The Ballon d'Or award is meant to recognize the best player in the world, but the criteria for determining this title is often unclear. While the award is intended to be prestigious, tactical voting has been a concern in the past, potentially undermining its legitimacy.
One of the main issues is that there is no clear set of metrics to define the best player. Some argue that it's the number of goals scored or assisted, while others claim it's a player's importance to their team or the titles they win.
For example, Kylian Mbappe's candidacy was questioned when he finished above Lamine Yamal, despite not winning any titles with Real Madrid and losing out to Spain at the World Cup. Yamal, on the other hand, was a key player in Barcelona's Spanish top-flight title win and helped Spain secure World Cup glory.
Harry Kane's win was seen as a victory for reason and common sense, as he is a skilled player who leads his team with aplomb and doesn't seek to draw attention to himself. He is the first Englishman to win the award in 25 years and many in the game believe he was the rightful winner.
However, some argue that Lamine Yamal's candidacy should be considered more worthy due to his impressive achievements at a young age, including playing over 100 times for Barcelona and controlling games with his exceptional skills. The use of data points could provide a more accurate and fair way to determine the winner, eliminating conspiracy theories about lobbying and favoritism.
For now, both Lamine and Mbappe will have to wait another year to win the award, while Kane can bask in the glory of his achievement. Steven Gerrard praised Kane, saying he is "arguably the best English player there's ever been" and that he has no weaknesses in his game.
Despite the controversy surrounding the award, Kane's win is a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication to the sport.
Ultimately, the Ballon d'Or award should be based on a clear set of criteria, free from influence and favoritism, to truly recognize the best player in the world.
