World Cup: Diego Maradona Says Lionel Messi Did Not Deserve Golden Ball
July 13, 2014; Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL; Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after the championship match of the 2014 World Cup after the game at Maracana Stadium. Germany won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via USA TODAY Sports
Argentine legend Diego Maradona said what we were all thinking yesterday when Leo Messi was announced as the 2014 World Cup Golden Ball winner, he did not deserve it. The two-time World Cup winner and Golden Ball winner in 1986 said that Messi was given the award by “marketing people” and that it is “unfair” that he won it.
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Many others believed that FIFA and Adidas conspired to give the award to Messi because he is one of, if not the most, marketable player that endorses the sportswear company. Adidas had their hands all over the FIFA World Cup by sponsoring several of the teams including the two nations in the final and even created the Brazuca, the official ball of the World Cup. That partnership with FIFA led many to believe that, although he performed well, the two gave it Messi undeservedly.
Maradona on Messi unfairly receiving the Golden Ball:
"“I would give heaven and earth to Leo [Messi], but when marketing people want him to win something he didn’t [deserve to] win, it is unfair. I could see that he didn’t want to go up and collect it (the award).”Source: Fox Sports"
Some of the other contenders for the Golden Ball were Colombia’s James Rodriguez, Tomas Muller of Germany, and Neymar Jr. of Brazil. Out of the three it can be argued that Neymar and Rodriguez certainly had better individual performances than Messi with Muller of course taking it as a symbol of his team’s dominance.
Messi did have a dominant group stage but James Rodriguez had a fantastic group stage and also scored three goals in Colombia’s two knockout matches. The young midfielder was many pundits’ choice to win the Golden Ball and it is a shame he was not selected after being far and away the best player of the tournament.