It seems too good to be true (assuming you're a Barcelona fan) but their superstar trio of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Alonso have all been nominated for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award, with the winner to be crowned the world's best player in 2010.
The FIFA Ballon d'Or combines the two major player prizes - the FIFA World Player of the year, voted for by players and coaches, and the Ballon d'Or, which was handed out by journalists via France Football magazine - for the first time next month.
Messi picked up both awards last year but is the outsider to claim it again in Zurich on January 10 despite a phenomenal 12 months. He netted 34 goals in Barca's 2009-10 La Liga success while he has started the new season in blistering scoring form claiming 22 goals in just 18 games - with 19 of those coming in his last 12 appearances.
The only blemish for the diminutive playmaker was a goalless World Cup for Argentina, as Diego Maradona's side exited at the quarter-final stage to Germany. That is the main reason why the award is likely to go to one of Spain's world champions.
In contention to usurp Messi as the world's best player are his club team-mates Xavi and Iniesta - who are joint favourites to win the award. The midfielders have enjoyed a wonderful year at both domestic and international level, having triumphed in the Primera Division with Barca and the World Cup with Spain.
Any award ceremony and nomination list is never complete without some tough omissions and this one is no different in that regard. Um Wesley Sneijder anybody?
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti criticised the absence of Inter and Holland midfielder Wesley Sneijder from the shortlist. Sneijder was widely regarded as Inter's best player in their treble-winning season and also impressed as the Dutch reached the World Cup final.
''I find it very unfair,'' Moratti said on Inter's official website. ''Sneijder had a phenomenal year, won everything he could have won. For me he deserved the Ballon d'Or. It seems unfair the award is to be given to someone who, although a great player, didn't have the same level of performance throughout the year.''
For the women, take your pick between Marta (the Brazilian who has won it four times) or the German duo of Fatmire Bajramaj and Birgit Prinz.
Barca's Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, who won an unprecedented Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble with Inter Milan before switching to Real Madrid in the summer, and Spain's World Cup-winning coach Vicente del Bosque were the choices for the male Coach of the Year award.
Maren Meinert (Germany Under-20 national team), Silvia Neid (Germany national team) and Pia Sundhage (United States national team) make up the women's category.
No comments:
Post a Comment