This Ballon D'Or stuff is quite puzzling to me.
Now I'm not trying to degrade Messi's achievment, but the logic that is given for his successive wins is very confusing.
In 2010, Wesley Sneijder led his team to Serie A title, Champions League win, and World Cup Final, but Messi won the award for 'outstanding play and service to his team.'
Last year, when Ronaldo broke all the La Liga records for goals, and scoring against every team, Messi won again because Barcelona won La Liga, and 'individual records don't matter'.
This year, Ronaldo leads him team to a La Liga title, and takes Portugal to the semi's at the Euro's, yet Messi wins because of his individual record for calendar goals in a year.
Now I'm not saying Messi is undeserving of the award, but if the logic and critera is going to change every year for what makes a season exceptional, why does anyone bother to show up?
~ Amata

NB: I have included only one of the names of the OP to prevent some fraudulent nairalanders from spamming his fb page.

All these are individual opinion. The organisers have been transparent enough to show how EVERYONE Voted. That is factual than all these subjective analysis

Hence why I wish the Ballon D'Or was separated from the WPOTY. The unification of all the awards is what has highlighted this discrepancy. In previous years the same problems you identified have always existed, particularly WPOTY which is open to politics, campaigning and has become more of a popularity contest. But the presence of multiple awards in earlier years using different criteria meant it was less annoying and there was greater room for recognition.

careytommy: This Ballon D'Or stuff is quite puzzling to me.
Now I'm not trying to degrade Messi's achievment, but the logic that is given for his successive wins is very confusing.
In 2010, Wesley Sneijder led his team to Serie A title, Champions League win, and World Cup Final, but Messi won the award for 'outstanding play and service to his team.'
Last year, when Ronaldo broke all the La Liga records for goals, and scoring against every team, Messi won again because Barcelona won La Liga, and 'individual records don't matter'.
This year, Ronaldo leads him team to a La Liga title, and takes Portugal to the semi's at the Euro's, yet Messi wins because of his individual record for calendar goals in a year.
Now I'm not saying Messi is undeserving of the award, but if the logic and critera is going to change every year for what makes a season exceptional, why does anyone bother to show up?
~ Amata

NB: I have included only one of the names of the OP to prevent some fraudulent nairalanders from spamming his fb page.

It was Messi that broke Gerd Mullers goal scoring record not Ronaldo

In 2010 Wesley Sneijder wasnt the Inter Milan captain, Gabby Milito scored so many goals

At WC 2010 Diego Forlan was player of the tournament