Shortlists for the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala 2011

Shortlists for the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala 2011

The following 23 men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2011:

Éric Abidal (France), Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Dani Alves (Brazil), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Cesc Fàbregas (Spain), Diego Forlán (Uruguay), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Müller (Germany), Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Özil (Germany), Gerard Piqué (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suárez (Uruguay), David Villa (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Xavi (Spain).


http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/media/newsid=1535258/index.html

Casillas? Fabregas? Forlan? Sneijder? Benzema hahaha what a joke lol !!

No Busquets? Neuer? Silva? T.Silva etc.. lol !!

I lol'd at Benzema and Forlan

No Valdes.....

Cesc Fabregas is there and the best midfielder in the world last season Busquets is not there.

Sneijder had a pretty awful year, not sure why he's there. But overall no player stands out as being completely undeserving of a spot. Benzema was in a Madrid team that almost accomplished a lot, Forlan won the Copa America, etc.

Thiago Silva should definitely be there.

Benzema scored 30 goals (26+4 national team goals) and 7 assists. Do you want him to defend and make xavi type passes too?

Goals aren't even half of his game too
Valdes nor casillas should be there, it should be neuer, and by a mile too

Dunno what forlan is doing there

Giggity5313 wrote:Benzema scored 30 goals (26+4 national team goals) and 7 assists. Do you want him to defend and make xavi type passes too?

Goals aren't even half of his game too
Valdes nor casillas should be there, it should be neuer, and by a mile too

Dunno what forlan is doing there

Last season... Valdes and Neuer were both impressive. Casillas just wasn't.

About as bad a list as any that could have been made.

No Falcao, Vidic, Sahin, Neuer and so many other very deserving ones.

Also many players listed who played well in WC 2010 and have done very little since but this list should be about 2011 and not 2010.

Amazed that no one mentions Thomas Muller as someone who is underservedly in the shortlist. I mean, Thomas friggin Muller? Seriously? The guy is good, but there are tens of better forwards and many other players that had a better season. Even in his own team, Gomez deserved to be there before him (although I also don't think Gomez deserved it).

Agreed that Forlan, Snejder, Casillas, Fabregas are ridiculous inclusions. Benzema is a doubtfull one, but I think he has a shout, he was very good since the turn of the year (remember this is year 2011). Xabi Alonso being there it's much more doubtful IMO.

Glad to see so many Barça players and especially Abidal there, that it shows he really was one of the best defenders in the world last season, and probably the best left back, his tumor.

This award has proven itself once again to be farcial at best. Rooney and Nani but no Vidic? Casillas but no VDS, Neuer or Valdes? David Villa but no Gomez? Fabregas played 16 games...forlan? This award is truly a representation of FIFA.

cat, when I mentioned players who were good at WC 2010, I included Muller in that.

I don't agree with the selection of Benzema. Yes he's had his moments but so have so many other forwards. While those other forwards were/are not only first choice but literally talismans of their teams e.g. Falcao, Cavani, Alexis, Chicharito, Eto'o, Ibrahimovic, Gomez, etc. , Benzema no matter how well he plays is still his coach's second choice behind Higuain.

I agree that Xabi Alonso is very questionable as well as is Bastian Schweinsteiger.

As you say the one pleasing point is that Abidal has been nominated.

free_cat wrote:Amazed that no one mentions Thomas Muller as someone who is underservedly in the shortlist. I mean, Thomas friggin Muller? Seriously? The guy is good, but there are tens of better forwards and many other players that had a better season. Even in his own team, Gomez deserved to be there before him (although I also don't think Gomez deserved it).

Agreed that Forlan, Snejder, Casillas, Fabregas are ridiculous inclusions. Benzema is a doubtfull one, but I think he has a shout, he was very good since the turn of the year (remember this is year 2011). Xabi Alonso being there it's much more doubtful IMO.

Glad to see so many Barça players and especially Abidal there, that it shows he really was one of the best defenders in the world last season, and probably the best left back, his tumor.

Agreed completely.

Abidal definitely deserves to be there

Can someone tell me what Neymar is doing there?

I mean he's good but...

I'm sorry did he do something significant? If he did someone correct me.

CBarca wrote:Can someone tell me what Neymar is doing there?

I mean he's good but...

I'm sorry did he do something significant? If he did someone correct me.

Hyped to hell and back

He won the Libertadores being the main player from santos.he's also very skilled and scored a lot of golacos this season.Inb4 people complain *looks at LM*

CBarca wrote:Can someone tell me what Neymar is doing there?

I mean he's good but...

I'm sorry did he do something significant? If he did someone correct me.

Well he did win the Copa Libertadores and was the outstanding player of that tournament. I don't say he must be there but he does have a stronger case than some of the other nominees in my eyes.

One point worth nothing is that there is not one single player nominated from the league title winning teams of A C Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Lille, Ajax and even Porto who won the treble.

Ibra over forlan for sure. Forlan had a crap season

ibra had half a good season.....

messixaviesta wrote:One point worth nothing is that there is not one single player nominated from the league title winning teams of A C Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Lille, Ajax and even Porto who won the treble.

Seriously, don't get me started on that one.

Ganso wrote:He won the Libertadores being the main player from santos.he's also very skilled and scored a lot of golacos this season.Inb4 people complain *looks at LM*

OK. Thanks for the response. I was unaware of him winning Libertadores and being the outstanding player.

I know he's a highly skilled player and prospect for the future and has a bright future indeed. But playing for Santos and scoring quite a few goals doesn't making him a Ballon D'or shortlist man. Thank you for pointing out that tournament though, as JD said I guess that makes him a little more deserving than some people *looks at Forlan* (carrying on the trend here).