FIFA Ballon D’Or 2012: A Quick Profile of the Nominees

LIONEL MESSI

Achievements in 2012: Copa Del Rey with FC Barcelona. Individually, he has won the World Soccer Player of the Year, the Onze d’Or (a French magazine award), IFFHS World’s Top Goal Scorer, IFFHS World’s best Top Division Goal Scorer, El País (a Spanish newspaper) King of European Soccer, ESPY Best International Athlete, the European Golden Shoe, UEFA Champions League Top Goalscorer, Pichichi (Top goal scorer in Spain’s La Liga), La Liga’s Ibero-American Player of the Year, LFP Best Player, LFP Best Forward and the Olimpia de Plata (an Argentinian award).

Comments on Leo: If you read the paragraph above, there is no doubt Messi is the best. He has been winning this evening’s award since 2009, and his quality hasn’t decreased at all (if so, he is even better). He has only won one minor award with his club this year, but he won the Ballon D’Or when Iniesta and Xavi were nominated alongside him, and that year the three of them had won the same things, plus Iniesta and Xavi had won the World Cup. He is the obvious choice, and I won’t be surprised. Messi is God, it is as simple as that.

Highlight: He has scored 91 goals in 2012, breaking the World Record previously held by Müller.

CRISTIANO RONALDO

Achievements in 2012: La Liga and the Supercopa de España with Real Madrid. Individually, he has won Goal.com Player of the Year, Portuguese Footballer of the Year, the Alfredo Di Stéfano Trophy, UEFA Euro 2012 Man of the Match in two matches and UEFA Euro Top Scorer.

Comments on Cristiano: As a Spanish football supporter, all I have been hearing about everywhere these past few years is the ongoing “fight” between CR7 and Messi. While the Argentinian is more calmed, with a humble personality, Cristiano is known for his vigour, his strength and his self-confidence. Anyway, his goals gave Real Madrid the Liga, which had been in possession of Leo’s Barça for many years. Some might remember that CR7 won the Ballon D’Or 2008, back when Messi wasn’t quite the star he is now. Who knows, maybe this Liga gives Cristiano the trophy again…

Highlight: Let’s be honest, he is the one who won La Liga. Real Madrid supporters should thank him.

ANDRÉS INIESTA

Achievements in 2012: Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona, UEFA European Football Championship with Spain. Individually, he has won UEFA Champions League Best Player, UEFA Euro 2012 Man Of The Match in three matches (including the final), UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament, UEFA Best Player in Europe Award and La Liga’s Best Attacking Midfielder.

Comments on Andrés: If Messi is the prince of humility, Iniesta is the king. If you have seen him in an interview at any point of his career, you know that he always praises the team, the coach, but never himself. And this humility is what makes him so loved in Spain, even by rivals of FC Barcelona. He tends to get injuries quite often, but when he plays, nobody can match him, except maybe Xavi, his other half in his club and in the Spanish team. Spain’s success over the last few years has definitely happened partly because of Iniesta. Even if he never admits it.

Highlight: Eurocup’s final versus Italy. It was Iniesta at his best. He didn’t score, but he didn’t need to. If someone deserves this year’s Ballon D’Or, that’s Iniesta De Mi Vida[1].