bit too much hate going on for Messi in here.
whats the guys supposed to do? give it back?
he got good numbers, if anything hes purely carrying this barca team, inferring that hes not at his career best might be true, but hes still an unbelieveable footballer.
my personal opinion is VVD should have won it, but cant complain too loud that Messi again gets the gong.
unbelievable football, turns it on time and time again, to the point where when his team loses (argentina or barca) its used as a stick to beat him with.... somehow that 4-0 loss to anfield 'proves' hes not the greatest footballer ever......
dunno.
regarding Mascotts coment about being the best player but also the most overrated, i completely understand the viewpoint, at some level, the praise he gets seems beyond his actual achievements, but on the flipside, some of the stuff he does nowadays, you just shrug your shoulders and say ....'well thats Messi for you' and then move on.
to be brutally honest, in my opinion, id have given it to Mane, i dont watch enough non LFC football to really qualify....but what that guy has done this CALENDER year is freaky....its not just the numbers he posts....its the constant threat and hard work....
as VVD said though, there really are no losers...