Fifa Ballon d'Or 2013 - discussion thread.

richierichballs

The 23-man shortlist for the prestigious world player of the year award was announced early this morning, with the winner to be unveiled on January 13 in Zurich.

Who do you think should take it?

Messi is the favorite as of now, one thing I thought was interesting is that the bookies have Ribery a tighter odds to win it then Ronaldo.

Lucas Hood

I'd love to see Ribery win it .

richierichballs

Lucas Hood wrote: »

I'd love to see Ribery win it .

Messi for me.

mike65

Whatever chance Gareth Bale had probably went up in smoke with his Real move

Skylinehead

mike65 wrote: »

Whatever chance Gareth Bale had

None whatsoever in the first place, so it's not even worth talking about whether he scuppered it with the Real move.

messinkiapina

Ronaldo will probably win it given Messi's injury lay offs. I hope he doesn't though.

richierichballs

I think Neur is abit of a wasted option,
I agree there is no doubting he is the best goalkeeper in the world but he didn't have very much to do last year.

I think Sergio Aguero should of been shortlisted.

Skylinehead

richierichballs wrote: »

I think Neur is abit of a wasted option,
I agree there is no doubting he is the best goalkeeper in the world but he didn't have very much to do last year.

I think Sergio Aguero should of been shortlisted.

Aguero? Think that's your City bias showing there, he had a fairly poor (albeit injury-ravaged) season last year, at least by his standards. He's started brilliantly this year, but that's not enough.

Moneymaker

Think Ribery deserves it personally. The outstanding player in a side that won the treble last season. Simple as that really.

mike65

Just to say the B d'O also applies to managers

FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football 2013:

Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Paris Saint-Germain FC/Real Madrid CF),
Rafael Benítez (Spain/Chelsea FC/SSC Napoli),
Antonio Conte (Italy/Juventus),
Vicente Del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team),
Sir Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United FC former coach),
Jupp Heynckes (Germany/FC Bayern München former coach),
Jürgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund),
José Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid CF/Chelsea FC),
Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil/Brazil national team),
Arsène Wenger (France/Arsenal FC).

Heynckes really should win this but they may bung it to SAF for old times sake.

shrewdness

Moneymaker wrote: »

Think Ribery deserves it personally. The outstanding player in a side that won the treble last season. Simple as that really.

That logic didn't seem to count for Sneijder for example in 2010, a year in which he also reached the WC final. Iniesta was also more worthy than Messi that year, he should've won it then imo.

Personally I think it's got to the stage where Messi almost has it by default, and everyone else is really up against it to challenge. Obviously he is performing at a very high level consistently, but you look at Ronaldo and it's not like he's the only one. I actually think it would take a long injury lay off for Messi for someone else to win it, as he performs whenever he is fit, and each year it's "his to lose" so to speak. Imo Ribery and Ronaldo are both more deserving this year but I think Messi will win it again unfortunately. I seen one bookie was offering odds of 13/2 on Ronaldo which is just plain stupid.

kryogen

Heynckes should be a shoe in for the manager award, pretty much a perfect season from his side

Messi will probably win the player award again, would like to see it go elsewhere though if only for a bit of variety

Ordinary man

Messi and ronaldo are on a different level to all other players. They are machines

Lukker-

Between Ribery, Ronaldo and Messi for me. Hopefully one of the previous can with it just for some variety.

klose

Hazard has no buisness on that list imo, pirlo and yaya are debatable. And how is wenger on the managerial list and not simeone?

GTR63

klose wrote: »

Hazard has no buisness on that list imo, pirlo and yaya are debatable. And how is wenger on the managerial list and not simeone?

Such a joke that one.
How is Vidal not on it either and I am a Milan fan. A lot of them players had a rubbish 2013 cough, Xavi, cough. At least Pirlo played well at the confeds & at times for Juve.

Red Crow

Robben was such a huge difference maker for Bayern last year. Without him I don't think Bayern had the same intensity and pace in attack.

I think Ribery or Robben should get it. Both were class. Messi was super last year but he wasn't the best.

eagle eye

Schweinsteiger for me. I'd personally give it to Ronaldo but I just fancy a Bayern player wins it.

Corholio

Ribery will probably win it. Its a safe justification when you win trophies, not that he wouldnt deserve it, but thats how a lot of these awards go.

Skylinehead

klose wrote: »

And how is wenger on the managerial list and not simeone?

Likewise Mourinho, what's he done over the last year?

Morzadec

For me it's still basically impossible to put together any reasonable argument against Messi deserving to win this. He's still another level to the rest.

keeponhurling

People say so-and-so has no business on that list, but 23 players is far too much.
In any year there can never be more than 3 or 4 credible challengers.
Arguably Messi has it sewn up anyways, so only one challenger this year.

I was disappointed to see no Irish player on the list, oh well

MD1990

my 1-24

1 Ronaldo
2 Messi
3 Ibrahimovic
4 Ribery
5 Suarez
6 Robben
7 Lahm
8 Van Persie
9 Falcao
10 Lewandowski
11 Muller
12 Bale
13 Iniesta
14 Neymar
15 Schweinsteiger
16 Thiago Silva
17 Iniesta
18 Xavi
19 Ozil
20 Cavani
21 Hazard
22 Neur
23 Toure
24 Pirlo - Vidal should be on the shortlist instead

Washington Irving

I'm a firm believer that these rewards should go to the best individual player rather than the best player from the team who won the most trophies, more often than not, those players are the same but not always.

So for that reason I think Messi should win it, but I think Ribery will. Voted Ribery in the poll as I didn't read the question properly. He wouldn't be undeserving of it but Messi deserves it more imo.

MaroonAndGreen

Ribery is favourite with Paddy Power (evens).

How is that possible? This is an individual award right?

Your team's success is not as important as your individual success for the Ballon d'Or.

Messi - 60 goals last season in 50 appearances.
Ronaldo - 55 goals in 55 appearances.
Ribery - 11 goals in 43 appearances.

How the hell could anyone justify that Ribery was better than Messi or Ronaldo? It shouldnt matter that they win every year, they deserve to win, and I dont want to see them lose just because they win all the time! Our best player Messi/Ronaldo should be recognised, and not Ribery!

richierichballs

Heynckes should absolutely walk the manager of the year award, although with Ferguson retiring you can't help but wonder if he'll get it for sentimental reasons.

As for player of the year, yet again you can't look past Messi. It's a "dull" choice if you want to call it that, but honestly, was there anyone else who had a season like him, 60 goals scored in 50 games!!!

#15

I'm not even sure if Ribery is the most deserving on his own team.

Personally I wouldn't rate him as the best Bayern player, but he is always the one mentioned when it comes to awards for Bayern players for some reason.

Wolf Club

I would have thought Marco Reus would been in the running, he was a bit better than a few of the players on that list IMO.

dfx-

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Ribery is favourite with Paddy Power (evens).

How is that possible? This is an individual award right?

Your team's success is not as important as your individual success for the Ballon d'Or.

Messi - 60 goals last season in 50 appearances.
Ronaldo - 55 goals in 55 appearances.
Ribery - 11 goals in 43 appearances.

How the hell could anyone justify that Ribery was better than Messi or Ronaldo? It shouldnt matter that they win every year, they deserve to win, and I dont want to see them lose just because they win all the time! Our best player Messi/Ronaldo should be recognised, and not Ribery!

Isn't it a calendar year thing?

In that case, I wouldn't say Ronaldo or Messi has much of a claim, it would have to be a Juventus player or Munich player.

Of course, I'd give it to Iniesta regardless, but then again, I'd give everything to Iniesta.

Lawrence1895

Marco Reus

MaroonAndGreen

dfx- wrote: »

Isn't it a calendar year thing?

In that case, I wouldn't say Ronaldo or Messi has much of a claim, it would have to be a Juventus player or Munich player.

Of course, I'd give it to Iniesta regardless, but then again, I'd give everything to Iniesta.

Its a calendar year thing yeah?

How does that suddenly put a Juventus player into the mix, if thats the case then why isnt the whole Arsenal squad in the mix? As they have the best record in Europe in this calendar year AFAIK.

Messi and Ronaldo have been every bit as good in 2014 as they ever were, in Ronaldo's case hes probably been better than ever!

Skylinehead

dfx- wrote: »

Of course, I'd give it to Iniesta regardless, but then again, I'd give everything to Iniesta.

Bar the Clasico, Iniesta's actually been poor for his standards for a while now.

richierichballs

Skylinehead wrote: »

Bar the Clasico, Iniesta's actually been poor for his standards for a while now.

lol.

dsmythy

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Ribery is favourite with Paddy Power (evens).

How is that possible? This is an individual award right?

Your team's success is not as important as your individual success for the Ballon d'Or.

Messi - 60 goals last season in 50 appearances.
Ronaldo - 55 goals in 55 appearances.
Ribery - 11 goals in 43 appearances.

How the hell could anyone justify that Ribery was better than Messi or Ronaldo? It shouldnt matter that they win every year, they deserve to win, and I dont want to see them lose just because they win all the time! Our best player Messi/Ronaldo should be recognised, and not Ribery!

Well I'd hate to be a defender with 0 goals in 50 brilliant appearances trying to win it. I'd agree Messi and Rinaldo are a step above the rest but I wouldn't base it squarely on goals scored.

MaroonAndGreen

dsmythy wrote: »

Well I'd hate to be a defender with 0 goals in 50 brilliant appearances trying to win it. I'd agree Messi and Rinaldo are a step above the rest but I wouldn't base it squarely on goals scored.

Im comparing attackers who play in similar positions so I think goals are a factor in deciding who is better, also of course assists, key passes, dribble success, pass accuracy etc are also important stats.

Skylinehead

richierichballs wrote: »

lol.

It's a generally accepted opinion, so "lol" away. Barca fans acknowledge this, he hasn't been bad because he's Iniesta, but he's been much better.

Dolph Starbeam

Has to be Messi again. Voting for someone else for a change from the usual is a ridiculous reason.

Dolph Starbeam

Busquets should be on the list and Mata should definitely be on it instead of Hazard.

Call Me Jimmy

YayaBanana wrote: »

Busquets should be on the list and Mata should definitely be on it instead of Hazard.

Busquets should be nowhere near any accolade because he is the most cynical player I have ever seen. I find it hard to watch when he plays because he lives for going down and wailing.

Ribery favourite? That's mad.

Any money to be made on this?

Call Me Jimmy

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

Busquets should be nowhere near any accolade because he is the most cynical player I have ever seen. I find it hard to watch when he plays because he lives for going down and wailing.

Busquets is an incredible player, world class.

Call Me Jimmy

I'm not willing to overlook his attitude to the game, it's abhorrent. I know you could say other players dive but he is in a class of his own in that regard.

Call Me Jimmy

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

I'm not willing to overlook his attitude to the game, it's abhorrent. I know you could say other players dive but he is in a class of his own in that regard.

His diving and play acting is ridiculous alright. Ronaldo and Messi dive too. Not on his level of course.

Still as a footballer he's fantastic

Blatter

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

I'm not willing to overlook his attitude to the game, it's abhorrent. I know you could say other players dive but he is in a class of his own in that regard.

He's not as bad as he was at all, imo.

Dolph Starbeam

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

I'm not willing to overlook his attitude to the game, it's abhorrent. I know you could say other players dive but he is in a class of his own in that regard.

Ronaldo and Bale are almost as bad and Suarez's antics haven't stopped him getting in the list either.

You should be able to see past this and realise that he is a brilliant player who had a very good year, he should easily have made this list.

CSF

Ribery and Heynckes for me. I honestly think those who scoff at the idea of Ribery being number 1 just haven't watched enough Bundesliga. The man has been phenomenal while Messi has been injured for key parts of the year

Messi is the better all round player, and would be the better player over a 3-5 year period, but that isn't what the award is for. Ribery peaked this year and hit serious performance levels.

Skylinehead

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

I'm not willing to overlook his attitude to the game, it's abhorrent. I know you could say other players dive but he is in a class of his own in that regard.

You're being a little harsh, he's actually cleaned up his act over the last year, not nearly as much playacting recently. Jordi Alba has taken his mantle of king of the dive at this point.

Maire2009

Ronaldo/Schweinsteiger/Messi top 3 for me, think Ronaldo might nick it this year although I went for Schweinsteiger in the poll.

Nuri Sahin

Speaking as someone who dislikes Bayern immensely, for me, it should be either Schweinsteiger or Lahm. Neither will win it however, so I picked Ribery from the poll.

SweepTheLeg

CSF wrote: »

Messi is the better all round player, and would be the better player over a 3-5 year period, but that isn't what the award is for. Ribery peaked this year and hit serious performance levels.

Which still is nowhere near Ronaldo or Messi. They get double and triple the goals & assists of any other attacking player every year. It should always be between those two.

Courtesy Flush

Messi and Ronaldo should share it