Why 'Sweeper Keeper' Neuer deserves the Ballon d'Or ahead of Messi and Ronaldo

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are goal-scoring phenoms. There are quick, have amazing dribbling skills, are lethal in front on goal. They are also a marketing dream and they deserve a place on the Ballon d’Or shortlist. But in 2014, there can be – rather, there should be – just one winner. The footballer of the year prize has switched between the world’s top scorers since 2008, Manuel Neuer of Germany is the first goalkeeper to make the Ballon d’Or top three since 2006. He should also become the first goalkeeper to win the award since Lev Yashin (1963), who is as of 2013, the only goalkeeper to win this award. [caption id=“attachment_1830981” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Manuel Neuer with Lionel Messi. AP[/caption] Now, Neuer won the World Cup with Germany. He was brilliant in goal – clean sheets in group matches against Portugal and the United States to begin the campaign and then another shutout during the 1–0 quarter-final win over France. He finally conceded against Brazil but that was a match that Germany won 7-1. The result was never in doubt. Mario Götze’s goal gave Germany the win in the final but the big German did his bit by keeping the ball out of goal. That was reason enough for him to win the Golden Glove award for the tournament’s best goalkeeper. But what really set him apart was the way in which he revolutionised the goalkeeper’s area of influence. During the World Cup, Germany would often deploy a high defensive line and Neuer’s quick feet and thinking allowed them to get away with this risky tactic. It also allowed them to press the opposition for long periods. It wasn’t just the odd foray either. He was tackling, covering ground and weighing in with headers too. To top it all, he is also a brilliant penalty taker. After the game against Algeria in the World Cup, Germany coach Joachim Low said: “Neuer played an extraordinary game. He didn’t have to make saves on his line but he participated in the game. With all those long passes from Algeria, he saved us very often. He played as a libero. He delivered for us.” https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/483743712380723200 A goalkeeper who plays as a libero. It really doesn’t get better than this. There are other keepers who had tried this tactic but few have succeeded in quite the same manner. Neuer’s gaffes can be counted on one hand and the revolution his tactics have brought about will probably change the face of goal-keeping in the near future. Football has always been about the goal-scorers. All the awards go their way, they get the biggest contracts, the fame while goal-keepers, by virtue of not being as mobile as the other players – have always been the last line of defence… chained to the penalty area. But Neuer has changed that – he has had a greater impact in the game than Messi and Ronaldo in 2014 and that is why the award should be his. Messi has broken the Champions League and Spanish league scoring records this month after winning the Golden Ball at the World Cup, but he will end 2014 without a team honour. Argentina lost to Germany in the World Cup final, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer keeping a clean sheet as he followed winning the German league and cup by lifting football’s biggest prize. Ronaldo, though, is one of the most marketable men in sport — posing regularly in adverts when wearing little and celebrating scoring in the Champions League final in May by ripping off his shirt to show his muscled body to cameras. Although the two-time Ballon D’Or winner triumphed in the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup with Real Madrid this year, he scored only one goal at the World Cup as Portugal went out in the group stage. Neuer earlier this month played down his chances of winning the top individual award in football by citing his lower profile away from the pitch, particularly his lack of photo shoots wearing underwear but surely it takes more than that to win the award. The winners, chosen by national team captains and coaches, plus selected journalists, will be announced in Zurich on 12 January and if Neuer doesn’t get the award, then it will be a sad reflection of the times we live in. With inputs from AP