RIO DE JANEIRO – It was an honor that felt like an
insult, an accolade that Lionel Messi had
no desire to either accept or celebrate. The world's best player had just been
named the World Cup's greatest performer, and he wanted no part of it.
For Messi did not come to this tournament to take
home the Golden Ball; he came to collect the golden trophy that anoints the
World Cup's champion, one that now
rests in German hands for the fourth time.
Messi stood glum on the dais as he
was presented with his individual accolade, which is awarded to player of the
tournament. In a bout of irony, he did so standing next to Manuel Neuer, the German goalkeeper he had been unable to beat as Argentinaslipped to a 1-0 defeat in soccer's biggest game of
all, courtesy of a
late winner from Mario Goetze.
Sometimes the Golden Ball feels like a prestigious
prize of special stature. Paolo Rossi won it in 1982, Diego Maradona in 1986,
Romario in 1994. But those accompanied victories, went hand in hand with glory.
"I think he deserves it because he played an
extraordinary World Cup," Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said. "He
was a fundamental factor in the team so that we could make it all the way where
we are today. … He deserved it, quite sincerely, yes."
Although Messi was good during Sunday's final at the
Maracana Stadium, he wasn't great. And that greatness, the sort of which he has
shown so many times in the past, was what Argentina needed.
"A shame we can't offer the fans the [World
Cup] trophy," Messi said. "We leave with our head up high, we have
peace of mind. I'm proud to be Argentine."
Messi didn't fail. He didn't miss his lines. He
wasn't outplayed or outclassed. But he was stifled, restricted, hurried, pushed
into occasional error and denied space by a classy and incredibly organized
German team.
Thus, the spark of magic – the stamp of eternal
greatness – was missing on this emotional night when history beckoned. Messi
will be 30 the next time the World Cup rolls around and might be a little past his
peak. There will be other contenders, some pretenders, some the real deal,
snapping at his heels.
This was his chance, his best chance, not just to be
one of the greats of the game, but one of its handful of all-time legends.
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