View Full Version : Ballon d'or 2007
Here are the 50 candidates :
Eric Abidal (Barcelona), France.
Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Brazil.
David Beckham (LA Galaxy), England.
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham), Bulgaria.
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Italy.
Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Italy.
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Spain.
Petr Cech (Chelsea), Czech Republic.
Rogerio Ceni (San Paolo), Brazil.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Portugal.
Deco (Barcelona), Portugal.
Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid), Mali.
Diego (Werder Bremen), Brazil.
Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Ivory Coast.
Michael Essien (Chelsea), Ghana.
Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona), Cameroon.
Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Spain.
Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Italy.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), England.
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Wales.
Thierry Henry (Barcelona), France.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter), Sweden.
Filippo Inzaghi (Milan), Italy.
Kaka` (Milan), Brazil.
Frederic Kanoute` (Sevilla), Mali.
Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Germany.
Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa), Iraq.
Paolo Maldini (Milan), Italy.
Florent Malouda (Chelsea), France.
Lionel Andres Messi (Barcelona), Argentina.
Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic), Japan.
Guillermo Ochoa (America Mexico), Mexico.
Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Italy.
Ricardo Quaresma (Porto), Portugal.
Raul (Real Madrid), Spain.
Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), France.
Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal), Argentina.
Robinho (Real Madrid), Brazil.
Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Brazil.
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), England.
Paul Scholes (Manchester United), England.
Clarence Seedorf (Milan), Holland.
Carlos Tevez (Manchester United), Argentina.
Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Italy.
Kolo Toure` (Arsenal), Ivory Coast.
Jose` Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Spain.
Francesco Totti (Roma), Italy.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Holland.
Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Holland.
David Villa (Valencia), Spain.
--------------
Italians lead the list with 8 candidates. There are 7 Brasilians and 5 Spanish players.
There are 32 Europeans, 10 South/North Americans, 6 Africans and 2 Asians on the list.
Milan,Barcelona and Real Madrid have 6 of their players on the list.
Group of European football journalists vote. Each voter chooses five players from the list and awards them one, two, three, four and five points.
My choice would be :
5pts: Kaka
4ptS :Ibrahimovic
3pts: Messi
2pts:Cristiano Ronaldo
1pt: Drogba or Totti
5 pts - Kaka
4 pts - Messi
3 pts - Ronaldo
2 pts - Drogba
1 pt - Ibra
hany.Egypt
23-10-2007, 09:00
5 pts Kaka
4 pts Totti
3 pts Drogba
2 pts Ibra
1 pt Messi
5pts Kaka
4pts Pirlo
3pts Totti
2pts Messi
1pt Ibra
hitmannq8
23-10-2007, 11:22
No Sandro Nesta and there is Maldini? sigh..
Stezagud
23-10-2007, 15:47
Drogba
Kaka
Ronaldo
Messi
Rooney
inter-1908
23-10-2007, 15:55
Ibrahimovic is my pick to win it, not just beause hes on inter, but hes proved what a great player he is, hes top scorer, and is able to provide each time he stps onto the pitch, i would be dissapointed to see totti take that..Ibrahimovic should take it.
Ibrahimovic is my pick to win it, not just beause hes on inter, but hes proved what a great player he is, hes top scorer, and is able to provide each time he stps onto the pitch, i would be dissapointed to see totti take that..Ibrahimovic should take it.
He may be the one who was the best in Europe according to you, but you can be sure that only 1 man can and will win it : Kaka
curry chicken
23-10-2007, 16:29
Rino once said in an interview that if Kaka doesn't win the Golden Ball he'll buy it for him, and now Galliani's declared it will be the end of the world if he doesn't win it. France Football, plz save us from the Apocalypse. Give the thing to Ricky. :D
I'm never sure of the period of time for which these footballers are being judged.
Is it 2006-2007 season or just everything that's happened from Jan 1st 2007 until now?
I'm never sure of the period of time for which these footballers are being judged.
Is it 2006-2007 season or just everything that's happened from Jan 1st 2007 until now?
Jamie I wanted to ask this question too , maybe someone who knows it can let us know ?
Stezagud
24-10-2007, 13:55
I assumed it was the last season, though i may be wrong.
No, no
Only the year. From January 1st till mid December. Matches/performances from the first part of the season 2006/07 don't count.
i don't understand why half of those players are on that list.
i don't understand why half of those players are on that list.
It's always like that Jim.
It's known who's gonna win this (Kaka). It's well known which players will be among the 5-10 best, so the other 40 players are there mostly due to some marketing reasons (the 2 Asians) or because of their name (Cannavaro, Giggs, Torres) or simply because of their nationality ( there should always be few Eastern Europeans, few Asians, Africans etc).
The list is indeed strange. The greatest players of 2007 are there, but to put some of these players on the list is ridiculous
Stezagud
25-10-2007, 13:29
It's known who's gonna win this (Kaka). It's well known which players will be among the 5-10 best, so the other 40 players are there mostly due to some marketing reasons (the 2 Asians) or because of their name (Cannavaro, Giggs, Torres) or simply because of their nationality ( there should always be few Eastern Europeans, few Asians, Africans etc).
Im going to have to disagree with you on Giggs, Tony :)
And yes im sure its totally expected that i do so :cool:
Cannavaro and Torres i agree got in because of their names, Cannavaro because his profile was raised with a WC win and move to Real is listed despite his form instead of because of it. Torres i assume is also in because his of his major move to Liverpool this year.
Giggs though hasnt moved anywhere, all he has to raise his profile is the fact that Utd won the league and he was undoubtedly a major part of that success. He won the player of the month twice which was more than any other player in the Premiership last season, and was in the EPL team of the year on merit. He was shortlisted for the player of the year too, his fellow players ranked him in the EPL's top 5.
Given the strength of the major European leagues i dont see why a player in the top 5 in England, Italy or Spain wouldnt make the worlds top 50? i dont expect him to win or to challenge in any way but i dont see why he shouldnt be included. His game has changed to a more central less explosive role but his class and composure were vital for Utd at times last season.
Tevez shouldnt have been though, he is there for the same reason as Torres ;)
Im going to have to disagree with you on Giggs, Tony :)
Well you would disagree abt many facts like
ACM 3-0 ManU,Kaka being a better player than (over ratted) C.Ronaldo, Messi being the best 20 years old player ahead of Rooney & Maldini being a bigger legend than Giggs etc etc................ :bri:
The fact is that Giggs shoud NOT be in that list at all. The only reason why ManU won the league last season was bcoz Chelsea were NOT at their best :rolleyes:
1-Kaka
2-Kanoute
3-Drogba
4-Totti
5-Polo Maldini (still going strong :devf: )
6-Messi
7-van Nistelrooy
8-Essien
9-Cech
10-Christiano Ronaldo
How Lampard hasn't make that list is beyond my imaginations considering the fact that he scord 20+ goals (again) from deep midfield positions in a very disappointing season for Chelsea. Even a die hard ManU, Liverpool or Arsenal fan would agree with that fact
Beckham, Gerrard, Giggs, Cannavaro, Raul, Riquelme, Kolo Toure, Torres, van Persie for what???????????????????? :sweeteye: :uhm:
Plus Beni McArthy, Matt Taylor, Juninho. Nesta, Carvalho, Morientes & Janku should have been in the top-50 players :irritate:
And btw, where is Pirlo?
NO one on the list can even match his skills in ball control, his vision, and his ability to deliver high-quality ball in the tightest space available and within the shortest period of time.
He is a true magician.
5 points for Kaka
4 points for C. Ronaldo
3 points for Messi
2 points for Kanoutè
1 point for Buffon
Stezagud
19-11-2007, 10:46
Well you would disagree abt many facts like
ACM 3-0 ManU,Kaka being a better player than (over ratted) C.Ronaldo, Messi being the best 20 years old player ahead of Rooney & Maldini being a bigger legend than Giggs etc etc................
1) 3-0 was a scoreline, how the hell can anyone disagree with it? :stupid:
2) If you bothered to check my list you'd see Kaka above Ronaldo :rolleyes:
3) Messi is a better 20 year old than Rooney because Rooney has just turned 22 :rolleyes:
4) Maldini is a bigger legend overall, though if Giggs didnt have to play for a weak national side he may well have surpassed him.
0/4 it is then, though its not unusual to see the 'worlds number 1 pundit' getting everything wrong as usual.
And to kill your reputation entirely you list Matt Taylor as someone who shouldve been included ! :dielaugh:
The fact is that Giggs shoud NOT be in that list at all. The only reason why ManU won the league last season was bcoz Chelsea were NOT at their best
You could say that about any side in any league in the history of football :rolleyes:
Milan_Mad
19-11-2007, 11:32
5 points for Kaka
4 points for C. Ronaldo
3 points for Drogba
2 points for Messi
1 point for Klose
4) Maldini is a bigger legend overall, though if Giggs didnt have to play for a weak national side he may well have surpassed him.
Even if Giggs was Italian, Maldini is something far beyond him... One and only, Paolo Maldini :p017:
ACMILAN1983
19-11-2007, 13:28
4) Maldini is a bigger legend overall, though if Giggs didnt have to play for a weak national side he may well have surpassed him.
I agree with many of your posts, but this I totally disagree with. I have a lot of respect for Giggs but I don't think he can touch Maldini (who bear in mind never actually won anything with Italy).
1
0/4 it is then, though its not unusual to see the 'worlds number 1 pundit' getting everything wrong as usual.
And to kill your reputation entirely you list Matt Taylor as someone who shouldve been included ! :dielaugh:
What reputation???? :stupid:
inter-1908
19-11-2007, 17:39
I agree with many of your posts, but this I totally disagree with. I have a lot of respect for Giggs but I don't think he can touch Maldini (who bear in mind never actually won anything with Italy).
In that case, neither come close to Ibra or kaka...Its going to be a showdown between those 2. For me i really want Ibrahimovic to win, because is ee how he works everyday, i live 10 minutes away from Inters training ground, hes really focused. Good luck to both!
Kalstroem6
19-11-2007, 19:19
5 points for Kaka
4 points for C. Ronaldo
3 points for Drogba
2 points for Messi
1 point for Pirlo
Stezagud
20-11-2007, 15:39
I agree with many of your posts, but this I totally disagree with. I have a lot of respect for Giggs but I don't think he can touch Maldini (who bear in mind never actually won anything with Italy).
I knew that was going to be disputed :)
As it stands Maldini will go down in history with the bigger reputation and i have no issue with that at all. I do feel though that if Giggs had been English he may well have been our missing link, for a decade England were crying out for a left winger and the best in the world was right on our doorstep but couldnt be utilised.
Wales were never going to achieve on the world stage and you cant fault Giggs for his nationality but the fact he never played in a major international tournament is by far the biggest regret for Utd fans and I am certain if he was English he would have passed 100 caps, with maybe a successful tournament or 2 to add to his trophy collection (swap Giggs for Anderton or Barmby in 96 and we'd have won at a canter imho :cool: )
Perhaps Giggs wont be remembered with the top players but his record in Englidsh football is phenomenal, he is on course to break Charltons appearance record for Utd, already holds the record for most titles won by a single player, and has been one of the best in his postion for well over a decade.
Giggs is a great player but really never earn the respect that he deserves. I still remember the goal he scored against (Arsenal?) in the (semi?)-final. J
inter-1908
20-11-2007, 16:31
5 points for Kaka
4 points for C. Ronaldo
3 points for Drogba
2 points for Messi
1 point for Pirlo
Our you joking me??? thats absoluely crazy, you cant exclude ibra from this race, as he is top contenders with kaka.
I knew that was going to be disputed :)
----------------------------------------------
and has been one of the best in his postion for well over a decade.
R u joking???? EPL has never ever produced a True Soccer greats with the exception of Lampard, Shearer and maybe ur 2 Bobbies and Gerrard :bri:
Even if Giggs was a part of English national side, still they wouldn't have won any title and faild to qualify :haha: :haha:
Very simpley he is not what u think, all the pure greats never played in EPL, only money lovers go there ;)
Maradona, Cryuff, Baggio, van Basten, Rivera, Eusebio, de Stefano, Puskash, Pele, Roaldo, Zidane, Kahn, Yachin, Rivaldo, Muller, Inzaghi, Buffon, Figo ................... (and many others) never playedin EPL :devs:
Bottom line
Giggs is no better than Mauro Camronesi and all of his titles have came in 1 horse title and its simple as that :)
slicknick
23-11-2007, 10:58
Bottom line
Giggs is no better than Mauro Camronesi and all of his titles have came in 1 horse title and its simple as that :)
:haha: :haha: :stupid: Right..... :hammer:
I knew that was going to be disputed :)
As it stands Maldini will go down in history with the bigger reputation and i have no issue with that at all. I do feel though that if Giggs had been English he may well have been our missing link, for a decade England were crying out for a left winger and the best in the world was right on our doorstep but couldnt be utilised.
Wales were never going to achieve on the world stage and you cant fault Giggs for his nationality but the fact he never played in a major international tournament is by far the biggest regret for Utd fans and I am certain if he was English he would have passed 100 caps, with maybe a successful tournament or 2 to add to his trophy collection (swap Giggs for Anderton or Barmby in 96 and we'd have won at a canter imho :cool: )
Perhaps Giggs wont be remembered with the top players but his record in Englidsh football is phenomenal, he is on course to break Charltons appearance record for Utd, already holds the record for most titles won by a single player, and has been one of the best in his postion for well over a decade.
hahaha, man you cant just imagine someone plays for your country becouse his country is near to yours... in 96 Germans couldnt loose. Kidding :) They had some "luck", but actually there is no luck in football ,you get what you deserve. After all, football is a game in which two teams with 11 players play for 90 minutes and it the end Germany wins. :) I think Lineker said it.
Sheva only played one WC,m and it was AFTER he won golden ball... so...
And about Ibra, he plays great this season, but Kaka' was the best player in the world and still is, I dont think there is any chance for Zlatan to win the Golden ball this time.
Stezagud
23-11-2007, 11:18
hahaha, man you cant just imagine someone plays for your country becouse his country is near to yours
there is a bit more to it than that, Giggs was born in Cardiff but he was raised in Manchester from the age of 1, he learnt to play football in England, represented the England schools side and has played for an English side for 20 years :cool:
He doesnt qualify by blood but neither do a lot of other players in International football, and many of those have far less reason to play for a nation than Giggs would if he had chosen England.
After all, football is a game in which two teams with 11 players play for 90 minutes and it the end Germany wins. I think Lineker said it.
yeah it was Lineker who said that and unfortunately he's been right ;)
Stezagud
23-11-2007, 11:22
R u joking???? EPL has never ever produced a True Soccer greats with the exception of Lampard, Shearer and maybe ur 2 Bobbies and Gerrard
You forgot Matt Taylor !
He was afterall one of the worlds elite players according to you :dielaugh:
Maldini+Nesta
23-11-2007, 14:26
I think Kaka, Riquelme, Messi, Drogba, or C.Ronaldo.
inter-1908
23-11-2007, 17:59
To me, it seems Kaka is favourite, and he will most likely take this award, and for me it doesent matter who wins this award, because in the end, we have to focus on the match that lies ahead of both the team, and fans, and especially players like kaka or ibra cannot have an award affecting their on pitch play, in the end the best player will win, and in this case, i feel Kaka is a favourite for a reason, because he was meant to win, i really want Ibra to win it, but good luck to both!
Meh this is the only Ballon D'or Thread that I found so...
Messi wins the Ballon d'Or
Tuesday 1 December, 2009
Barcelona sensation Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or, arguably the most prestigious individual prize in football.
The 22-year-old Argentinian won by a landslide, collecting 240 more points than second placed Cristiano Ronaldo.
Three of his Barcelona team-mates also finished in the top 10 along with Inter striker Samuel Eto'o, who was part of the Blaugrana side that won an unprecedented treble last season.
Eto'o's Inter team-mates Julio Cesar and Maicon placed 21st and 24th respectively while Diego's performances for Werder Bremen last season were recognised in his being nominated the 25th best player on the planet, according to France Football.
Former Serie A duo Ricky Kaka and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also placed sixth and seventh.
Speaking to France Football, Messi said: “I am very emotional. For me it's a great honour to win this trophy and also to become the first Argentinian to do it.
“Honestly, I thought I was among the favourites because Barcelona had an exceptional 2009, winning everything. But I didn't think about winning by such an important margin.
“The Ballon d'Or is very important to me because many great footballers have won it and many other greats have never won it.
“I dedicate it to my family who are always present in my life. They are more emotional than me and it's them who I am thinking about.
“I have to live another season like the last one, but it will be difficult to repeat it. Winning two consecutive Ballon d'Ors is not easy,” he concluded.
Messi deserves this award 500% but I'm surprised Cristiano is ahead of Xavi and that Kaka is ahead of Ibrahimovic..but that's how these things work I guess.
Congrats to Messi again.
vBulletin® v3.7.1, Copyright ©2000-2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.