General football. This is for anyone. Zlatan Ibrahimovic this week has claimed he is the best footballer in the world and he doesnt need a Ballon D'or to tell him that. When ever I have watched him live he was loved like a donkey but he always scores spectacular goals. I agree that he is one of the best players in the world that much is obvious but he has really as good as he thinks he is? Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are stupidly consistent and will continue to take all the plaudits for the next few years IMO. This year Ronaldo has been unbelievable and he fully deserves the Ballon D'or. I think the only reason Messi always wins it ahead of Ronaldo is because he is in a team that continues to pick up trophies and I think there is very little to choose between them. Gareth Bale has become the most expensive player in the world and settle in at Real Madrid really well and has already scored quite a few goals. Luis Suarez has been brilliant for Liverpool over the last 18 months but its his reputation that stops people really liking him. IMO they are probably the best 5 players in the world at this moment with Ronaldo being top and Messi just behind. The other 3 I couldnt choose between them
Messi. People say Ronaldo at the moment purely because he's on a red hot run and Messi is injured. Messi Ronaldo Robben Ibrahimovic Ribery Suarez Iniesta Lahm Schweinsteiger Aguero
Wouldnt you include Mesut Ozil in there AKCJ? He has been superb for Arsenal and all the Madrid fans were devastated he left
His partnership with Negrado at the Etihad is what has destroyed most teams. Their movement and link up play is world class. Negrado's goal at the weekend was world class. Aguero has pushed on another gear this season and he been superb.
I would put my neck out and say Aguero is the best striker in the world at the moment. Messi and Ronaldo (as for me they aren't strikers) are clearly the best two players in the world. Messi just edges it as I prefer to watch his style of play to Ronaldo's. Bale for me gets nowhere near the top 5
whoa !!! .. now just hold on there hoss .... Messi is the first and only player to top-score in four consecutive Champions League campaigns, and also holds the record for the most hat-tricks (4) scored in the history of the competition. In March 2012, Messi made Champions League history by becoming the first player to score five goals in one match. He also matched José Altafini's record of 14 goals in a single Champions League season. Messi set the European record for most goals scored in a season during the 2011–12 season, with 73 goals. In the same season, he set the current goalscoring record in a single La Liga season, scoring 50 goals. Also in that season, Messi became the first player ever to have scored and assisted in six different official competitions in one season. On 16 February 2013, Messi scored his 300th Barcelona goal. On 30 March 2013, Messi scored in his 19th consecutive La Liga game, becoming the first footballer in history to net in consecutive matches against every team in a professional football league. He extended his record scoring streak to 21 consecutive league matches, and the run came to a halt only when he sustained a hamstring injury. ... nah ... on second thought, you're bang on
There is a bit of 'what came first, chicken or egg' granted - but I tend to side with you on that ... the guy is a sublime talent
They'd obviously do well without him. But I just think he's pushed them to win La Liga and the Champions League so many times.
Messi, no question for me. Ronaldo's bloody good, and can definitely be considered one of the best. But Messi's still young, and could potentially become the best player ever. Interesting how few EPL players up there. I'm going to throw Van Persie in there.
Hold on, you gave it to Messi, disregarding Ronaldos current form, but let Aguero in because of his current form :s
Danny Graham is a lively outsider - although admittedly he's in with a far better chance in FIFA's 'Banjo d'or / Barn d'or' awards ....
