He broke a lot of records but for me Ronaldo deserved it. Also how is the team only full of La Liga players when the CL final was between Germans and English teams. Stinks of a fix.
KH..why do you think Ronaldo deserved it? i mean in the past i have thought the same but this year of all years, Messi has been immense.
No surprise really. Do agree with KH on the team though. How there's not 1 player outside of la liga who didn't make it, is ridiculous.
Fifa world team of the year: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) Dani Alves (Barcelona) Gerard Pique (Barcelona) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) Marcelo (Real Madrid) Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid) Xavi (Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) By 'world' I assume that they mean 'La Liga'? Oh wait, it must be because it was an all Spanish Champions League final, mustn't it?
Nicked the voting breakdown from the Goons page: http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/bal.../98/07/84/fboawardmenplayer2012-bycountry.pdf Lloris voted for Casillas, Falcao and Drogba! None of the top 3. I like it! Gerrard voted for the obvious two and his mate Alonso. Rosicky also voted for the same pair, but also added his ex-teammate van Persie!
Messi didn't just break any old record, Gerd Mullers stood for decades, he's scored a ludicrous amount of hat-tricks and his team play is way above Ronaldo who is still selfish. We are talking about two exceptional talents so you have to nit pick to separate them, overall Messi will always be the better allround player for me, so CR would have to outscore him by some margin, but he didn't. On the team, I saw that SSN earlier...Falcao the only intruder on Real Barcelona!
Ronaldo has starred in two leagues for two of the best teams in Europe. I don't think people appreciate how hard that is. Messi is unbelievable too but he's in a team built around him and he's been there for years and years. For me I would like to see Messi go to Italy, Germany or England and star to really prove himself as the greatest ever.
People often criticized Ronaldo for not scoring in big games, but he scored big goals against Barca to help win the league. Ronaldo should have won it IMO, but you can't argue Messi didn't deserve it either.
A note to Jimmy Greaves. They think Messi is from another planet.They never saw you when you were playing,obviously.You got all your goals without breaking into a sweat.Messi's always in a sweat!
I don't disagree but the award is for a years achievement, I just think breaking a record like that just tips it in his favour. Its such a good debate, a really close call, its one that will run for a long time yet.
Messi looks like a crap magician in that jacket..."for my next trick, I shall make this ball disappear up Ronaldo's arse!"
With the record Messi broke I think he's a deserved winner, to score the most goals in a calender year and NOT win the Ballon D'or would have been a travesty in my opinion. Yes his team is built around him and he has players like Xavi, Initesta, Fabregas etc to work with but even so, it's still an amazing achievement. I know and can appreciate the argument that Ronaldo has done the business at two clubs but the two clubs he's played for have - like Messi at Barca - had many other star players to work with. He's played with players like Giggs, Scholes, Rooney, Xabi Alonso, Ozil, Di Maria... When you have players like that you're always going to do well. Messi and Ronaldo are two players in a completely different league of their own, they'll be known for years and years after they retire but I do think Messi edges it in a very, very close battle, even if he hasn't (and probably won't) test himself in another league. If anything, Ronaldo has been unlucky in terms of not winning the accolades Messi has... It's not often you find two players of this calibre in the same era. Perhaps the best way to test who really is the best, is let them both join Spurs and see who does produces the goods?
Ronaldo is a better all-round athlete- stronger, faster, better in the air. Messi has a sublime touch and great skill. When it comes to awards, the player with the greater skill usually wins the vote. Messi has a level of control of the ball, which other players admire because they know they can never reach those heights themselves.
Like Luke says...one thing i will say is that Messi is in his comfort zone.....Ronaldo has played for two massive teams and had the balls to move for a challenge. ultimately i try not to take too much notice of these kind of awards as both would be **** without the other 10 players. football will always be about the best 'team'.
Thats a fair point, as Messi hasn't had to deal with the pressure of moving country, adapting to different leagues and is basically going to spend his career playing for Barca. I would love to see how Messi would perform in the English or Italian league, no doubt he could adapt, yet it would make him a far better player.
He came third, not a fix. He scored lots but contribution to the whole team effort, the other two do far far more, Ronaldo have and does go missing quite often. The other two were almost irrepressible last season even if Barca didnt win everything To make this comment when you have not watched La Liga week in week out is laughable at best. Sick of you lot and your tabloid opinions Go on lie and say you watch it every other week