popularity or media hype.

Are his statements correct? In this article, I will be discussing my viewpoints on why I believe Cristiano's comments are justified as to why I think the Ballon D'or needs to be reinstated with the values and principles of the game in mind.

What is the Ballon D'or? And most importantly, why is this conversation required?

The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in football, but in recent years, it has faced criticism for its voting process, its bias towards attacking players, and its lack of recognition for other aspects of the game.

Voting Process:

The Ballon d’Or is decided by a panel of journalists from around the world, who each cast a vote for their top five players of the year. However, this system has been questioned for its transparency, consistency, and objectivity.

Some critics argue that the journalists are influenced by factors such as media hype, popularity, and personal preferences, rather than the actual performance of the players. For example, in 2023, Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or, despite playing only half of the season in Europe and having a mediocre campaign with Inter Miami in the USA. Many felt that he was rewarded more for his past achievements and his role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph, rather than his current form.

Others point out that the voting criteria are vague and inconsistent, and that different journalists may have different interpretations of what constitutes the best player. For instance, some may value individual statistics, such as goals and assists, while others may consider team success, such as trophies and titles. Moreover, some may favor players from certain regions, leagues, or clubs, while others may overlook them. This can lead to discrepancies and controversies in the final ranking.

For instance, some may view Erling Haaland as the best player in the world as he led his club to the coveted treble: the Premier League, Champions League and the FA cup while also being a crucial part of his squad breaking all existing goalscoring records.

Bias Towards Attacking Players:

Another common criticism of the Ballon d’Or is that it favors attacking players, especially forwards, over defensive players, such as defenders and goalkeepers. Since its inception in 1956, only three defenders and one goalkeeper have won the award, while the rest have been midfielders or forwards.

This trend reflects the tendency of the voters to focus on the offensive aspects of the game, such as scoring goals, creating chances, and dribbling past opponents, rather than the defensive ones, such as preventing goals, making tackles, and intercepting passes. As a result, many defensive players, who are equally important and influential for their teams, are overlooked and undervalued.

For example, in 2023, Emiliano Martínez won the Yashin Trophy, which is given to the best goalkeeper of the year, but he only finished 15th in the Ballon d’Or ranking, despite having an outstanding season with Aston Villa and Argentina. He kept 21 clean sheets in the Premier League, the most by any goalkeeper, and he was instrumental in Argentina’s World Cup victory, saving three penalties in the semi-final shootout against Brazil.

Lack of recognition for other aspects of the game:

Finally, some critics claim that the Ballon d’Or does not adequately reflect the complexity and diversity of the game, and that it reduces football to a simple comparison of individual players, rather than a collective and multifaceted sport. They argue that there are many other aspects of the game that are not captured by the award, such as tactics, teamwork, leadership, mentality, and innovation.

For instance, some suggest that the award should also recognize the contribution of coaches, who are responsible for devising the strategies, managing the players, and inspiring the teams. Others propose that the award should also acknowledge the achievements of teams, who are the ones who actually play the game, win the matches, and lift the trophies. Furthermore, some advocate that the award should also appreciate the diversity of styles, cultures, and philosophies that exist in football, and that it should not impose a single standard or criterion for judging the best player.

In conclusion, the Ballon d’Or is losing relevance because it is based on a flawed voting process, it is biased towards attacking players, and it does not recognize other aspects of the game. Therefore, many fans, players, and experts are calling for a reform or a replacement of the award, in order to make it more fair, balanced, and comprehensive.