The countdown to the highly prestigious and anticipated 2012 Ballon D’or at Kongresshaus, Zurich, Switzerland, has commenced. 7th January, 2013 is the day the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), awards the ‘best player of the year’ with the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
Today, we continue the countdown with reactions from prominent coaches and figures in world football on the chances of nominess for the prestigious award which has Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain) and Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona) in contention.
On Cristiano Ronaldo:
“Portugal have a national team called Cristiano Ronaldo and a group of players who run after him.”
Carlos Queiroz
“He’s an unbelievable player. We have a pantheon of great players and Ronaldo definitely compares with any of them. Although he had a natural talent, he is in many ways manufactured himself – he practised and practised. He had a bit of the Eric Cantona about him in that way. He was definitely good value for Madrid.”
Sir Alex Ferguson
On Lionel Messi:
“Some people do not like Ronaldo because he is a great player, good-looking and has sex with all the ladies. People get jealous. The only bad thing about Ronaldo’s life is Messi. If it was not for him, Ronaldo would have been the best player in the world for five years in a row now.”
Luiz Felipe Scolari
“Like Michael Jordan in basketball, Messi is dominating his sport. Very few people in history have managed to dominate their sport the way Jordan and Messi have. I feel sorry for those who want to compete for Messi’s throne – it’s impossible, this kid is unique. He doesn’t just score lots of goals, but he scores lots of great goals, each one being better that the last.”
Pep Guardiola
On Andres Iniesta:
“Definitely Andres Iniesta. It’s not that difficult to play well and win titles in a team like Barcelona, but it’s in the national side where you see a player’s true class. That was the case with figures like Pele, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane. WithSpain, Iniesta has shown that he is among the best players of all time and that’s why I rate him higher than Messi or Ronaldo. Even though the latter two have incredible scoring records for their clubs, they still haven’t won anything with Argentina or Portugal respectively.”
Boris Becker on who should win the FIFA Ballon d’Or
“He is the enlightened one, [someone] touched by a magic wand. He commands so much respect on the pitch. As a football lover, I am proud to have played with him. He makes the difference and does things that no one else can do.”
Sergio Ramos
Do you agree with their views?
Have Your Say…
One things lies first and formost: Skill, ability, talent, however you want to name it – you have to be a master of your domain and possess the gift of technical superiority. But every now and again history has shown us that some stand out more than others and this when the lethal combination of talent, physical superiority and and insatiable apetite for success are rolled into one person. Messi is the only player who can be call on….
One things lies first and formost: Skill, ability, talent, however you want to name it – you have to be a master of your domain and possess the gift of technical superiority. But every now and again history has shown us that some stand out more than others and this when the lethal combination of talent, physical superiority and and insatiable apetite for success are rolled into one person. In today’s world of soccer or football as we now like to call it, I can think of one man that exemplifies all of the physical qualities required to excel at his sport – Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Argentina. He stands at 169cm and weighs in at 67 kilograms, has a genius left foot and his technical abilities are matched by few. He is the small, light and gifted with the perfect stature for a dribbling type player. As an athlete he is the perfect prototype for any football player. He has strength, acceleration, aglity and speed. His speed is unlike that of any other player because he can carry the ball with precision at speed and has the speed endurance to speed away from defenders. Otherwise he’d be just another good player – He is unique because he can express himself and take advantage of his technical and athletic virtues simultaneously.
I love CR7 beause am a manchester united fun but Messi is the best.
Since he came into limelight some time ago, he has always been ahead of every other player. Messi is simply outstanding.
C,Ronaldo is the best in the world his skill’s are fantastic,his goal record was amazing he is the best
MESSI AND RONALDO ARE FXCELLENT PLAYERS, BUT FOR ME ANDRES INIESTA IS THE BEST BECAUSE HE HAS DONE MORE FOR HIS NATIONAL TEAM THAN OTHERS THIS PAST SEASON.YES FOOTBALL IS ALL ABOUT GOALS BUT I THINK THAT BARCELONA IS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE CREATIVITY OF INIESTA IN THE MIDFIELD. SO HE DESERVES IT.
CR7 deserve to be the winner among the three contendants with many reasons 4 my say