Ballon D'or

[Warney]

The Ballon D'or winner of 2010 is announced on January 10 2011 in Zurich. Along with this award, others will be announced including Women's Footballer of the Year, FIFA Fair Play award, Best Goal and Manager of the Year. Here is the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon D'or:

Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid)
Dani Alves (Brazil, Barcelona)
Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea)
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Inter Milan)
Cesc Fabregas (Spaim, Arsenal)
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana, Sunderland)
Julio Cesar (Brazil, Inter Milan)
Miroslav Klose (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Maicon (Brazil, Inter Milan)
Thomas Mueller (Germany)
Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Bayern Munich)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich)
David Villa (Spain, Barcelona)
Xavi (Spain, Barcelona)
Carlos Puyol (Spain, Barcelona)
Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona)
Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Athletico Madrid)
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
Mesut Oezil (Germany, Real Madrid)
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, Inter Milan)

A list very much dominated by players from Spanish powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid. The shortlist for Manager of the Year:

Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea)
Vicente del Bosque (Spain)
Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
Pep Guardiola (Barcelona)
Joachim Loew (Germany)
Jose Mourinho (Inter & Real Madrid)
Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay)
Louis van Gaal (Bayern Munich)
Bert van Marwijk (Netherlands)
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)

Poll will be added soon.

Please discuss who you think will win

 

[rishgoon]

I would say either Messi, Xavi or Iniesta.
They're the 3 on the final shortlist...

 

[Warney]

haha i never heard they released the 3 man shortlist, forget about the thread..

Hey Luke, bet ya $1000 bucks that a Barcelona player will win the Ballon D'or

 

[rishgoon]

As much as I'm against all things Barcelona, I'll have to pass on that one.
Unless Messi for Fabregas happens next month...

But seriously hard to split those 3. Hard to go past Messi, but as Spain won the World Cup, I'll say Iniesta over Xavi for scoring the winning goal (thanks to that great through ball from Cesc I'll have to add)

 

[Warney]

yeah i'm going with Iniesta to win it this year mate..

 

[rishgoon]

Did you vote for him? Seems he only has the one...

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

David Villa should win it, but if his not in the final 3 as you say then i will go with Messi

 

[rishgoon]

.....Messi
Deserved it no doubt

---------- Post added 11-01-2011 at 05:51 AM ----------

Good to see them step away from giving it to a Champions League or World/European Cup winner for the season.

 

[Warney]

wow. He has had a great season but i thought that Iniesta/Xavi would of won it because of their World Cup win!

---------- Post added 11-01-2011 at 06:01 AM ----------

Team of the Year:

I Casillas (Real Madrid)
Maicon (Inter) Lucio (Inter) G Pique (Barcelona) C Puyol (Barcelona)
W Sneijder (Inter) Xavi (Barcelona) A Iniesta (Barcelona)
L Messi (Barcelona) D Villa (Barcelona) C Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Barcelona, Inter and Real the teams only represented!

 

[GiRDS-]

no epl teams ok.

 

[BLOWN8]

is there anyone from EPL good enough to make the list?

 

[rishgoon]

Prob not for 2010.
On current form Nasri and Bale would get a look, pretty early on for 2011 though!