2009 Ballon D'Or Nominees
Cristiano Ronaldo Among 12 La Liga Players Nominated For Award
Oct 22, 2009
FIFA have announced their shortlist of the 30 players nominated for the 2009 Ballon D’Or award.
Twelve players from Spain’s Primera Liga are in the running to be crowned 2009’s European Player. The list also contains ten English based players.
Despite their triumph at the World Cup in 2006, no Italian players were shortlisted for this year’s prize and only four players who ply their trade in Serie A were selected.
The shortlist will be handed to a selection of journalists from around the globe who will vote for their player of 2009. The winner is to be announced in a ceremony in Paris on December 1.
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo To Win Ballon D’Or Again?
Last year’s Ballon D’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo will surely be amongst the favourites to win the award again after helping Manchester United to their third successive Premier League title.
Ronaldo made his dream move to Real Madrid for a world record £80m and has enjoyed a blistering start to his career at the Bernabeu, notching eight goals in his first six games for the club.
Add that to the hatful of goals he scored for Manchester United during the latter half of last season and it becomes obvious that it will take a truly special player to wrestle the Ballon D’Or from the Portugese winger.
Lionel Messi To Add To Barcelona Honours
Lionel Messi has been tipped by many to succeed Ronaldo for this year’s honour after firing Barcelona to the treble with a total of 38 goals last season.
Messi was unplayable at certain points during Barca’s incredible run to the Champions League final and was only denied last year’s Ballon D’Or by the extraordinary form of Ronaldo.
At 22 years old, Messi still has the world at his feet but after playing such a prominent role in the Catalan club’s success, the skilful Argentine would be a worthy winner of the coveted award.
Kaka to pay tribute to AC Milan with second Ballon D’Or?
If Kaka adds to the Ballon D’Or he won in 2007, it would be a fitting tribute to the outstanding service he gave to AC Milan.
The Brazilian became the world’s most expensive player when he moved to Real Madrid this summer and is already starting to prove his worth at The Bernabeu.
Despite AC Milan’s struggle in Serie A last season, Kaka still averaged just over a goal every two games in his final season at the San Siro.
Wayne Rooney to succeed former Manchester United teammate Ronaldo?
Rooney was forced to do a lot of Ronaldo’s graft during the 2008/09 season but has truly stepped up to the plate as top dog for Manchester United and England this term.
At 23 years old , Rooney has really started to live up to the momentous expectations placed upon him since his move to Old Trafford.
He may not have the flair of other nominees but is arguably far more influential for both club and country on a weekly basis then any of them.
Nominees for 2009 Ballon D’Or
Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Diego (Juventus), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg), Samuel Eto'o (Internazionale), Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Diego Forlán (Atletico Madrid), (Liverpool), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Júlio César (Internazionale), Kaká (Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Maicon (Internazionale), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Luís Fabiano (Seville), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), David Villa (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona), Yaya Touré (Barcelona)/
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