FIFA World Player of the Year Nominees

Published by William | Filed under Football (aka soccer)

“2008 Winner, Cristiano Ronaldo”

Perhaps football’s most coveted individual award, FIFA World Player of the Year, announced its 23 nominees today with a list of names any football fan would surely recognize.


Defending Champions League and La Liga champions, Barcelona, led the way with 6 nominations (would be 7 if you include Samuel Eto’o) and are followed closely by the Premiership’s hottest team, Chelsea, who boasts 5 nominations themselves. Behind them are Real Madrid with 3, Liverpool with 2, and many more with 1 thereafter.


From a nationality standpoint and not much to anyone’s surprise is Spain who claims 6 of the nominations. Behind them are England with 4, Brazil with 3, and France with 2.


Perhaps the biggest surprise is the lack of presence from Italy, both the national team and Serie A. The only Italian national player to be nominated is Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Aside from that, Diego and Eto’o are the only other Serie A club players to be nominated and both of them are nominated most likely due to their impressive seasons with Werder Bremen and Barcelona, respectively. This is just further confirmation of the decline of Italian football. However, the Italians will get to state their case (and defend their title) this summer in South Africa.


Snubbed:


As always, there are a few players that were left out that probably at least deserve a mention. For starters, Manchester City has two players who I believe at least deserve to be mentioned in Emmanuel Adebayor and Robinho. However, if they keep up the pace, they have a chance to win a title which will surely get their name in there for next season’s award. From Arsenal, how about Fabregas and Arshavin? Both have been phenomenal this season and deserve some consideration. Feel free to let us know who you feel got left out.


Predictions:
1.) Lionel Messi – If he can carry Barca to another title, I expect him to take home the award.
2.) Cristiano Ronaldo – He’s won it enough. However, if he doesn’t get healthy, it won’t matter.
3.) Fernando Torres – Too bad Liverpool isn’t going to win anything. Maybe Fernando can.


Nominations:

Name – Club/Nationality
Michael Ballack – Chelsea/Germany
Gianluigi Buffon – Juventus/Italy
Iker Casillas – Real Madrid/Spain
Diego – Juventus/Brazil
Didier Drogba – Chelsea/Ivory Coast
Michael Essien – Chelsea/Ghana
Samuel Eto’o – Inter Milan/Cameroon
Luis Fabiano – Sevilla/Brazil
Steven Gerrard – Liverpool/England
Thierry Henry – Barcelona/France
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Barcelona/Sweden
Andres Iniesta – Barcelona/Spain
Kaka – Real Madrid/Brazil
Frank Lampard – Chelsea/England
Lionel Messi – Barcelona/Argentina
Carles Puyol – Barcelona/Spain
Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich/France
Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid/Portugal
Wayne Rooney – Manchester United/England
John Terry – Chelsea/England
Fernando Torres – Liverpool/Spain
David Villa – Valencia/Spain
Xavi – Barcelona/Spain