Race For World Cup's Golden Boot

The MVP award seems to be an American invention, and the rest of the world clearly is still getting the hang of the idea. FIFA, soccer's governing body, instituted its player-of-the-year award less than 20 years ago, and there's been an official World Cup honor-- the Golden Ball -- since 1982. In those seven World Cups, the media selected to vote for the award has gotten it wrong more often than not. Especially recently.

In 1998, Brazil's Ronaldo won it despite being outscored by three other players in the competition, having an awful final and not being France's Zinedine Zidane or Lilian Thuram, both of whom played at a historically outstanding level as Les Bleus won the Cup. Four years later, karma came back to bite the bucktoothed Brazilian as German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn scooped up the trophy. Ronaldo scored eight goals, the most in a World Cup since 1974, including two against Kahn in the final.

The voters screwed it up again in 2006, giving the award to Zidane largely based on his performance against Brazil in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Italy's Andrea Pirlo was that good in every game, masterfully pulling the strings in the Azzurri midfield and having a hand (or foot) in just about every key play for the champions.


Based on that pretty awful track record, we wouldn't be surprised to see the departed Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney (who managed one goal combined) get a few votes here in South Africa. It seems fame continues to be one of the principle criteria for selection, as the Golden Ball honor roll reveals that voters just aren't watching the games carefully.

If they've paid attention through the quarterfinals, they should be focusing on the following list of players who've distinguished themselves. All are world class, and all extremely well known, but none rise to the level of transcendent global icon/pitchman. Not yet, at least. Perhaps that will change as the semifinals kick off Tuesday (Netherlands vs. Uruguay) and Wednesday (Germany vs. Spain). These guys aren't self-promoters or gossip-page fodder. They just come through.

DAVID VILLA, SPAIN

If the tournament ended today, the 28-year-old forward (above) would be -- or should be -- the winner. His performance is all the more noteworthy because of the nightmare that striking partner Fernando Torres is suffering through. While Torres trips over himself, Villa leads the competition with five goals. Several have been spectacular (the run through the Honduran penalty area and the 50-yard shot against Chile spring to mind) and three were game-winners, including the only goals in Spain's second round and quarterfinal matches.

While a host of big-name attackers have shot blanks during this tournament (U.S. fans should know well how difficult it is to find a forward who can score), Villa is clutch defined. He has exceeded expectations and carried his team. La Furia Roja has managed just six goals in the entire competition. The €40 million that Barcelona spent to pry Villa from Valencia looks like money well spent at the moment. He'd have been worth a lot more as a Golden Ball winner.

Villa is technically gifted, composed, and plays as if he can score from anywhere. He also does a lot more work than most strikers, often recovering into left midfield to help link Spain's shifting playmakers with Torres.

"David has been the key for Spain. He is scoring important goals. It has been his World Cup," Torres said.

WESLEY SNEIJDER, NETHERLANDS

The Dutch playmaker, 26, is an exhausted Uruguay and a tough 90-minute final away from leading teams to the Champions League and World Cup titles within two months. The Ajax product joined Inter Milan from Real Madrid last summer and paid immediate dividends, helping Jose Mourinho's club to the treble and setting up Diego Milito's game-winner in the Champions League final.

He's had a similar impact with the Oranje. This is a team that, historically, has always become overwhelmed by the differences in its members' styles and personalities. Sneijder has brought them together, playing with a technique, intelligence, enthusiasm, pace and will to win that has Holland on the verge of its first World Cup final since 1978. He scored both goals in the 2-1 quarterfinal upset of Brazil and the winners in the 1-0 triumph over Japan and the second round defeat of Slovakia.

Just as importantly, he binds the team together. He is the axis around with the Netherlands spins, and his ability to put opposing defenses on the back foot has helped the Dutch hide the problems with their own. Brazil already knows all about him. The rest of the world is now starting to appreciate Sneijder as well.

THOMAS MÜLLER, GERMANY

Villa and Sneijder at least are established stars. Müller is basically a rookie, having signed his first full professional contract 17 months ago. He made his debut with Germany's senior national team in March. That's March, 2010.

Four months later, he's the talk of this World Cup. Müller's range, opportunism and savvy have drawn raves here and have symbolized a new Germany, a team that doesn't simply rely on the compact, mistake-free soccer of its predecessors but one that attacks with style and vigor. The eight goals over supposed world powers England and Argentina in the knockout stages prove the point, and Müller has three. He has four goals overall, along with three assists in the World Cup. He has been lethal attacking from deep positions and sees the field like a player 10 years older.

"He is a special player. There is one quality I like about Thomas. He is always relaxed when he is in the box. I also like the way he finishes off chances," Germany coach Joachim Löw said.

A ridiculous yellow card against Argentina will rule Müller out of Wednesday's semifinal against Spain. Even if Germany wins and Müller plays well in the final, perhaps missing such an important game will hurt his Golden Ball credentials.

If that's the case, Bastian Schweinsteiger may merit some consideration as well with a couple more big performances. He doesn't have Müller's gaudy numbers (just three assists), but he's equally as effective, has an amazing work rate and is involved in just about everything Germany does.

LUIS SUÁREZ, URUGUAY

The dark horse. Yes, he's suspended for the semifinal, and rightly so, but Uruguay wouldn't be there without the quick-thinking striker, whose goalkeeping performance in the last minute of overtime gave his side a reprieve against Ghana.

He's also effective on the offensive end. The Ajax man scored both goals in the 2-1 win over South Korea in the round of 16 and the only goal in the 1-0 win over Mexico, and his marauding and threatening runs have given Diego Forlán more room to operate. Uruguay is the surprise of the World Cup, (in a good way) and it has Suárez largely to thank.

And enough with the criticism of Suárez' handball. There is still some whining here in South Africa, with words like "cheater" and "injustice" being thrown around by fans and media. Anyone complaining on Ghana's behalf should look closely at the Black Stars' behavior against the U.S. in the second round, where we saw a commitment to waste time, fake injury and linger on substitutions that was worthy of its own FIFA award. Samuel Inkoom's antics in overtime, among others, will be the stuff of "Fair Play" legend, and Ghana certainly had its opportunity to advance to Tuesday's game here in Cape Town.

And for the impartial, what Suárez did was, in a sense, within the rules. Handling the ball is addressed in the laws of the game, and the punishment for the offense is as well. It's all down on paper, and everything went as it should. If what Suárez did was immoral, then so is icing and goaltending (basketball) and pass interference. They are standard plays athletes make to gain an advantage, knowing there is a price to pay. Suárez paid a heavy price -- he'll miss the semifinal. But his action was selfless and incredibly smart. Far more odious are things like diving, faking injuries or falls to get opposing players booked, and the sort of unsportsmanlike time wasting we saw from Ghana against the U.S.

So if Uruguay pulls the upset over the Netherlands, and Suárez plays well in the final, well, why not the Golden Boot?