Dubai: Lionel Messi won the Fifa Ballon d’Or for a record-breaking fourth consecutive year on Monday night, and Gulf News readers felt there was no player more deserving of this distinction.
“If you look at his performances, he is the obvious choice,” Gulf News reader Amos Ojo Ayegbusi said.
The Nigerian pharmacist is a keen follower of the game and felt that the other two nominees – Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta – were no match for the Argentinian.
“He is very good and scores in every match. He is very athletic and a clean player and very hardworking. He is an excellent player,” Ayegbusi said.
And while he might be the best among players today, Ayegbusi felt it would be unfair to call him the greatest ever.
“We also have players like Pele and Diego Maradona. You can only compare players in the same situation and circumstances. In Pele’s time, he was the best player and, in this age, Messi is the best.”
Sanjay Gupta, a sales manager living in Dubai, agreed. “In my opinion, if he has won the award four times in a row, it really means he is extraordinary. I think the key is that he is different. When you play differently from others, you stand out from the crowd,” Gupta said.
However, he too felt that it would be a stretch to label him the greatest player ever.
“He is the best player right now, but when I think of football, I think of Pele and — to some extent — Maradona. These are the two players that come to mind as the greatest ever and Messi is probably third. But in terms of statistics, we have to salute him for being the best.”
Another reader, Sophie Vita, said: “I think Messi deserves all four Ballon d’Ors he won. Just a glance at his track record of 91 goals in 2012 confirms this, and it’s astonishing he ranks in the league of legends like Pele and Franz Beckenbauer at the age of 25. However, I think Messi was able to excel to this extent also because he was given opportunities on the field by great team members like Iniesta. This team spirit is something Ronaldo sorely lacks.”
Gulf News readers also posted comments on the newspaper’s Facebook page, congratulating Messi on the achievement.
Khalil Ahmad Malek wrote: “His performance, his goals and his efforts make him great.”
Another reader, Fatima Suhail, said: “Lionel Messi’s brilliant performances and first-class technique are what set him apart. He is undoubtedly a living legend and truly deserves the title for his unmatched brilliance and extraordinary skills.”
