Why football fans need to calm down on the hype surrounding Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer is definitely football’s best goalkeeper at the moment. And it is upon his own merit that he has earned the right to perhaps stand shoulder to shoulder with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the running for the Ballon d’Or award this season.
There is no doubt he stands today as no ordinary player. I mean, imagine the amount of hard work and achievements it would take for a goalkeeper to at least be compared to forwards who are scoring 60 goals each and every season. It is safe to say that Neuer has changed the way people perceive keepers now.
If a football fan is to see the heroics of Neuer, why would he settle for a goalkeeper who just stands there and blocks shots? The human sense of mind works in such a way that if you see a more complete version of anything, not just a goalkeeper, you don’t want to settle for any less. That is how Neuer has become for football supporters all over the world now.
Why? Because he is different.
Stars in favour of Neuer winning Ballon d’Or
Lately, few of the big names in the sport have come forward and expressed their support for the German goalkeeper, including former Real Madrid star Xabi Alonso. Alonso, a former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo, feels it is alright if the award is handed to Neuer. Not alright. He would actually deserve it.
“If Manuel won it, it'd be totally deserved,' Alonso said. “Neuer is by far the best keeper I've played with and is also outstanding (in the) outfield.”
Neuer’s German International teammate and Lazio striker Miroslav Klose agrees with Alonso. Well, he did more than just agree.
“I would give it to Manuel Neuer,” Klose said. “It’s normal to talk about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo being the best, but Manuel is a phenomenon. I hope he wins, I don’t know any better professionals. He is incredible.”
Why Neuer deserves the accolades, but not the Ballon d’Or
What Neuer has been doing is not new. There have been sweeper keepers before and there will always be more of them. But he made the position his way, and there are no qualms of him being one of the game’s greatest in the future. However, putting him ahead of the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, in my opinion, is just not logical.
The Ballon d’Or is an award that is given to the best player in the game, and that’s set. There are no other parameters. It is not given to the athlete who revolutionizes a position, and also not to the player who is doing more than what a usual player in the same position does.
And, no Klose, it is normal to talk about Messi and Ronaldo being the best. It is not normal to score 60 goals every season, break and create records of their own.
Maybe if both Messi and Ronaldo were in a different era of football, the world would be ready to accept Neuer as the best footballer in the world. But as long as the two of them are playing at their peak, it would be unfair to not just them but to the game of football until then.
The Ballon d’Or represents the best in football, and people tend to forget that with all the hoopla surrounding the trophy. His performance in the World Cup was far from what you would call the catalyst behind Germany’s win. He was definitely good, but it wasn’t like had carried the whole team on his back. He did serve his purpose when called upon, but to put him into the same bracket as James Rodriguez for Colombia, Messi for Argentina and Arjen Robben for Netherlands is just baffling.
It is definitely hard being a goalkeeper and to win the Ballon d’Or at the same time. These two achievements do not go hand in hand. Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus and Iker Casillas of Real Madrid have been touted to win the awards during their prime as well. And despite not carrying themselves with the same swagger, they have been, if not more, similarly significant to their team’s victory.
But since they were not as involved as an outfield player as Neuer is, the situation is different. Neuer at best deserves to be the third best footballer in the world, which again is debatable.
Does Manuel Neuer deserve to win the Ballon d'Or? Have your say.