Exclusive – Messi deserves Golden Ball win, says Speroni
Argentine goalkeeper Julian Speroni has told talkSPORT Lionel Messi deserved the World Cup Golden Ball award, despite widespread criticism over FIFA’s choice of winner.Germany became the first European team to win the World Cup on South American soil following a 1-0 extra-time victory over La Albiceleste in Sunday’s final, but a large group of the football community were outraged as the Argentina skipper was named the tournament’s best player.Top scorer James Rodriguez, the Golden Boot winner having netted six goals in five games for an impressive Colombia side, was one of the favourites for the accolade, along with Germany’s Thomas Muller and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.And while fellow stopper Speroni believes Neuer would have been a worthy winner after superb campaign, the Crystal Palace man insisted national hero Messi was just as deserving of the award.“I don’t get the opposition,” he told Drivetime. “He didn’t have a bad tournament at all, I think he had a very good World Cup.“But obviously because it’s Messi, and because of what he’s done at Barcelona, everyone expects magic from him every time he steps onto the pitch.“Overall Messi had a great campaign, he scored four goals and took Argentina to the final.“Other players had great World Cup too, and personally I would have given it to Neuer who was outstanding, but they gave the award to Messi and I think that was quite fair, he deserved it.”