http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15533998.stm Yes, it is that time of year again where players are rewarded for their individual brilliance and considering some of the past winners it is a great honour just to be nominated. Looking at the player list* there is some stiff competition for this years award but I have to say that Lionel Messi must be one of (if not THE) favourite again this year. What do you think of the chances of our very own Wayne Rooney and Nani? *Player nominees: Eric Abidal (France), Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Dani Alves (Brazil), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), David Villa (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Xavi (Spain).
It's time Xavi got the recognition he deserves. Pulls the strings for the best team in the world at both club and international level.
This is me being serious, but I think Rooney or Nani should be in the top 3. This isn't an European international year (obviously there was the Copa America) but the latter has been one of Portugal's and United's best players in the last 12 months and Rooney has had another fine year for United, including scoring in the CL final. Messi will almost certainly win, but does it really mean a lot these days? I stopped paying any attention when Cannavaro won it in 2006. It shouldn't be based on who's the top scorer- so surely that should rule out the likes of Ronaldo- what he has won? Copa del Rey? If there was any consistancy of course...which is why Sneijder won it last year...oh wait a minute. Hmm.
Ronaldo to win as for an individual player he was the best last season, breaking records like they were going out of fashion. Xavi second and Nani 3rd ( nani has outshone Ronaldo many times for portugal and took the piss out of the PL last season ) Why no messi? Because hes boring as ****.
Remember the Balon D'or is based on 2011, not the 2010 2011 season, for some reason. Which makes Nani a bit unfortunate, in that he started performing at the start of the 2010 11 season, which meant he wasn't picked ahead of the players who shone in the world cup for the 2010 awards, and he hasn't really (imo) performed well in 2011 since the injury he had at Anfield, he was dropped for Valencia for the rest of the season and has only started regaining his form at the start of this season.
Because he was the player of the tournament at the Copa America, and he actually preform's well at international level unlike some of the people on that list.
im gonna go out on a limb and say that Messi will win it again, not because he should (c'mon there is more to Barcelona than just one player) but because all professionals (current & former), fans etc drewl and sing his praise all the time even when its not justied. not saying he's not a great player but its not like he hasn't won it enough times already
Well its more than three quarters of the people on the list have done in the last 9 months! The list is a farce anyway, Suarez is deservedly on it, but half of them are a joke. Fabregas, Benzema, Sneidjer, Abidal, Forlan, Muller and Neymar have not done anything huge in the last 8 months. They should be replaced by players who've done well over the last year like Van Persie, Cavani, Di Natale, Gomez, Silva, Modric and Busquets. They are all miles ahead of the ones I mentioned on performances and form over the last year tbh.
Yeah I know, and I get your point. But, with plenty of aspects of football these days, there is just no consistancy. What is the criteria? Like I said with the Sneijder example, in 2010, he was one of the main reasons why Inter won the CL and integral to Holland getting to the WC final. By that criteria, Messi had a very poor year, Argentina got to what, the quarter final of the WC and quarters or semis of the CL. Yet who won the Ballon D'or and who wasn't even in the top 3? What he did have in his favour is the shear weight of goals and assists that he got. But if that has a bearing, then why isn't the European Golden Boot winner ever in the top 3? (or just for that reason?) Surely it's just a big popularity contest at the end of the day.
With twenty odd nominations he was bound to get a mention. I reckon FIFA have probably cast around a fair bit for reasons to avoid it being a total Barca / Spain love in. A sceptical man would say players like Suarez, Benzema, Muller, Neymar, Fabregas and Sneijder are only there as fairly token representatives for their respective leagues / countries. Also, the omission of David Silva is pretty surprising imo - maybe FIFA trying to take a pot shot at City? Or again just wary of having yet another Spanish player...
i think leaving out van persie for abidal is a bit much. great that abidals back, but still, in no way did he play well enough for that. anyhoo, my guess is messi will win it, with ronaldo 2nd and iniesta just pipping xavi to 3rd.
