Ficticius Jr
Balondor obsession ruined his career
Was a great player in his time
Yeah I hate it mate, this obsession with individual awards. I wouldn't go as far as 'meaningless' before, but it didn't mean much at all and now it honestly feels like Gen Z kid players would rather win this stupid award than the fucking World Cup.It's really fascinating how CR7 & his fans (Messi's fans also) obssesion with Ballon d'or changed the general opinion about that award. Before their time it was a meaningless award, during and after their "rivalry" it's more important than the big collective trophies for many players.
So now a player gets rated because the season is going bad for a part because of him?
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Bdor was a meaningless award before???It's really fascinating how CR7 & his fans (Messi's fans also) obssesion with Ballon d'or changed the general opinion about that award. Before their time it was a meaningless award, during and after their "rivalry" it's more important than the big collective trophies for many players.
That's correct in the first paragraph. The BD or WPOTY wree nice to win, but they weren't that important, and there was certainly no big political advocating for itMeaningless is maybe a strong word but compared to today's obsession it was something like that. There was no controversy, no big debate, just a gala where a player recived it and moved on. There was more talk about that week's game than the awards. It was impossible that a player would prefer to win a Ballon d'or instead of CL, WC or even home league. Now many players have Ballon d'or as their biggest wish, not individual trophies.
Part of it is due to a changed world where there is more focus on the individual but a big part was CR7 obsession because he wanted to be compared with Messi when he had a similar number of golden balls and his fans. Many Messi's fans joined the obsession but at least Leo himself didn't.
Meaningless is maybe a strong word but compared to today's obsession it was something like that. There was no controversy, no big debate, just a gala where a player recived it and moved on. There was more talk about that week's game than the awards. It was impossible that a player would prefer to win a Ballon d'or instead of CL, WC or even home league. Now many players have Ballon d'or as their biggest wish, not individual trophies.
Part of it is due to a changed world where there is more focus on the individual but a big part was CR7 obsession because he wanted to be compared with Messi when he had a similar number of golden balls and his fans. Many Messi's fans joined the obsession but at least Leo himself didn't.
Yeah it is more to do with that, good point.Only cause that was before the Internet and stan wars era.
We living in different times now
Bdor was already a big thing, way before Messi-Ronaldo era. Why would footballer always present their prize in front of the whole stadium? You think Bdor before was just like Player of the match or something.Meaningless is maybe a strong word but compared to today's obsession it was something like that. There was no controversy, no big debate, just a gala where a player recived it and moved on. There was more talk about that week's game than the awards. It was impossible that a player would prefer to win a Ballon d'or instead of CL, WC or even home league. Now many players have Ballon d'or as their biggest wish, not individual trophies.
Part of it is due to a changed world where there is more focus on the individual but a big part was CR7 obsession because he wanted to be compared with Messi when he had a similar number of golden balls and his fans. Many Messi's fans joined the obsession but at least Leo himself didn't.
Pele became a global icon in 60s. Cruyff in 70s. Maradona in 80s. R9/Zidane in 90s And you think Messi or Ronaldo wouldn't be a global icon in past decades?Yeah it is more to do with that, good point.
If Messi and Ronaldo were the same Messi and Ronaldo but playing in the 80s or 90s, they wouldn't have had such a huge popularity either. The internet and fanboy culture mixed with their talents produced a combination that has led to obsession with individual awards.
You could say the same about gaming and other stuff - I might be wrong but I don't remember the 'console wars' being as explosive in the 90s. Nintendo and Sega was intense but doesn't seem as bad as now with Xbox and PS. Like you say it was likely always there but the internet vastly enables like-minded stans to congregate.
Global icons of course (don't put words in my mouth please, saying 'not such a huge popularity' is not the same as saying they wouldn't be global icons). What I meant is there wouldn't be this Ballon d'or obsession or manufactured rivalry without the internet.Pele became a global icon in 60s. Cruyff in 70s. Maradona in 80s. R9/Zidane in 90s And you think Messi or Ronaldo wouldn't be a global icon in past decades?