JOSE MOURINHO is right to claim a Real Madrid superstar deserves the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
If King Lionel Messi’s reign is to end then one Real ace should definitely be in the running alongside Barcelona’s Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
He is worth dozens of goals and dozens of points to Madrid every season.
A Real leader, a national hero with a rare talent and composure to deliver on the big occasion for club AND country.
That man is Real and Spain captain Iker Casillas — NOT Madrid boss Mourinho’s choice Cristiano Ronaldo.
If three-time winner Messi is to miss out, Casillas should win it after leading Spain to a third tournament at Euro 2012 and captaining Madrid to La Liga.
Last week’s El Clasico intensified the debate. Messi or Ronaldo?
Both scored twice in the thrilling 2-2 draw.
But three Madrid players deserve to be considered — Casillas, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos, as La Liga and Euro champs.
Not Ronaldo, who flopped when it mattered.
He scored 42 Liga goals, sure, but missed a penalty in the Champions League semi shootout against Bayern Munich. Casillas saved TWO spot-kicks. In the Euro 2012 semi, Casillas again saved a penalty in the shootout against Portugal.
Ronaldo was anonymous and didn’t take a penalty. He was fifth on the list but the shootout ended early.
Twice in the space of two months on the big occasion, Ronaldo failed to deliver — though he had scored twice against Munich.
By numbers, Messi wins hands down. He scored 72 goals in the year for Barcelona, breaking Gerd Muller’s record of 67 in 1973.
Messi thrashed Ronaldo’s 42-goal La Liga haul by netting 50. He was top Champions League scorer for a fourth straight season.
Now think of Ronaldo’s “unhappiness”. Add his petty reaction when Andres Iniesta won the Best Player in Europe award.
If modesty and humility were taken into account by national bosses, captains and the few dozen journalists who decide the award, Ronaldo would not even be in the running.
P.S.
EVEN Ronaldo thinks Lionel Messi is the world’s best — the Brazilian legend Ronaldo, that is.
He said: “There won’t be a change in the Ballon d’Or. Messi will win. Cristiano Ronaldo gets closer every year. But Messi is significantly better.”
The three-time winner added: “If Messi manages a fourth win and overtakes Zinedine Zidane and myself, football will be well served.”
By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS
