FIFA player of the year shortlist
-
Gala nominees revealed
The remaining contenders for the 2008 FIFA World Player and FIFA Women's World Player awards, which will be handed out at the Zurich Opera House on 12 January 2009, were announced on Friday. In alphabetical order, the male nominees are Kaká (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Fernando Torres (Spain), and Xavi (Spain), while Nadine Angerer (Germany), Cristiane (Brazil), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany) and Kelly Smith (England) will contest the women's award.
Among the exciting modifications which will be introduced at the 2008 FIFA World Player Gala is the participation of five men and five women footballers as opposed to the three players from each category as in previous years.
The above-mentioned nominees were confirmed after a poll in which the coaches and captains of men's and women's national teams from around the world cast their votes on the basis of a list of men's and women's candidates drawn up by FIFA.
In addition, the customary FIFA Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will be presented.
-
Is it that hard to predict who will win the male prize?
-
TOP PLAYER AWARD
FIFA announce World Player of the Year shortlist
Cristiano Ronaldo with the Ballon d'Or
Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite to win another major honour after being included on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
The Manchester United double winner has been nominated alongside Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Xavi, AC Milan playmaker Kaka and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
Ronaldo scored 42 goals and scooped the Premier League title and European Cup with United last season whilst Torres and Xavi won Euro 2008 with Spain.
Although Brazil international Kaka and Argentina forward Messi are both regulars on the awards circuit neither of them won any silverware in 2008.
The shortlist has been complied after coaches and team captains from around the world were asked to vote for their top choice and it is the first year five players, rather than three, have been named.
The winner will be announced at a glitzy gala at the Zurich Opera House on January 12.
-
Originally posted by Chris88110:
Is it that hard to predict who will win the male prize?
If its just base on skills in 2008, then Ronaldo should win it hands down. But if some people don't like him or his character, then... who knows...
But it will make a mockery of this award if he don't win it as players like Messi, Kaka and Torres all already said he deserved the European Footballer of the year award as he did better than them in 2008 end up winning it instead don't you think so.
-
ronaldo la
-
Another thing against his favour is, No Premiership player have ever won the Fifa Award before... Beck came in 2nd place twice... other than that, Lampard, Henry... came in 2nd and 3rd place.
-
sure him one lah