Unsung hero Diego Godin warrants a mention as a Ballon d'Or contender

Cristiano Ronaldo's club stats this year could make him a lock for the Ballon d'Or, but does Portugal's poor performance at the World Cup hurt his chances? FC's Sid Lowe and Steve Nicol debate.

In the wake of Atletico Madrid's thumping 5-0 win over Malmo on Wednesday, there were a few tongue-in-cheek comments by fans about a certain Uruguayan. No, not that one; Atletico Madrid's own Diego Godin.
"Diego Godin for Ballon d'Or," were the cries from the Vicente Calderon faithful. Strange when you consider their side had just put five past the Swedish champions and that local lad Koke scored one and set up three to pick up the man of the match award.
Yet Godin's was the name on their lips, and they got this observer thinking. While headline-grabbing attackers Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben will likely be the front-runners for the individual accolade, why not Godin as a contender?
If he played for Real Madrid or Barcelona and had done what he's done at Atleti, he would almost certainly be touted as a major player in the reckoning. Heck, even at Los Rojiblancos he should be. The fact that no European superpowers came waving their chequebooks in the summer was nothing short of a minor miracle for Diego Simeone.
Part of a watertight La Liga defence that shipped only 26 goals last season, he was a colossus alongside partner Miranda, with whom he has the best central defensive partnership in club football, helping his side to their first league title in 18 years.
Speaking of which, do you know who cropped up at the vital moment when his side needed him the most, with just one goal required to wrestle the La Liga crown away from Barcelona?
People also forget his goal-scoring performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League as his side agonisingly lost out when they were minutes from victory. Certainly, if Sergio Ramos was touted for the big prize following goals against Bayern Munich and subsequently Atleti, there's no reason the same should not apply to our Diego.
Before you read on, please understand this is not a personal vendetta against Ramos; merely that he is a perfect player -- in terms of position, achievements last season and age -- with whom comparisons can be drawn. Credit where it is due: he is a very, very good footballer who has won absolutely everything there is to win in the game. If it were not for him, his side would not have their craved Decima.

Diego Godin has established himself as one of Europe's best defenders -- and he's a threat in both penalty boxes.

But having said that, while Godin may not be the all-action all-Spanish heartthrob who wears his heart on his sleeve a la the Real Madrid man, there can be no arguing that he is not given the recognition he deserves, compared to the over-the-top nature of praise for Ramos. There was a short period before Spain's disastrous World Cup in Brazil when there was a sense that "Ramos for the Ballon d'Or" was gaining momentum in the Spanish capital.

The fact that Ramos is prone to the odd high-profile mistake (not to mention a red card or 19) did not play into the narrative. He was Sergio. Real Madrid's Sergio. Spain's Sergio.
Godin goes about his business in a quiet, unassuming manner. He is rarely seen on TV screens recklessly flying into tackles, veins pumping and eyes bulging. He leads in a different manner. He strikes you as the kind of player who genuinely does not care about individual praise and adulation; more interested in the good of the team and putting his body on the line.
All traits that are, unfortunately, unlikely to see you crowned as the world's best player (see current incumbent for details on what is required).

He helped his side concede only six goals en route to the Champions League final, snuffing out Porto, Zenit, Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea et al. It is verging on bizarre how little credit this guy is given.
His importance goes far beyond club duties. A stalwart in Oscar Tabarez's national side, in Brazil it was he who sent Italy packing and La Celeste through to the knockout stages. But enough about his prowess at the other end of the pitch. While the goals certainly add to his cause, it could be argued that, right now, he is the best player in his position in world football on defensive capabilities alone.

His performance against Juventus earlier in this season's Champions League was one of the most complete I have witnessed from a centre-back, not allowing the Italian side a sniff. Raul Garcia may have worn the captain's armband that night, but there was only one man leading the side through the game. His form has continued on an upward trajectory. Four clean sheets in the last four games at home shows how solid the Atletico back line is.

His neglect was compounded by the Spanish League's decision to not even nominate him in the category of the league's best defender from last season. Remarkable. While two of his counterparts in the Atletico back line who made history were there in Miranda and Filipe Luis, Godin's name was a startling omission that surprised us all.
Take a wild swing at the third name on the list. You've guessed it: Sergio Ramos.

Espain 03:56