Ballon d'Or Nominations

[spurs mental]

Lionel Messi is the favourite to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or after being named on the 30-strong shortlist for the award that will be presented to Europe's best player in December.

The Argentinian has been widely tipped to top the rankings after helping Barcelona to a unique treble of trophies last and joins four others who helped achieve the feat, as well as new team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

While no Italian players were named, the four Serie A-based imports were dwarfed by the 13 players from Spain's top flight, while the nominees from the Premier League all came from the big four clubs.

Ryan Giggs has been included and should be mentioned for a lifetime achievement award after showing incredible longevity at the top for Manchester United.

Away from Spain; England and Italy, only France's Yoann Gourcuff represented his own league, while Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko and Bayern's Franck Ribery have been put forward from Germany's Bundesliga.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Maicon (Inter Milan)
Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Diego (Juventus)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona)
Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
Thierry Henry (Barcelona)
Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg)
Xavi (Barcelona)
Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)
Yaya Toure (Barcelona)
Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Kaka (Real Madrid)
John Terry (Chelsea)
Luis Fabiano (Sevilla)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
David Villa (Valencia) Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid)
Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Julio Cesar (Inter Milan)
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)

___________________________

My top 3 would be

Messi
Ronaldo
Xavi/Iniesta

 

[Leo]

If Drogba can be in that list why not Modric? Strange.

My selection.
Messi
Casillas
Torres.

 

[Kendall]

If Drogba can be in that list why not Modric? Strange.

My selection.
Messi
Casillas
Torres.

lol.

Drogba was playing for the Champions League semi finalists and Premier league runners up. Modric spent half the season playing poorly in a team in a relegation scrap.

 

[Leo]

lol.

Drogba was playing for the Champions League semi finalists and Premier league runners up. Modric spent half the season playing poorly in a team in a relegation scrap.

Ok Modric getting an inclusion would be crazy he was poo at the start, but Drogba brings the game into disrepute far too often. He's done one truely amazing thing this season which was a fluke and wasn't too brilliant last year. He's playing way beneath himself. He scores about 15 goals a year now and he's on silly money.

 

[NickHSpurs]

Has Giggs ever won it? If not, they should give it to him.

The guy is a top top professional, young footballers should look no further than this man when modelling themselves on how to conduct yourself, keep fit, be loyal and play at the very top of your game for your entire career.

He's been a class act this season. People like Messi and Ronaldo have years ahead of them to win this, I think that should be taken into consideration.

 

[spursandbarca]

1. Messi
2. Eto'o
3.Xavi

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

Ok Modric getting an inclusion would be crazy he was poo at the start, but Drogba brings the game into disrepute far too often. He's done one truely amazing thing this season which was a fluke and wasn't too brilliant last year. He's playing way beneath himself. He scores about 15 goals a year now and he's on silly money.

Drogba is brilliant. He may be annyoing, but he's a great player.

 

[mil1lion]

1. Messi
2. Xavi
3. Ronaldo

 

[Kendall]

Has Giggs ever won it? If not, they should give it to him.

The guy is a top top professional, young footballers should look no further than this man when modelling themselves on how to conduct yourself, keep fit, be loyal and play at the very top of your game for your entire career.

He's been a class act this season. People like Messi and Ronaldo have years ahead of them to win this, I think that should be taken into consideration.

That would make a mockery of the competition.

it's Ballon d'or 2009, not a lifetime achievement award.

 

[donny1013]

Messi
Ronaldo
Xavi

 

[Marty]

Xavi
Messi
Ronnie

Xavi is the best footballer in the world atm. Just because he isn't as fancy as Messi or Ronaldo doesn't mean he isn't better. Barca (and Messi) wouldn't be anywhere near as good as they are without Xavi pulling all the strings in the middle.

 

[riversmonkey]

Why bother with the nomination process? Just give it straight to Messi

 

[yawa]

1.) Messi
2.) Xavi
3.) Iniesta

 

[RobinLeonard]

Ok Modric getting an inclusion would be crazy he was poo at the start, but Drogba brings the game into disrepute far too often. He's done one truely amazing thing this season which was a fluke and wasn't too brilliant last year. He's playing way beneath himself. He scores about 15 goals a year now and he's on silly money.

7 goals and 6 assists in 9 starts? He has been the player of the season so far.

 

[donny1013]

Drogba is an absolute goal scoring beast, if he wasn't such a bellend with his theatrics he would be a very popular player.

 

[Kushal]

Xavi
Messi
Vidic

 

[mil1lion]

Drogba is no doubt back to his best again. And i think thats important for the Premier League after the loss of Ronaldo. His lob against Hull was sick.

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[WhiteStripe]

Drogba is no doubt back to his best again. And i think thats important for the Premier League after the loss of Ronaldo. His lob against Hull was sick.

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Shame he admitted that it was a total fluke of a cross and had not been intended as a shot.

 

[ShelfSide18]

lol.

Drogba was playing for the Champions League semi finalists and Premier league runners up. Modric spent half the season playing poorly in a team in a relegation scrap.

In fairness the poor first half season was in 2008, this is for 2009 when he started to get it together for us.