You make an excellent point. Figo, Zidane, Kaka and other winners didn’t have “impressive” stats but anyone who watched them play in their prime, would tell you their stats didn’t do them justice.
You could be recognized for your flair, skill, authority in a game without an assist or goal to show for it. Back then, defenders would win POTY (Cannavaro was the last one to I believe), because people weren’t as obsessed with stats.
While I don’t blame Ronaldo or Messi, their rivalry coupled with Tiki Taka football definitely impacted the game more negatively than positively.
I could see the tides were turning in 2010 when neither Iniesta or Sneijder won POTY in favor of Messi. How Sway???