Lionel Messi named the best athlete of 2011

The French sport newspaper L’Equipe named today Argentine Barcelona team player Lionel Messi “champion of the champions" by the same press that created the balon d'or awardconsidered Messi the “best athlete of 2011.”
“He won absolutely everything playing for the Barcelona, scoring goals in lavish games; all made it seem so easy it is disconcerting,” said the news piece.
Athletes mentioned by the newspaper as the best of 2011 include tennis player Novak Djokovic, Sebastian Vettel, from Formula One, surf champion Kelly, amongst others
 

1. Lionel Messi (ARG/foot) 807 points
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB/tennis) 699
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/auto/F1) 255
4. Nikola Karabatic (FRA/hand) 221
5. Kelly Slater (USA/surf) 214
6. Teddy Riner (FRA/judo) 211
7. Sébastien Loeb (FRA/auto/rallyes) 204
8. Dirk Nowitzki (GER/basket) 133
9. Richie McCaw (NZL/rugby) 128
10. Cadel Evans (AUS/cyclisme) 110

I honestly am not aware of half of the players on this list.

So all the voting is done by the French Public ?

journalists i think

and Djokovic and Vettel were better in my mind...

btw Loeb is the boss hasn't lost the World Rally Championship since 04.... 8 years in a row


and Vettel cleaned through F1 and broke tons of records on the way.... started in pole position in all expect 4 races out of 19...won 11 of them and came 2nd in 5 of them.... didn't finish worse then 4th expect one Ret

imalegend wrote:btw Loeb is the boss hasn't lost the World Rally Championship since 04.... 8 years in a row

The competition hasn't been competitive since then, and lost all appeal of it. There is like two manufacturers, actually one who can win races.

Djokovic's breakthrough was spectacular. He deserves it more than Messi.

I think Messi deserves it.

He is a true inspiration to all the fat men in the world who would rather spend time eating burger king instead of working out.

Thank you Lionel Messi! I'll dedicate every burger I eat in your name!!

jiopsi wrote:

imalegend wrote:btw Loeb is the boss hasn't lost the World Rally Championship since 04.... 8 years in a row

The competition hasn't been competitive since then, and lost all appeal of it. There is like two manufacturers, actually one who can win races.

neither has competition in football.....

imalegend wrote:

jiopsi wrote:

imalegend wrote:btw Loeb is the boss hasn't lost the World Rally Championship since 04.... 8 years in a row

The competition hasn't been competitive since then, and lost all appeal of it. There is like two manufacturers, actually one who can win races.

neither has competition in football.....

But there is couple teams more than in WRC.

Highway robbery.............

Dirk in the playoffs

Messi is a great player no doubt, but this award should have gone to Djokovic. He really deserves it.
I would put Djokovic first, and either Messi or Vettel next. While football is a team play and in F1 you rely on your car, tennis is completely solo. And he did sooo well. Oh well

It's just L'Equipe anyway.

Djokovic>>>>>Messi

And Vettel was better too. Platinato (yes, I know).

SaintJoe wrote:Messi is a great player no doubt, but this award should have gone to Djokovic. He really deserves it.
I would put Djokovic first, and either Messi or Vettel next. While football is a team play and in F1 you rely on your car, tennis is completely solo. And he did sooo well. Oh well

It's just L'Equipe anyway.

And time.com

Djokovic>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

VibeTribe wrote:Serbia dominating that list

Karabatic is croatian

VibeTribe wrote:Played 10 more games than CR in 2011 and scored less goals

and has more titles than gaynaldo

well deserved

Congratulations for Messi. Well deserved.

Here is L'Equipe journalists Team of the 2011: Neuer - Alves - Piqué - Vidic - Marcelo - Xavi - Busquets - Iniesta - Silva - Messi - Ronaldo.

Team of L'Equipe vistors (fans, who voted): Casillas - Alves - Ramos - Piqué - Abidal - Fàbregas - Xavi - Iniesta- Ronaldo - Messi - Benzema.

I prefer first team.

VibeTribe wrote:Played 10 more games than CR in 2011 and scored less goals

scored 12 more penalties than messi and made 11 lesser assists. and messi have 7-8 more goals in big games. cr have 12 goals in 4 games at the end of season against B teams

Whatta surprise. Another thread derailed into Messi vs Ronaldo arguments.

Congrats to Messi. For me it's Djokovic, then Messi, then the rest, but I am biased towards the sports I like I guess.

Football is #1 for me, but what Djokovic accomplished recently I would put him slightly above Lio for this one

WOOOO HOOOOO~!!! Congrats to Messi on yet another award ))