Messi was brilliant, but James Rodriguez should have won the Golden Ball

On Sunday Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the World Cup Golden Ball, the award for the tournament’s most outstanding player, just after his team lost to Germany in the World Cup final. It was a bittersweet moment for Messi.

It also was one he didn’t deserve. 

Not to play down Messi’s accomplishments. Messi is the greatest player in the world, and only Cristiano Ronaldo has come anywhere close to duplicating his brilliance over the last seven or so years. And he was truly phenomenal in this tournament, scoring four goals and leading an Argentina team that lasted into extra time of the World Cup final before finally succumbing to a deep and loaded Germany team. 

But he wasn’t as good as James Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, the 23-year-old Colombian playmaker, scored six goals and tallied two assists in only five games at the tournament. He scored in every game in which he appeared, along with being Colombia’s most important creative presence and passer. 

Again, Messi was absolutely brilliant. I’d have him third on my list for deserving winners of the Golden Ball behind Rodriguez and Netherlands’ Arjen Robben. 

But everything Messi did, Rodriguez did just a little bit better, even with their respective iconic goals of the tournament. 

Messi scored a brilliant goal against Iran.

Rodriguez scored an even more brilliant goal against Uruguay.

If you break down the stats, you see two brilliant players each playing at the top of his game. Messi completed 242 passes in the tournament to Rodriguez’s 160 passes, but Rodriguez played nearly 300 fewer minutes than Messi did over the course of the tournament. In those 300 fewer minutes, Rodriguez scored more goals. 

Messi took 22 shots throughout the World Cup, 10 of which were on target. Rodriguez took 17 shots with 16 on target. (All stats per FIFA.com.) Everything he did was efficient, intelligent and deadly

We can break it down any which way you want, and many people will still reach the same conclusion: Messi’s team made it farther, and he was just as important, and he should win the award. That’s fine. I have no problem with Messi getting the award. He’s the best player in the world and he took his team to the final. 

Still, James Rodriguez, for this month only, was better. He’ll have to settle for the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals and the adoration of Colombia and soccer fans around the world. Tough life.