Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has been honored as the FIFA World Player of the Year. The Argentinian helped lead Barca to the treble (Champions League, Spanish League and Cup) last season. Messi easily outdistanced his fellow candidates in the voting with 1,047 points. Last year’s winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, was second with 354 points. Messi’s Barcelona teammate Xavi was third with 196 points. Earlier this month, Messi also claimed the Ballon D’Or as the top player in Europe. It’s a well-deserved award for Messi as he has the ability to make a game-changing play every time he touches the ball (the most recent example being his extra time winner in the Club World Cup final).
On the women’s side, Brazil’s Marta was voted Women’s World Player of the Year for the fourth year in a row. That’s an incredible feat, but even more so when you realize that she’s only 23 years old.
FIFA also announced the World XI, which features six players based in Spain and five from England:
GK – Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Defenders – Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Dani Alves (Barcelona)
Midfielders – Xavi (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Forwards – Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi captured the 2009 Ballon D’Or by the largest margin ever on Tuesday. The award is given to the European Footballer of the Year and Messi is the first Argentine to win. Messi received 473 of a possible 480 points to take top honors. Last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo finished second, while Messi’s Barca teammate Xavi came in third.
It is a deserved award for Messi, who led Barcelona to the treble last season. The talented forward led the Champions League in goals with nine, including one in the final. He also scored 23 goals in La Liga competition. An incredibly dynamic player, Messi has the ability to change any game he plays with his sublime touch and deceptive quickness. He’s already off to a great start this year with nine goals.
2009 Ballon D’Or Results
1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/Real Madrid)
3. Xavi (Barcelona)
4. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
5. Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona/Inter)
6. Kaka (AC Milan/Real Madrid)
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter/Barcelona)
8. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
9. Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
10. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
The 23 nominees for FIFA World Player of the Year and 10 nominees for Women’s World Player of the Year have been announced by FIFA.
The five finalists for each award will be announced at the beginning of December with the winner being revealed on Dec. 21.
Cristiano Ronaldo won the honor last year and makes the list again. All five finalists from 2008 are on the short list again this year (Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Kaka, Xavi and Lionel Messi).
I’d have to give the edge to Messi this year as he played such a pivotal role in Barcelona’s treble last season. Despite Argentina’s struggles in World Cup qualification, he’s always an incredibly dangerous threat.
On the women’s side, Brazil’s Marta has won the award three years running and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if she won it again.
From FIFA.com:
The following 23 men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA World Player 2009;
Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Diego (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain), Franck Ribéry (France), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).
The following ten women (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA Women’s World Player 2009;
Nadine Angerer (Germany), Sonia Bompastor (France), Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Mana Iwabuchi (Japan), Simone Laudehr (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Kelly Smith (England) and Abby Wambach (USA).
Word on the street is that Manchester United has accepted a $132 millon bid for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. My understanding is that it’s not official yet, but that talks have begun between the player and Real Madrid. MU’s website states that the matter would be concluded by June 30.
So, that world record bid for Kaka? Peanuts compared to the amount Real is paying for Ronaldo. If indeed this deal does go through, which I suspect that it will, given Ronaldo’s dream of playing for Real, it puts a dragged out transfer saga to bed early. Yay! After the whole will he leave-will he stay drama of last summer, I really couldn’t take another summer of that crap.
It’s obviously quite a loss for MU (not that the rest of the league is heartbroken), who are rumoured to be targeting Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery as replacement.
I have one question though – where in the world is Real Madrid getting all this money from?
Ok, so it’s been a while since I posted anything…so here’s some quick hits from what’s going on in the football world.
Manchester United used a 5-goal second half to defeat Tottenham, 5-2, on Saturday, April 25 – breaking the hearts of Liverpool fans who thought they might actually catch a break in the race for the title.
Liverpool kept pace with the leaders, defeating Hull, 3-1, with a brace from Dirk Kuyt and a goal from Xabi Alonso. The Reds are three points back in the table.
The Champions League semis started on Tuesday with Chelsea playing at Barcelona. Chelsea put on a defense-only display and came away with a 0-0 draw at Camp Nou. Manchester United played at home against EPL rival Arsenal on Wednesday. John O’Shea scored the game-winner in the 17th minute for the home side. The second leg is next week (May 5/6).
All professional soccer games in Mexico are being played in empty stadiums due to swine flu fears.
Skipper Steven Gerrard should be back in the lineup for Liverpool’s matchup with Newcastle this week after missing action due to a groin injury.
Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs was voted the PFA Player of the Year. Ashley Young of Aston Villa earned the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Six United players were named to the PFA Team of the Year. The team consists of: Rio Ferdinand (MU), Ryan Giggs (MU), Cristiano Ronaldo (MU), Edwin Van Der Sar (MU), Nemanja Vidic (MU), Patrice Evra (MU), Steven Gerrard (LIV), Fernando Torres (LIV), Nicolas Anelka (CHEL), Glen Johnson (PORT), Ashley Young (AV).
Word on the street is that Manchester United has accepted a $132 millon bid for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. My understanding is that it’s not official yet, but that talks have begun between the player and Real Madrid. MU’s website states that the matter would be concluded by June 30.
