Can Messi win the Ballon d'or even though Barcelona aren't in the final ? you just know them lot at fifa are going to make sure he wins it for the fourth year in a row, a player like Ronaldo deserves it, he's been key for Real Madrid this season and i hope we wins the lot at that club.
During our treble season ('99) the player of the year in England was David Ginola, and last year Scott Parker got it in a relegated team, so these kind of awards don't always go to the teams who win everything. But to be honest the Ballon d'or usually goes to a player in one of the teams who won lots of trophies in that year. In 2003 Pavel Nedved won it even though they lost in the final. In 2006 Barca won the CL but none of their players made the top 3, although that's due to Cannavaro winning the World Cup with Italy.
Yes Messi can and should be in with a shout regardless of not making the final. It does go against him, but it doesn't rule him out. You say Ronaldo deserves it but he might not be in the final either depending on the game tonght. I think if Real do make the final and win the league then Ronald has to be the favourite to win it.
A lot depends on what Real do in the CL tbh. If they win it and Ronaldo gets a goal or four in the final then he'll probably win. If they crash out to Bayern and Chelsea win the CL thanks to another pinball long shot in the final then Messi will probably get the Ballon again. He has scored six more goals than Ronaldo in the CL this year after all...
Those 6 goals will vanish if Real make the final and Ronaldo plays. Why you ask. Well....Chelsea squad is basically suspended from the final so I suspect some plastic cut outs of the players will stand in thus allowing Ronaldo to score 905 goals.