Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d'Or.
In a career that's spanned over 15 amazing years, we decided to take a look back at his best years and rank them!
In a career that's spanned over 15 amazing years, we decided to take a look back at his best years and rank them!
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00:00Hello everybody, Adam here again from 442. Now, if you've not been following the news this week,
00:10then you might not have heard that Mr. Lionel Messi right there won the Ballon d'Or again.
00:16What? What? Nah, I never knew that. I never knew that.
00:21Yeah, I mean, it was no surprise, really, because Fabrizio Romano decided to tell us
00:27all a week ago, so, you know, no one was really shocked. But the debate has obviously been
00:32whether it should have been him, or whether it should have been Erling Haaland, or perhaps someone else,
00:36Kylian Mbappe, perhaps. I don't want to really get into that, because at the end of the day,
00:41it is a little bit tedious. They're all very good players, and Lionel Messi is the best player I've ever seen in my life,
00:46so him winning the award off the back of a World Cup, for me, is not the end of the world.
00:51So I thought, why not do something a little bit different, and rank all of Messi's eight Ballon d'Or wins,
00:57from season to season, based on the achievements he got in that year, as well as the goals that he scored,
01:02his general play, just how good he was, and which ones were the most significant in his journey.
01:08So, yeah, let's have a go at it.
01:10So, in at number eight, and his worst of the eight Ballon d'Ors, I've gone for 2021.
01:16That was the year where he scored 43 goals, and won the Copa America for Argentina,
01:21which was, of course, a very, very significant moment.
01:24Of course, they didn't win international trophies under Lionel Messi,
01:27other than the Olympic Games, if you want to count that, but I don't personally.
01:31He did win the Copa America Go in 2021, which was a seismic moment for his career,
01:36because people had always doubted him on the international stage.
01:39Obviously, you remember in 2016, he actually retired from the Argentinian national team,
01:44and then, obviously, came back when they were like, mate, we need you.
01:48But he returned, and he returned in style, winning the Copa America.
01:52But, I've put it eighth because, Emi Martinez also played a massive part in that Copa America win,
01:57with the shootout save against Colombia, and other amazing saves.
02:00I mean, he's a fantastic goalkeeper, full stop.
02:02And also, 2020 and 2021, as everyone watching this video will know,
02:07it was just a weird period of history in general, and life in general, but also football in history.
02:13I mean, games behind closed doors.
02:15So, I feel like the validity of any competition that was won in that year is, like, slightly, slightly, slightly,
02:22not tarnished, but just, like, not as impressive as the years where it was played in front of fans.
02:28And, of course, as well, he did leave Barcelona in 2021 as well, which was the end of an era,
02:33a very sad and an unfitting ending for Messi, really, after what he did in a Barcelona shirt.
02:38So, for all those things intertwined, it was nice for him to win that Ballon d'Or in 2021,
02:42with the Copa America, but I think out of the eight, it was his worst one, probably.
02:47But, you know, I'd still take it if I was him.
02:50Okay, in at number seven, I've gone for this year, 2023.
02:53The one that has just gone, and the one where people were saying,
02:56it was a robbery, it was this, Haaland should have won it, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh.
02:59Look, end of the day, he still won the World Cup, which is better than the Copa America,
03:04and he got 46 goals and assists in all competitions throughout the calendar year,
03:08which is still very impressive for a 35-year-old who's now playing a deeper role in the pitch.
03:13He's not as advanced as he used to be in the old Barcelona teams, the Pep Guardiola teams,
03:17playing right wing, centre forward, you name it.
03:20He plays a deep line role now, and obviously at PSG,
03:22that worked really well finding Mbappe over with those floated balls.
03:26But listen, in the World Cup, he was a man-mountain, and he did carry them in certain games.
03:31I remember the Netherlands game, where he played that defence-splitting pass through Nathan Ake's legs,
03:36scored the penalty, and he felt like a bit of a new man this year.
03:39He was giving a bit of stick to Louis van Gaal, he called Weghorst a...
03:43Yeah, a bobo, which means a fool or an idiot, I believe, in English.
03:54But yeah, very unlike Messi when people used to characterise him as a quiet man.
03:58But regardless, a seismic year for him, and one that really capped off his career in the perfect fashion really.
04:04It was a perfect ending for him, cemented his status as the GOAT.
04:08I mean, I personally think it was cemented anyway.
04:11You know, it was probably cemented in about 2012 to be honest, but we'll get on to that later on.
04:17Alright then, in at number 6, I've gone for 2009, which was his first of all 8 Ballon d'Ors.
04:23And of course, you remember this as the year where he won his, well, not his first Champions League technically,
04:29because he did get a medal in 2006, but his first Champions League where he was a mainstay in the team,
04:33playing under Pep Guardiola, that treble winning side, and playing from the right wing as well.
04:38He's just 21, he got 41 goals from right wing that season.
04:45Which is ridiculous, you know, you think about the numbers that modern day wingers put up from wide positions,
04:50no one can really compete with him. And of course, 2009 was the year of that famous game in Rome
04:55against Manchester United, which really birthed the Messi and Ronaldo era.
04:59So that had so much significance for the next 10 years of football,
05:02that it definitely ranks middle of the list, I would say.
05:05We know Ronaldo was going to move to Real Madrid anyway, had Manchester United won that final.
05:09But listen, it set the precedent, then you had Ronaldo won that Ballon d'Or in 08, then Messi in 09,
05:15and then we didn't see another winner until 10 years later with Luka Modric in 2018,
05:19which is just ridiculous.
05:22Alright then, in at number 5, this is where it gets really tricky.
05:25I've gone for 2010 next.
05:27Now, let's have a look at what he did that year.
05:29So this was obviously the famous year where Zlatan Ibrahimović signed for Barcelona
05:33and was playing under Pep Guardiola.
05:35I'll say playing, he only played a handful of games before.
05:38Messi then moved to centre forward and there was a bit of a rift there obviously.
05:41Very, very well documented in the past, but he started playing centre forward.
05:44And from scoring 41 goals at right wing the season before, he then scored 58 from centre forward that season.
05:51And it's when people were really like, oh my god he is good.
05:55This was also a massive year for Messi because it was really the year where people started to discuss him
05:59as potentially the best player that's ever played football at the age of 22, which is ridiculous.
06:05You might remember around February to March period of 2010, Barcelona played Arsenal at the Nou Camp
06:11and Messi scored four goals.
06:13One was a long shot from range on his left foot, then one on his right foot from close range, a rebounded shot.
06:18And then a solo one on one that was chipped over Almunia into the back of the net.
06:22And then a solo goal driving through the heart of Arsenal's offence.
06:25Jinxing one way, going the other, pass for Marlon and burying it through Almunia's legs.
06:30And it really was probably the first performance where people were really having to say what they saw.
06:37They could no longer pretend that, you know, it was offensive to compare this man to the likes of Pele and Maradona and Johan Cruyff.
06:44That's when people really started to do it.
06:47And then also in March of 2010, Barcelona went away to Real Zaragoza.
06:51Why are you talking like that? You're from Stockport, Adam. Stop it.
06:54Anyway, Barcelona won that game 4-2 and Lionel Messi scored another hat-trick after the Arsenal game
06:59and very generously gifted a penalty to Zlatan Ibrahimovic after winning it.
07:03He basically dragged the whole team on his back in that game as good as they were.
07:07In at number four, I've gone for 2019.
07:10A lot of people really like to say that he ghosted that second leg at Anfield in that year.
07:14But realistically, if you look at the chances that he created in that first half,
07:17passes to Filip Coutinho, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba.
07:20Barcelona really at least should have been level at half-time in the break.
07:24They should not have lost that game full stop with the chances that Messi provided them.
07:28Irrespective of that, there was also performances against Tottenham in the Champions League.
07:32There was the home leg against Liverpool with that free kick. You know the one.
07:36And of course, that quite frankly scarily good dink against Real Batista way.
07:41Which for me is probably in his top three goals ever.
07:43I don't know about you, but just the audacity to attempt that was on another level.
07:47This was also the year that Messi got his record sixth Ballon d'Or,
07:50separating him apart from the rest and making sure that he is the best.
07:54And also, 2019 was Messi's last La Liga title with Barcelona.
07:58Which is significant but sad because it really painted a picture of the sorry state of affairs the club was in.
08:03After, pretty much after Neymar left and when Bartomeu was in charge.
08:09But we could do a whole video on that to be honest.
08:11But Messi still carried them on his back for two more years.
08:13Okie dokie, in at number three.
08:15I mean any of them could win it at this point, but I've gone for 2015.
08:19Now the reason being, he won five trophies in this year.
08:22The UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and the club World Cup as well.
08:28Not bad.
08:29Especially when you're playing from a deeper role while still being part of that MSN trio.
08:34He was predominantly on the right hand side, but this is really where he started to drop back into midfield.
08:38And sort of tick with Xavi Iniesta Busquets even more than he was doing in that Pep Guardiola and Tata Martino system.
08:44So under Luis Enrique, he still hugged the touch line.
08:47You remember that very famous goal in the Copa del Rey final against athletic Bilbao.
08:51Which is probably his best goal ever, truth be told.
08:552015 also belonged to one of Messi's most iconic games.
08:58I'm sure you'll remember it.
08:59That home leg against Bayern Munich in the semi-final of the Champions League.
09:03He sort of just came to life, didn't he?
09:05There was not much going on in the game.
09:06A little bit of a stalemate.
09:07Both teams obviously playing fairly conservatively and not wanting to concede given the stakes of the game.
09:12And then he just did what he does.
09:15He came to life.
09:16Jinxed inside.
09:17Beat Neuer.
09:18And then decided to, I don't know how to put this politely,
09:21retire Jerome Boateng.
09:24And then dink a prime Manuel Neuer on his weak foot.
09:27I mean, it doesn't get much better than that.
09:29So for the amount of iconic moments in this year.
09:31For the fact that he was part of that famous MSN trio.
09:34Which was the best front three he was ever a part of.
09:36Categorically.
09:37Undisputably.
09:38It has to go in at number three.
09:40And this could be argued as Messi's prime.
09:42It depends what you value in a footballer.
09:44How unplayable you think he was as opposed to other years.
09:47Because obviously we've seen him be a slightly better goal scorer than he was this year.
09:50But as an all rounded player.
09:52And an all rounded version of Lionel Messi.
09:54I don't think it gets much better than 2015 to be honest.
09:57Number two is of course then 2011.
10:01Another year Barcelona won the treble.
10:04And a year where Messi was good at football again.
10:0759 goals and 37 assists in 2011.
10:11Playing as a centre forward false nine.
10:13Oh my god.
10:15I mean it gets better.
10:16It gets better in the year after.
10:17But what is that?
10:19What is that?
10:20What is that?
10:21That is ridiculous.
10:22And of course you'll all remember this year as the year where Sergio Busquets racked up the assist of his career.
10:26With that little layoff to Lionel at the Bernabeu.
10:28Messi picked it up.
10:29And had an easy finish from there really.
10:31Beating one, two, three, four.
10:33And then the goalkeeper.
10:35Pretty standard stuff for the man.
10:36I've also had to put this in at number two.
10:38Because this was probably the apex of Pep Guardiola's Barcelona system.
10:42It didn't get much better than this.
10:44I think many people tout this as the best team of all time.
10:48You go through it.
10:49Valdez.
10:50Abidal.
10:51Pique Puyol.
10:52Dani Alves.
10:53That midfield trio which was just...
10:55There's a genuine argument for that being the best midfield trio of all time.
10:58You could just put those three in and no one else.
11:00And it would be an acceptable opinion.
11:02And then Pedro Messi and Villa just had the perfect balance of creativity and goal scoring threat.
11:07And movement as well.
11:08It was really just the perfect team.
11:10I don't think anyone could lay a glove on them.
11:12So number one.
11:13You don't need me to tell you what it is.
11:15It is of course 2012.
11:17And you also know why.
11:1991 goals.
11:21In a calendar year.
11:2391.
11:24The previous record was held by Gerd Muller of course.
11:28With 85 in 1972.
11:30And Messi took it upon himself to not only beat it.
11:32But just you know.
11:33Add six more on top.
11:34Just so no one else can get there really.
11:36Just because he can.
11:37That year he averaged 65 minutes per goal.
11:40And averaged 1.3 goals per game.
11:43Just absolutely ludicrous.
11:46Add 22 assists on top of that as well.
11:48And you have 113 goals and assists in a calendar year.
11:52Which is the best of any footballer ever.
11:53So how could this not be number one?
11:56Just because of the sheer magnitude of what he was doing statistically.
11:59Let alone on the eye test.
12:01Another reason why I had to put this number one.
12:03Is this was probably the height of the Messi-Ronaldo debate at the time.
12:07And also.
12:08Not just Ronaldo fans but football fans in general.
12:10Could probably put forward a case that 2012 was also Ronaldo's best year in football.
12:1663 goals and 13 assists in 71 games is just inhuman in of itself.
12:20But the level Messi reached that year.
12:22Just made it insurmountable.
12:24And Ronaldo then was unable to win the Ballon d'Or that year.
12:26In what was possibly his best year in the game.
12:29In that year he scored nine hat-tricks.
12:31Two of them being four goal games.
12:33And one of them being that five goal game against Bayer Leverkusen alone.
12:37And the only real.
12:38I guess the only real sort of thing you could hold against Messi in that 2012 year.
12:42Was that game at the Nou Camp against Chelsea.
12:46Which I'm sure you remember.
12:472-0 up against 10 men.
12:48And somehow still lost the game.
12:50Lost the game.
12:51We all remember it.
12:52Um.
12:53But I guess.
12:54I guess Messi had the last laugh.
12:55Because he did score more goals than Chelsea in that calendar year.
12:58So you know.
12:59Basically.
13:00I had to put it number one.
13:01Because the numbers.
13:02Are just.
13:03That ridiculous.
13:04When compared to whole football clubs.
13:06Other players at the top of their game.
13:08It really is just the definition of superhuman.
13:11Well there we go.
13:12Um.
13:13That was my attempt.
13:14I guess.
13:15You could say.
13:16At ranking Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or.
13:17From worst to best.
13:18Not sure worst is really the right word to use.
13:21Truth be told.
13:22Because.
13:23You know.
13:24They were all pretty good years.
13:25I certainly couldn't do it.
13:26Um.
13:27But I felt like the video was necessary.
13:28Because this will be the man's last Ballon d'Or.
13:30And uh.
13:31You know.
13:32Just to pay a bit of homage to what has been a career.
13:34Like no other really.
13:35I know he's not retired yet.
13:36So I'll just say one more thing.
13:38Enjoy it while you can.
13:39You can let me know which of the Ballon d'Or winning years.
13:41You thought was the best in the comments below.
13:43Don't forget to subscribe.
13:45And I will see you.
13:46Very soon.
13:47Bye bye.