Golden Ball and other WC Awards

Spoiler:

Alright we've definitely got some favorites for the Golden Ball award after the group stages. Obviously the true competition starts in the knockouts as the true goats prevail.

The rankings hold something like this for me after the groups

Hames
Robben
Neymar
---------------------------
Muller
Messi
Benzema
Joel Campbell
---------------------------
RVP
Alexis Sanchez


I'm going to add a poll when we're in the semis or the final. At the moment just discuss your favorite for the award.

Tbh, this all gets decided in the elimination rounds. Group stage performances are just warmups.

For me, if there's standout player on the WC winning team, he'll get it. If not, the best player out of the 4 semi final teams. That's usually how it goes.

It will go to the best player of the winning team.

France- Benz
Argentina- Messi
Brazil- Nerman
Germany- Muller
Netherlands- Robben

Right now James is in the lead for me. He's been outstanding. Of course, I don't really see that lasting. We'll see though, perhaps Colombia can put on a Uruguay 2010 performance.

Forlan's team finished 4th last time. Kahn, Zidane and Ronaldo were all in the runners up team so actually the best player of the winning team winning the award is not a given considering the last four winners did not win the trophy. I think it's between Neymar and Messi. Robben too since I predict Netherlands making the final.

Arjen Robben.

It will either be Robben or James, IMO.

Robben, Messi, Nerman, Benz.

Casciavit wrote:It will go to the best player of the winning team.

France- Benz
Argentina- Messi
Brazil- Nerman
Germany- Muller
Netherlands- Robben

That's a great way of putting it. Anyone other than those five winning it would be a massive surprise. Yes people are right that group stage performances don't count much but these are pretty much the talismans of the five so called big teams left in the tournament and it's hard to see any other player from any of these sides doing more than what they will do even from here on.

CBarca wrote:Right now James is in the lead for me. He's been outstanding. Of course, I don't really see that lasting. We'll see though, perhaps Colombia can put on a Uruguay 2010 performance.

For that they'll have to get past Brazil in the quarters. Can you see that happening? Let's not forget Uruguay had a much easier path. I think that's one reason why players such as Lionel Messi were disappointed with Diego Forlan winning the golden ball last time since they felt Uruguay did nothing more than make the best of an easy path. Now ironically Argentina have been given the same opportunity.

M99 wrote:Forlan's team finished 4th last time. Kahn, Zidane and Ronaldo were all in the runners up team so actually the best player of the winning team winning the award is not a given considering the last four winners did not win the trophy. I think it's between Neymar and Messi. Robben too since I predict Netherlands making the final.

So you predict Netherlands will knock out Argentina in the semis and face Brazil in the final? Interesting. Yes the award does not necessarily go to a player from the winning team and one major reason for that is that voting opens before the final has even started. That's why in Euros they start this discussion only after the final is done and dusted making it a more valid selection in my eyes at least.

IMO any of the Semi-Finalists will have the Golden Ball Winner. Winner or Looser in the Semi there will be a 3/4th Match so all Semi-Finalists will get the same number of matches. And I think the votes get polled before the WC Final so a heroic WC Final Performance will not have an effect.

Quarter Final & Semi-Final will be a huge clincher.

I am biased towards Robben and will be supporting him but realistically I think Messi or Neymar will win it. Benzema and Muller have chances with Germany and France but their style of play is not laced with such skill so that it is as eye catching as Neymar/Messi to the casual viewer/news reporters which inspire awe.

messixaviesta wrote:

Casciavit wrote:It will go to the best player of the winning team.

France- Benz
Argentina- Messi
Brazil- Nerman
Germany- Muller
Netherlands- Robben

That's a great way of putting it. Anyone other than those five winning it would be a massive surprise. Yes people are right that group stage performances don't count much but these are pretty much the talismans of the five so called big teams left in the tournament and it's hard to see any other player from any of these sides doing more than what they will do even from here on.

Van Persie has a legit chance aswell imo.

James Bond or Neymar.

Benzema...Varane...lol

With Neymar out injured I think it's between Messi and Robben.

People don't seem to rate Sanchez that highly. The four matches he played, he was rather awesome and I would rate him along side Benzema & Muller.

Benzema should not be first, his 2 first games in group stages were awesome but the next ones were meh...
Varane did a great job but he does not deserve to be 3rd.

Hell is that list lol. Robben 6th lmao must be goal.com

Benzema and Varane ahead of Robben and Messi

 

It's from Fifa.com btw. so it's official  

That list determines the winner?

No.

Then what's the point of that list? lol