หลังจากโดนวิจารณ์หนักว่าเป็นแผนการตลาดในยุคที่วงการฟุตบอลขาดแคลนซุปเปอร์สตาร์ Sepp Blatter ประธาน Fifa ออกมาแก้เกี้ยว "I was myself a little bit surprised when I saw Messi coming up to collect the best player of competition," said the head of FIFA, who was handing out the awards in the stadium after the match.
World Cup - Blatter ‘surprised’ by Messi award, Maradona labels decision ‘unfair’
https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/world-cup-maradona-messis-golden-ball-award-wrong-161602950--sow.html
Diego Maradona: Lionel Messi winning Golden Ball is a ‘marketing plan’
• Argentina legend dismisses compatriot’s award
• Blatter admits he was surprised Messi won it
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/14/diego-maradona-lionel-messi-golden-ball 
Sepp Blatter ออกมาแก้เกี้ยว I was myself surprised when I saw Messi coming up to collect the best player of competition.
World Cup - Blatter ‘surprised’ by Messi award, Maradona labels decision ‘unfair’
https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/world-cup-maradona-messis-golden-ball-award-wrong-161602950--sow.html
Diego Maradona: Lionel Messi winning Golden Ball is a ‘marketing plan’
• Argentina legend dismisses compatriot’s award
• Blatter admits he was surprised Messi won it
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/14/diego-maradona-lionel-messi-golden-ball