If we follow Ronaldo's logic, then the World Cup winner should win the Ballon d'Or because the world competition is the highest level of competition and the one who wins the World Cup, should be the best player but that doesn't sound right for Ronaldo because Messi won World Cup and he didn't.
That's the thing, the Ballon d'Or was designed and is an European title, they chanhed the rules so that forerign players can win it if they play for an European team, but why in the name of god should you give the title to a player based on his game in an international cup when he did nothign in Europe that time, by the same logic Muller should have won the 2014 award.
It was designed that way but didn't it change? The criteria of the Ballon d'Or is based on individual and team performance/achievements. As far as I know, players' overall career performance is taken into account by the voters but I can be wrong.
In 2014, do you mean Muller or Manuel Noyer? I remember that Noyer had an amazing performance but I don't remember Muller being extraordinary that year. Btw I think that there is an impact of star players in Ballon d'Or decision because doesn't matter what happens, Messi is Messi and Cristiano is Cristiano (at least they were a few years ago). These players were outshining everyone and were the most famous players in the world.