Journalists are only slightly better than players and coaches. Whole system is flawed. If you must add an individual award it should be something you get points for every game you play so every match truly matters. With some matches give more points than others of course. That way you truly cover all bases, factor in consistency and value the true mvp. Which obviously is Messi.
The whole 5-5 thing is as much of a joke as this 5th place. Just to push the bullshit narrative of the Messi vs Ronaldo media created era. In reality it should be something like 8-2 to reflect things clearly. normally I would discount the ballon d'or since its a stupid pr ppularity contest.
However you notice people doing a shitload of revisionism because of it. The amount of people saying Messi was bad last year due to Roma/wc discounting everything he did. From even getting Argentina to the wc, getting us to the quarters in cl, near invincibles and golden shoe winner all while his teams are basically failing him compared to what Real did for Ronaldo/Modric or France and Croatia for their players.
Yet I totally dont see that in todays comments, it just"Lol show up in big games"...
Disgraceful stuff since everyone in their hearts knows Messi is way better than any of the guys above him in the list.