Alisson wasn’t voted in the top 10 keepers in the world. Keylor Navas, Emi Martinez, Kasper Schemiechel all finished in top 10 though
Probably greatest player to ever play... and was at that level for a long time.. But a bit of a joke giving it to him now. Clearly belonged to Tsimikas.
Messi was winning that the second he signed for psg. It's a french football award after all. Its utterly bereft of meaning.
Tbf to Messi, he did score around 40 odd goals this season plus around 15 assists. Lewa scored around 50 goals but had less assists which is still incredible. Perhaps the Copa America clinched it for Messi? Either way, these awards are pathetic.
the copa has an influence but its a french award given the the biggest insta following and located in france. the FIFA awards have over taken this one for good reason. this one now is all but pointless. Its a journalist based voting system that takes into account this year, the player profile and the overall career so its a pure popularity contest.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but surely any award that is based on a vote is a popularity contest? Unless based on pure statistics - e.g. golden boot - then it's down to opinion.
perhaps so. however perhap a vote by public plus coaches might be considered slight more valued than 30 hacks
I think public votes are heavily skewed by partisanship. Coaches and the players themselves probably give the most objective assessment you're likely to get.
Im not 100% sure how they come up with the short list of 30. Because if you ask 100 people to name top 3 players in the world last year, I reckon you might get 10 different names? Like who is picking Azpilicueta as the best player last year yet he’s number 30. So many of it is just based on reputation though. KDB was out injured most of last season yet finished 8th ahead of mbappe that won the bolden boot in France and helped France win the nations cup. Haaland who scoring record was second to none. Chiellini and bonnuci 13 and 14th despite Juve struggling to make top 4 on final day of season. giving individual awards based on subjectivity for a team game is always going to be messy to be honest as so many factors play into it
they start with 180 well respected alcoholics (journalists) who submit their list of a top 5 or something and for that list of 30. the editors at this France football magazine actually pick the 30 so its actually down to them to pick their interpretation of the best players. I agree they have some chronic calls in there based on the journalists favourites. in the end when you've 5 picks our of 30 you'd have to pick base don your own favourites then some thought of he is a legend and then finally well he won x. over the 180 if you are a solid middle guy you'll float up the list. I presume KDB got votes that way.
Honestly, coaches would be an improvement, but I don't think the general public would be an improvement over just journalists. You throw it up to the general public and most are just going to vote for players of their own team. (You think any of us wouldn't have voted for Salah, or that the United fans wouldn't have all voted for Ronaldo?) In terms of National elections which this has been compared... Remember Trump? He was despised (at least at first) by journalists and politicians on both sides of the aisle. If this was the balon d'president, he would never have been elected. He got elected when it went to public bot and he made it "team based", Us vs Muslims, us vs Mexicans, us vs commies, us vs China. I mean similar trappings to what made UKIP hum and allowed them to influence the Conservative Party to the right... And now you've got Boris, someone who would have been seen as "too Americanied nationalist style" unelectable a decade ago. The uneducated general public is not always right. Wouldn't give up democracy, but its not always right... And when it comes to football it would be even worse because "us vs them" is even more entrenched and encouraged.
Overthought it any player who is only playing for personal awards isn’t worth having imho Don’t care who wins them