World Golden Ball

I just wanted to see whether people are having a similar experience to me. I apologise if this is already in another thread or if this thread is in the wrong forum.

For the last few years (FM 11,12,13) I have felt that the game is slightly biased towards Messi. It seems as those he is almost guaranteed to win the award even when he is undeserving of it, although I do admit he has won the award on merit quite a few times and I have no problem when it is deserved. I have seen a few people claiming the award is based upon average rating but I feel this is inconsistent in game.

Messi has recently won with 20 Goals and 15 Assists in 48 Appearances, with an average rating of 7.72.

Ronaldo came 3rd with 32 Goals 13 Assists in 48 Appearances, with an average rating of 7.89.

Neymar came 2nd with stats lower than both.

Ronaldo still plays for Madrid (I currently manage Man Utd) he was top goal scorer in La Liga last year with Madrid winning the title. My own striker had stats above and beyond both Messi and Ronaldo but he is only 19 so was not likely to win this award (he won European Golden Boy instead). I have had many more examples like this in FM version previously.

Any thoughts?

I just wanted to see whether people are having a similar experience to me. I apologise if this is already in another thread or if this thread is in the wrong forum.

For the last few years (FM 11,12,13) I have felt that the game is slightly biased towards Messi. It seems as those he is almost guaranteed to win the award even when he is undeserving of it, although I do admit he has won the award on merit quite a few times and I have no problem when it is deserved. I have seen a few people claiming the award is based upon average rating but I feel this is inconsistent in game.

Messi has recently won with 20 Goals and 15 Assists in 48 Appearances, with an average rating of 7.72.

Ronaldo came 3rd with 32 Goals 13 Assists in 48 Appearances, with an average rating of 7.89.

Neymar came 2nd with stats lower than both.

Ronaldo still plays for Madrid (I currently manage Man Utd) he was top goal scorer in La Liga last year with Madrid winning the title. My own striker had stats above and beyond both Messi and Ronaldo but he is only 19 so was not likely to win this award (he won European Golden Boy instead). I have had many more examples like this in FM version previously.

Any thoughts?

I'm pretty sure it's based on Reputation/Average Rating so whilst Messi and co don't get amazing goals/game ratios, their reputation and high average rating gives them the advantage.

It's rep mostly, so until the really big guns retire or degrade, they win the award pretty consistently.

surely you're not saying that ronaldo rep is lower than messi...

On the other hands, FM tries to emulate the real world, so you cant be surprised by the fact that messi is favoured...

Never enough Messi v Ronaldo discussions these days.

The award in-game is as uninteresting and pointless as it is in real life to me, so never take much notice of it tbh, but Messi winning it every year sounds about right.

Yep since FM12 till now, the winner of World Golden Ball 90 % must be Messi, except he is past his glory days in our save.

i'm on Feb 2015 now and Messi has won 2x World Golden Ball in 2013 and 2014.

I managed to win it with Eric Lamela playing for Tottenham 1 year, he got 54 goals in 54 games with 23 assists at an average rating of 8.02

Messi that year came 2nd 30 goals 54 games 17 assists average rating 8.13

Lamella got 494 votes, Messi 298

The reason Messi gets so many wins is because even though he may not have the most goals or assists by far he always has an amazing average rating (plus his high rep)

The moment FM12 crowned Messi world player of the year despite him doing **** all for Barca (only 18 goals and 10 assists, which is pretty miserable considering his abilities) and ignored every single one of my players despite producing a clean sweep of trophies (stuffing Messi in the CL along the way) I told myself where to stuff this silly award that is judged on the player's Rep and not what they contribute on the field.