A GERMAN SHOULDN'T BE IN BALLON D'OR RACE

Football's greatest individual prize will be awarded soon with Real Madrid's Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo being the hot favourite to win the award for the second year in a row. There are many people within the game suggesting the prize should go to a German, however. Here is why that argument does not hold any real weight.

D. Ray Morton, 27th November 2014.

Ronaldo has, again, been magnificent in the past calendar year and fully deserves the top individual prize in the game

Cristiano Ronaldo has set phenomenal numbers in the past year. As his club Real Madrid achieved Champions League glory, Ronaldo racked up 51 goals in competitive club level matches. He was the top goalscorer in both La Liga (31) and the Champions League (17). Already this season, he has 26 goals in all competitions. These figures are astounding and are the mark of a great individual player in his prime. Why then is there such a push for a German to be awarded football's biggest individual prize this year?

Germany did win the summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil but it was not a team that featured one great individual. It was a collective, a well-oiled unit that got the job done in a football tournament that has lost its gloss in comparison to UEFA's Champions League. Manchester United legend and Ronaldo's former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, pointed out some years ago that the Champions League had overtaken the World Cup as the sports premier competition. The World Cup gets a lot of attention due to its international appeal but it is no longer football's bread and butter. The Champions League is the true testing ground at the highest level.

Lionel Messi is currently the second favourite behind Ronaldo to challenge for the Ballon d'Or. Trophyless at the end of last season, Messi has kicked back into gear this season and has rediscovered his very best form in recent days having scored back-to-back hattricks domestically and in Europe. Despite his injuries and dip in form last season, did any German out-perform him, for club and country without even mentioning Ronaldo? Not likely.

The Ballon d'Or's credibility was dealt a further blow by the exclusion of Luis Suárez in the shortlist for potential winners. Did his silly bite at the World Cup warrant undoing what was an incredible season at Liverpool where he practically dragged an unfancied team single-handedly to near-Premier League glory?

Individually, the Germans don't match up. Philipp Lahm's name has been touted and the recently-retired international does deserve respect but how big an impact does he make? Is he a match-winner? Hardly. How much impact can he possibly have playing at either right-back or as a tidy possession keeper in midfield for Bayern Munich?

Manuel Neuer is another name in the conversation. He only seems to be mentioned because he has been in and around greatness over the past year but has not really provided it himself. Thibaut Courtois' performances for Atlético Madrid were far more impressive at club level and at international level, Neuer did not have much to do for Germany with a good team in front of him. Indeed, he could easily have been sent off in the World Cup final for his flying knee on Gonzalo Higuaín.

Neuer can poke fun at Ronaldo's underwear ads but to say he has had a better year, individually, than the Portuguese is a stretch no pair of pants can take

That leaves maybe Toni Kroos and Thomas Müller's names in the hat but again, how big an impact did they have on their own? Müller is a fine poacher and deserves admiration for consistently delivering despite his lack of technical prowess but he should not be mentioned in the same breath as the Ronaldos and Messis of the football world. Kroos is a great midfielder but is now at Real Madrid and is not exactly their biggest star there. At the Bernabéu, Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos are considered to be key players and Kroos is, for now, merely a good addition to their midfield options.

Were Ronaldo to miss out on the award, FIFA would appear to be engineering their Ballon d'Or award to promote their tournaments, not UEFA's. Messi does not quite deserve it this year despite, and oddly so, being awarded the Golden Ball award for being the World Cup's best player. Neuer, Lahm, Kroos and Müller do not deserve it just for being in a fine international team (and probably not an all-time great one). Give it to Ronaldo. He has been the best and fully deserves it.

MESSI LOSING HIS PASSION AND HOW TO FIX IT

This week it was suggested by ex-Barcelona assistant manager, Angel Cappa, that Lionel Messi may be losing his passion for the game after a decade as a senior player at an elite level. Cappa's ominous words may be based on the Messi's last few months of injury struggles and a lack of goals in recent weeks since his recovery. Having dropped the Ballon d'Or to arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo must also hurt. Realistically however, Messi is just 26 so he should be entering the very peak of his career.

Some changes have occured at Barcelona which explain Messi's turbulent 2013. Tito Vilanova had been appointed as Pep Guardiola's successor in the managerial hotseat and his forced resignation due to his battle with cancer certainly left a painful scar with the entire squad. They managed to secure the La Liga title last term but some serious psychological damage was done in their 7-0 aggregate defeat to eventual Champions League winners Bayern Munich in the semi-final. An injured Messi featured in the second leg, a desperate move for a player with a damaged hamstring who should not have been on the pitch that night.

That aside, 2014 is a fresh start for Leo. Regaining his fitness and form, Barcelona have a big few months ahead with a three-way title race domestically against Real and Atletico Madrid and a mouth-watering clash against Manchester City in the Champions League ahead. Messi could dispell Cappa's comments by helping the Catalans beat City with authority but if not, big doubts will start to creep into his mind in this World Cup year. Argentina have some incredible attacking players and are generously placed as second favourites to win in Brazil next summer by many bookmakers but they have a terrible tendency to underachieve at World Cups and should they flatter to deceive again, Messi will take the bulk of the blame. Since the appointment of Alejandro Sabella as Argentine head coach, Messi's international form has improved vastly and hopes are being pinned on him to lead them to glory like Diego Maradona did in 1986. 2014 could map out the rest of Messi's career.

So how do Barcelona improve Messi for now? Getting Xavi and Andres Iniesta back to their best could help. With the recent form of Thiago Alcantara at Bayern Munich, Barca must be ripping their hair out in frustration at letting such a midfield talent go. Although Messi can win games on his own, having a midfield pass master in behind him can be of huge benefit. Barca don't manipulate possession as effectively under Tata Martino's management. Their style is more direct this season and perhaps it is to Messi's goalscoring detriment. Getting Neymar fit and back in the team should also boost La Pulga Atomica. His youthful enthusiasm and creativity can only benefit their front line. Their next game is this Sunday in the league, a tricky away trip to Sevilla. Messi needs to get on the scoresheet and help his side to a win there or else speculation about his status as the greatest player of his generation will continue to increase. Messi always rises to the challenge. This is just the latest one.

D. Ray Morton, 7th February 2014.

@D_Ray_Morton