Ballon d'Or
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The race for the 2007 Ballon d'Or is officially now on after France Football released the 50 names in contention for one of football's most coveted individual accolades.
In England the award is better known as the European Footballer of the Year and is received by the player considered to have impressed the most over the previous year.
Eric Abidal (Barcelona), France.
Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Brazil.
David Beckham (LA Galaxy), England.
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham), Bulgaria.
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Italy.
Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Italy.
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Spain.
Petr Cech (Chelsea), Czech Republic.
Rogerio Ceni (San Paolo), Brazil.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Portugal.
Deco (Barcelona), Portugal.
Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid), Mali.
Diego (Werder Bremen), Brazil.
Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Ivory Coast.
Michael Essien (Chelsea), Ghana.
Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona), Cameroon.
Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Spain.
Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Italy.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), England.
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Wales.
Thierry Henry (Barcelona), France.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter), Sweden.
Filippo Inzaghi (Milan), Italy.
Kaka (Milan), Brazil.
Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla), Mali.
Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Germany.
Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa), Iraq.
Paolo Maldini (Milan), Italy.
Florent Malouda (Chelsea), France.
Lionel Andres Messi (Barcelona), Argentina.
Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic), Japan.
Guillermo Ochoa (America Mexico), Mexico.
Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Italy.
Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Portugal.
Raul (Real Madrid), Spain.
Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), France.
Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal), Argentina.
Robinho (Real Madrid), Brazil.
Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Brazil.
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), England.
Paul Scholes (Manchester United), England.
Clarence Seedorf (Milan), Holland.
Carlos Tevez (Manchester United), Argentina.
Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Italy.
Kolo Toure (Arsenal), Ivory Coast.
Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Spain.
Francesco Totti (Roma), Italy.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Holland.
Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Holland.
David Villa (Valencia), Spain.
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The Premier League is well represented as 15 players currently plying their trade in England are included, while Barcelona's Thierry Henry is also in contention largely for his performances for Arsenal and France.
Manchester United's famed attack is celebrated as Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Paul Scholes are all in, while Liverpool are represented by Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Arsenal too are not shy of nominees as Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie get the nod.
Didier Drogba's future at Chelsea may have been cast into doubt of late but what cannot be disputed is that the Ivorian has enjoyed a fantastic year and he is joined in the long short-list by team-mates Florent Malouda, Michael Essien and Petr Cech.
The sublimely talented Dimitar Berbatov is another nominee, proving Tottenham can break into the top four in at least one category. -
So Frank isn't a top 50 in Europe...
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this is the award where no English (or playing in England) player has ever won right?
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they should just narrow it to a top 20 or something and based it on performances.
some of them are there only because of name when they did nth last season. -
how come i see 1 brazilian based and 1 middle-east based?
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also one 1 america based
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cos this year they opened up the award internationally. but we'll always get the best club football in Europe no doubt.
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Go Younis Mahmoud!
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Go Rogerio Ceni go.
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Kaka la Kaka la
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France Football Reveal Final Ten Candidates For Ballon d'Or
As expected, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are in there.
However, the list also contains Francesco Totti and Zlatan Ibrahimovic - both left out of the list of nominees for the FIFA Player of the Year.
Real Madrid and Milan have two candidates each, while Manchester United, Roma, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter and Chelsea contribute one each.
1. Kakà (Milan)
2. Robinho (Real Madrid)
3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
4. Cesc Fábregas (Arsenal)
5. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)
6. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
7. Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan)
9. Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
10. Francesco Totti (Roma)
There has been much speculation over the final result already, with reports suggesting that Kaka has been followed home by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. -
Originally posted by omgukilledkenny:
Fabregas!!!
[b]France Football Reveal Final Ten Candidates For Ballon d'Or
As expected, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are in there.
However, the list also contains Francesco Totti and Zlatan Ibrahimovic - both left out of the list of nominees for the FIFA Player of the Year.
Real Madrid and Milan have two candidates each, while Manchester United, Roma, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter and Chelsea contribute one each.
1. Kakà (Milan)
2. Robinho (Real Madrid)
3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
4. Cesc Fábregas (Arsenal)
5. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)
6. Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
7. Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan)
9. Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
10. Francesco Totti (Roma)
There has been much speculation over the final result already, with reports suggesting that Kaka has been followed home by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.[/b]
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No offence but i feel he no chancefor this year la. Last yr he didn win anything and last season is also totally dominated by Ronaldo and Kaka. I do however, feel that he does have a very high chance in next year's edition if he can maintain his form and if Arsenal can win the EPL or UCL. This year i think don need to fight, Kaka wins hands down.Originally posted by turbo_drift:Fabregas!!! -
Ronaldo takes on Kaka and Messi for top award
Cristiano Ronaldo has made the three-man shortlist for FIFA's world player of the year award. The Manchester United winger is up against AC Milan's Brazilian Kaka, who is the favourite, and Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
The award will be made at FIFA's world player gala in Zurich on December 17. Each national team manager and player is given a vote for their player of the year.
None of the trio have won the award or even been shortlisted before and it has never been won by a Premier League player.
Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro is the current holder of the award. French midfielder Zinedine Zidane and Brazilian striker Ronaldo both won it three times, while Ronaldinho has won the award twice. -
top 5.
1. Kaka
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (even though i hate him to pieces)
3. Lionel Messi
4. Ruud van Nistelrooy
5. Andrea Pirlo
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Kaka and Pirlo for No 1 n 2
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trust me. Pirlo is 5th.Originally posted by Marco_Simone:Kaka and Pirlo for No 1 n 2 -
wat the...Originally posted by Deunamist:trust me. Pirlo is 5th. -
It is now official – Milan star Kaka is the 2007 Player of the Year after he was assigned the Ballon d’Or.
The Brazilian had been the over-riding favourite since voting began among the journalists all over the continent.
Previously known as the European Player of the Year award, organisers ‘France Football’ have recently extended the competition to those all over the world.
He absolutely dominated with 444 votes, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, 277) and Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 255). The same trio are shortlisted for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
The other Serie A representatives in the top 10 are Milan teammate Andrea Pirlo in fifth position, InterÂ’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic in seventh place and Francesco Totti in 10th.
“It was an exceptional year and the Ballon d’Or crowns an extraordinary 2007,” said Kaka as he accepted the award in Paris.
“I want to thank God who allowed me to be here today. I thank my wife, my parents and Milan, the team that allowed me to win.
“I also thank my teammates, both at Milan and Brazil, and all of the fans.”
Kaka was the hot favourite after winning the Champions League – where he was top scorer with 10 goals – and the European Super Cup with the Rossoneri.
"It's the top prize around and the only way to win something like this is to play for a team like Milan," he said. "It's great to be part of a team that wins."
In October Kaka was named FIFPro World Player of the Year, voted for by 45,000 members of the players' union.
‘Ricky’ succeeds Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, who won both the 2006 Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year trophies after his World Cup triumph.
In all eight Ballon dÂ’Ors have gone to Milan players after Gianni Rivera (1969), Ruud Gullit (1987), Marco van Basten (1988, Â’89, Â’92), George Weah (1995) and Andriy Shevchenko (2004).
Top 5:
1) Kaka` (Brazil, Milan) 444 points
2) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester United) 277
3) Leo Messi (Argentina, Barcellona) 255
4) Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea) 108
5) Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Milan) 41
tmd no.4 wrong.
van Nistelrooy was 6th -
pirlo underated
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out of all the top 5, Pirlo reads the game the best.
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You like to highlight this,dont ya?Originally posted by Deunamist:In all eight Ballon d’Ors have gone to Milan players after Gianni Rivera (1969), Ruud Gullit (1987), Marco van Basten (1988, ’89, ’92), George Weah (1995) and Andriy Shevchenko (2004). -
Expected la Top 3 in the FIFA player of the year standings also the same la. Cfm plus chop
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i didn't. the article put it.Originally posted by Marco_Simone:You like to highlight this,dont ya?