If you're ignoring the whole historical context, then yes, goals don't matter. However, due to Ronaldo and Messi's goal scoring achievements these last few years the criteria have shifted as we're witnessing two absolutely dominant goal scorers for the first time in over a decade when the real Ronaldo was around. And mind you, not even he scored a goal per game like Messi and CR are doing. When Zidane won in 1998 he was coming off a league title with Juventus and a WC win with France scoring crucial goals at crucial times (note: In 1998 there wasn't a single dominant goal scorer). In 2000 Zidane had just won the Euros with France, again putting his trademark on the whole tournament. And yet again there wasn't a player as dominant at goal scoring as CR and Ronaldo are. When he won it in 2003, Henry probably would have been more deserving (2004 even more so) but Zidane was playing in one of the best teams ever as the brain of that team which eventually gave him the nod over everybody else. As for Cannavaro winning the title in 2006, one could argue that he won mostly due to the lack of competition (and Italy's suprising WC, obviously). The next 4 in the votings that year (Zidane, Henry, Ronaldinho and Eto'o) all had either a disappointing season or a bad WC which effected them negatively. You're right in that sense that it's not just the goals that are the cause of Messi and CR winning all these awards but it's the goals that show just how good these two guys are.