Why Messi didn’t deserve to be crowned world’s best in 2012

Paul Kelly (France Football magazine’s Ireland correspondent) and Jimmy Magee (RTÉ) omitted Lionel Messi in their vote for the Ballon d’Or prize. Here Kelly explains the reasons for their decision.

Sublime individual talent that didn’t translate into major team trophies. Such was the story of Lionel Messi’s 2012, when his amazing tally of goals could not prevent FC Barcelona losing their La Liga and European crowns. Significantly, the great man fell short in the three matches that mattered most of all (against Real Madrid and Chelsea, twice, in April).

So when Jimmy Magee and I cast our vote in the media college for the Fifa Ballon d’Or, we favoured three players whose gifts throughout the year contributed more to the collective success of their respective teams.