Reliant Robin: The story behind Van Persie’s Ballon d’Or nomination

Although he has never been short of elite-level talent, it is only in the last couple of seasons that Robin van Persie has finally evolved into the imperious, season-defining force that we recognise him as today. Van Persie is a curious case, in fact, as rarely has there been an instance of potential being realised with the incredible suddenness that it did with the Dutchman.

At some point along the line – specifically, at the beginning of the 2011/12 season – everything simply clicked for Van Persie: his body finally stayed free of impairment and began to function at its peak, his finishing ability became arguably the world’s best, and his mentality solidified into not just that of a natural-born winner, but of a natural-born leader, too. That was the season when everything went right for the striker, and it’s largely been a matter of plain sailing in the two and a half years since.

Major honours this year

To say that Van Persie carried his club side to last season’s Premier League title almost single-handedly would, admittedly, be doing an injustice to the likes of David de Gea, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick, but not since Eric Cantona and 1996 has an English top-flight win felt so inexorably associated with one player – and with good reason.

By purchasing the 29-year-old Van Persie, Alex Ferguson broke his own policy of steering clear of ageing, expensive recruits, and the forward repaid his new manager’s faith with a season of what seemed at times to be inhuman levels of match-winning splendor.

He may have missed out on the major individual end-of-year honours, with Gareth Bale instead collecting the gongs – and will have had much justification had he felt aggrieved – but one suspects that his Premier League winner’s medal will have had a rather strong consoling effect, as would his second consecutive Golden Boot award.

Who is Robin van Persie?

Arguably the most efficient centre forward in world football. Van Persie may not possess the explosive athleticism of Cristiano Ronaldo, the natural flair of Lionel Messi or the raw power of Didier Drogba (not that he’s especially short in any of those departments) but what he does have is a distinctly no-nonsense style of play which yields chances, goals and spectacle.

In his link-up play, Van Persie’s contribution tends to be of the one-touch variety, and of largely unerring accuracy. The very same can be said for his ability in front of goal: never one to take a gratuitous touch when a first-time finish will do, the Dutchman’s ability to use his left foot to pick out the corner of the net from all angles and distances, and to strike a ball so consistently cleanly, brings to mind the exploits of Robbie Fowler in his pomp (which is far from the insult many of his club’s fans would take it as).

RVP’s goal placement in the Premier League last season

Van Persie has exploded over the past two seasons. Although much of his time atArsenal was blighted by injury, this was not the case to the degree that the now-customary re-telling of his story would have you believe: he in fact averaged 24 league appearances over his eight seasons in north London, dipping below the 20 figure in only two campaigns.

In fact, it was his promotion to captain, as well as his arrival at peak physical condition, which seemed to prompt him into his eruption of brilliance that happened two summers ago and that we are still seeing now. His move to Manchester, although it continues to burn the hearts of those who watched him with such glee at the Emirates, was a necessary stage in his race to rightfully compete at the elite level of the sport before his age ruled him ineligible for such zeniths. One imagines he looks back with few regrets.

Key Stats

The 26 goals delivered across last season’s 38 league matches is the most important figure here, and it’s a rate that the 30-year-old has so far carried almost exactly into this term, with six strikes in his first nine games. Yet more impressive, given Van Persie’s primary role as a finisher of chances, is his capacity to create them too: over last season he did so at a greater rate than Wayne Rooney, despite his team-mate being deployed in the notionally more creative number 10 role for much of the time. 71 chances laid on in 38 outings is no mean feat for a predatory centre forward.

RVP’s 71 chances created was the most at United last season

Does he deserve his nomination?

Yes. Indeed, it’s difficult to argue that any other England-based player does more so. A minor dip around March and April aside, Van Persie spent the entirety of last season (as well as the one before it) scoring goals that were not just of abundance but also of import and majesty, his propensity to dispatch first-time volleys from floated, over-the-shoulder passes sent his way a particularly breathtaking (and breathtakingly regular) habit. He was unarguably the decisive factor in the destination of last season’s title.

Does he have a chance of winning?

Probably not. United’s current absence from the true crème de la crème of world football will hinder his chances, with the Red Devils departing last season’s Champions League before even the quarter finals, in a game in which Van Persie was upstaged by a stronger candidate for this year’s honour, Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s difficult to see the Dutchman somehow leapfrogging Ronaldo, Messi and Franck Ribery to be a genuine contender for the award, but should the winner, unlikely as it is, be plucked from the Premier League, it will almost certainly be Van Persie who will claim it.