The 64-year-old is incensed with the award that is, in some quarters, becoming known as football's biggest popularity contest
Bayern Munich adviser and World Cup winner Paul Breitner feels that the Ballon d'Or in its current form is farcical, stating that Fifa might as well just award the honour to Lionel Messi every year. Breitner's feelings were echoed by the lack of Bayern's presence at the ceremony despite Manuel Neuer's place in team of the year and Pep Guardiola winning second-best coach, but the 64-year-old explained why he was the only person associated with the club in attendance. “Pep Guardiola puts certain duties above others on his priority list,” Brietner told Goal. “For him, it was more important to train and play – with his full team. “As long as Fifa are not willing to accept goalkeepers and defenders, as long as the potential candidates start at offensive midfield, we do not need the Ballon d'Or. “Instead of voting at all, we could just say: as long as Lionel Messi plays football, he will be number one – and Cristiano Ronaldo number two. “People should be disappointed at how the voting turns out. If nobody is willing to change something, we don't need it. “It's not Fifa that ends up disappointed, it's football fans from all over the world.” In his latest column for Goal, Philipp Lahm suggested a world-best-player for each position should be elected in the Ballon d'Or's stead, however Breitner feels he has a better method. “The World Player of the Year, for me, is the player who shows the biggest gap between himself and the second best player in his position," he added. “If the voting worked like that, Manuel Neuer would have deservedly lifted the Ballon d'Or two years ago.”
- Goal