What does Rooney have to do to win a Ballon D’or?
Wayne Rooney is clearly the front-runner for the PFA Player of the year award this season. In an ordinary year, the baby faced, man headed Man United striker would also be the front-runner for the World Player and Ballon D’or trophies too. Following steadfastly in the footsteps of his former brethren – and former winner – Cristiano Ronaldo, his rampaging run towards the 40 goal mark and eye catching performances in the Champions League (the competition that really matters with the voters of those particular awards), has seen him labeled the hottest prospect in Europe and caused his world standing to finally rise as high as his hairline. However this is no ordinary year, because sandwiched between the two term halves that theoretically encompass the qualification period for the two most significant individual awards in football (but logistically don’t, as they’re still ostensibly seasonal awards in truth) is a certain summer festival du foot that often – if not always now – renders any domestic achievements as redundant as an English manager after a bad start to the Premier League season.
The last 5 winners of the Ballon D’or in a World Cup year were Fabio Cannavaro, Fat Ronaldo De Lima, ZZ Top, Hristo Stoichkov and Lothar Matthäus. The 4 winners since the inception of the WPY Award have been identical, with the exception of Romario for Stoichkov in 94. Notice a trend per chance? The only blip – Stoichkov – turns out to be no such thing when you remember that non European players were illegible for the European Footballer crown before 1995, and Stoichkov had inspired his Bulgarian side to an unexpected Semi Final place in the USA, during a tournament I like to remember primarily for Diana Ross’ fantastic impersonation of Savo Milošević during the opening ceremony. For the benefit of anyone slow on the uptake, the rest were all World Cup winners.
Realistically, Rooney would still need to win the European Cup in an ordinary season anyway. Increasingly, club football’s headlining act is becoming the only auditioning ground for prospective winners. Last year’s final between Barcelona and Manchester United was seen as a battle between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for not just Old Big Ears, but Old Big Balls – and new shiny gold oblong thing – as well. Many United fans still claim Ronaldo should have won in 2007 too after enjoying a far more prolific and influential season on the whole, whilst Kaka – the eventual winner – was stand out only in the Champions League. However with Ronaldo’s Madrid now comically out at the 1/8 stage again, and Messi enjoying a far less prolific season in the competition (if probably a greater one domestically) the award would probably be Rooney’s to loose, provided United got to at least the semi’s. But once again, this is not an ordinary season, and unfortunately for Rooney – and United, who would celebrate their second winner in 3 years, a feat last achieved by their Holy Trinity duo of Best and Charlton (who also won as part of a victorious World Cup side) – he will have to shine brightly in the summer to have any chance of grabbing the only golden balls available for England this summer – apart from the actual World Cup Golden Ball, which is – confusingly – also a large golden ball called the Golden Ball. Someone should really do something about that.
Is it fair that a player’s yearly contribution should be jettisoned in favor of an inspired 7 game run of form? Probably not, but no one would quibble with the prime star of the prime competition of the prime game in sport deserving the honor. So if Rooney really wants to cement his place along side the greats when the history books are written sloppily in terms of subjective personal awards, then he’ll need to carry his blistering form along to the Coupe de Monde. Despite the inevitable media hysteria that will envelope us all in the coming months, England do not look like a World Cup winning side. Humbled by Spain a few months back, the Three Lions are a long way off that level and will need Rooney to not burn out by then if they’re to stand any chance of besting the same side in South Africa. Furthermore, with Ronaldo piping a Spanish player to the prizes after that nation’s European Championship win in 2008 (which shouldn’t be looked on as a reprieve for Rooney, the World Cup is a different beast) a victory for the Spaniards would almost definitely see one of their stars rewarded in the new years honors lists this time. Xavi and Iniesta were equally deserving of the award last year in my book anyway, and the voters (who are comprised of coaches and team captains in the WPY’s case, and Journo’s in the Ballon D’or’s) would probably feel the same.
So I can’t see it happening personally. Even my most optimistic side sees England crash out valiantly in the semi’s, probably in a penalty shoot out. So unlucky Wayne. I’ll be rooting for you, but you’ve got a hell of a lot to do this year, even if by the time the ceremonies roll around in the winter, you’ll still be the most deserving. And a tip for any promising young stars hoping to follow in their heroes’ footsteps and claim those coveted golden trophies; don’t choose a World Cup year to hit your prime, unless you can win the thing.
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I would have voted for Messi still last year, the award as I’m sure you know is as much about domestic form as european and Messi was head and shoulders above the rest. Xavi would be my second pick. Rooney has been exceptional this season no doubt about that but up until christmas his performances were as much subdued as anything and a tad hit and miss, it’s only over the last couple of months or so that he’s developed into the beast that everyone knows. Messi for me is still the frontrunner, his hat trick against a good Valencia side was the proof of the pudding so to speak and I’d place him fractionally ahead of Rooney for the award at present – as you say, a good world cup or champions league victory could change all though.
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Ah! The Man Utd loving, media machine has officially swung into full throttle. Last season, Ryan Giggs plays half a season and wins player of the year and the BBC sports personality award (apparently because he was brilliant years ago, but another brilliant Utd player stopped him winning it at the time). Fantastic! Also 12 moons ago… Anybody who was ‘anybody’ in British football was gushing ‘this is the absolute best United team in the past 50 years’ (You don’t believe me? Go check your back issues!) All the papers, all the hacks, all the ex-pros, the lot of them. Thanks to a benevolent referee in the Tottenham game and a wonder strike against a dogged Villa by a wonder sub now plying his trade back on Utd’s bench, they spluttered their way to the title, pipping Liverpool to the title by 4 points, (though Liverpool humbled them home and away in the league with an aggregate 6 goals to 2, ‘the best Utd team in 50 years’ they said) United then wandered ‘lonely as a cloud’ through the knock-out stages of the Champions League, held aloft on a bed of scrotums by the work-shy hands of Fleet Street’s finest, where they passed on to the Champions League final, unscathed by their very much lesser opponents including a poor impression of an Arsenal side, as Liverpool fell to Chelsea, who succumb to Barcelona. But as soon as Utd hit their first quality opponents, in the shape of Xavi, Leo, Iniesta & co, bam! Not so great after all. And now it begins again with Rooney. Apparently better than Ronaldo, Messi, Torres, Ibra, Villa, the whole kit and caboodle. Ronaldo doesn’t play for Utd any more, suddenly he’s not the best player in Europe never mind the World. Funny that. Taking nothing away from Rooney, he is absolutely top drawer, but he was never the jewel in Alex’s crown until Cristina packed his sarongs and sandals for Madrid. I wonder what might have been had Tevez stayed at Utd, would it be his star the print and copy people would be claiming as being the brightest of lights out there in 2010? Being World Cup year and by their very jingoist nature, probably not. I just hope you are all there in equal measure for ‘our Wayne’ should the unthinkable happen and he repeats his petulance of 4 years ago in South Africa. The English media and it’s similarly biased, multi-various, Man Utd loving offshoots: don’t you just love it?
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I don’t really think domestic form comes into as much unless it’s phenomenal…like both Messi and Ronaldo’s were in their respective win years. But again, they still won the CL.
Kaka in 2007 for example scored 8 goals as Milan slugged it out for 4th in Seria A, but scored 10 as they won the CL. I’m pretty sure what the voting was based on there.
It helps if you have momentum behind you too, some hype helps the voters notice your constant scoring more and the fact Rooney has followed up his braces against Milan with braces and winners in the league and cup will put him at the forefront of voters minds…But it really doesn’t matter if he has a sub par WC I don’t think. Unless he scores a hat trick in the CL final.
Incidentally I agree Rooney’s form is far more recent than most seem to think and he was quite poor for a spell. I don’t think that would matter with these awards though, as most voters wouldn’t remember and would only see the stats.
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I couldn’t agree with you more. If England and Rooney don’t win the world cup, then it will be someone of the winning team the one to scoop the WPY award. Someone like a defender that only played (arguably) 4-5 good games.
The world cup year is, as you say, the year that the WPY award is the most difficult to win and might end in the hands of someone that did not deserve it because of the whole season’s displays but for a run of games.
Unfair, especially when we’re talking about Rooney’s season.
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1. Change his nationality.
2. Change his name to something fancy.
3. Transfer to Spain.
Nil Pois springs to mind…
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I think the award itself is over-hyped. I bet Rooney would much rather win a major trophy and not win this than the other way round. Michael Owen won one almost a decade ago and what has he achieved since? I just hope Wazza concentrates on what’s important and doesn’t get distracted worrying about frivolities.
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When Rooney can virtually walk the ball through 3 and 4 defenders into the net, come back and we will discuss. Messi is on another planet and is the only logical choice for EPY and WPY. Dream on manure fans, it just so happens the winner plays in Spain and IS foreign, with a fancy name!
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messi wouldn’t be half as good without xavi, iniesta etc. put him in the argentina team where they dont function properly he is mediocre. rooney (as ronaldo last 2 seasons) has carried the united team on his own in a much faster and more demanding league. And actually if you look at the stats ronaldo has been the most consistent of the 3.
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