Leo Messi for the first time since 2006 Golden Ball, the seven-time award. For French Football The Argentine is not among the top 30 players of last season and therefore will not have a chance to win the trophy at the gala on 17 October. Who are among the candidates? Cristiano Ronaldo. A controversial decision L’EquipeThe French midfielder, who awarded the trophy, wanted to settle down immediately.

arguments

L’Equipe describes the absence Messi It is based on several arguments. The first is to change the selection criteria set in this edition by the season, not the calendar year. Second, the list of candidates is prepared by the publishing offices. French Football and L’Équipe, joined by Didier Drogba, the Ballon d’Or ambassador, and voters closest to predicting the final outcome of the previous edition. So, Vietnamese journalist Truong Anh Ngoc, new Zeland Gordon Watson and Czech Karolina Hlavackova.

Moreover, L’Equipe reduced the number of countries that had the right to vote. There were 170 countries before, but now the French media are questioning whether “countries that do not have a great natural football culture or historical legitimacy and don’t always have easy access to footage of matches can weaken the jury.” For this reason, only the representatives of the first hundred countries in the ranking will be given the right to vote. Fifa (fifty for women)”.

L’Equipe explains in an article in his first year Paris of the Messi not well and tension pochettino It was “a disappointing first year in Paris”. Just six goals in Ligue 1 and his elimination at the hands of Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League has prompted criticism of his performance, which according to the media creates an “unwelcome impression of part of the game”. Lion would stay in Barcelonastride frequency, stability…”.

The environment also justifies the inclusion of: Christian Emphasizing that the Portuguese is the all-time top scorer at the national team level, he scored six goals in the group stage. Champions to classify Adam Utd He reached the last 16 and closed the season with a remarkable statistic: 32 goals in 49 matches across all competitions. Enough success to make him a Ballon d’Or nominee.