Messi and Xavi Nominated for the Ballon D'Or

Messi and Xavi have made the final 3 shortlist for the 2011 Fifa Ballon D'Or alongside Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi Xavi

Messi is likely to be the first player since Platini to win it 3 times in a row, while Xavi will likely finish 3rd for the third time in a row. I predict: 1. Messi, 2. Ronaldo, 3. Xavi

Messi's goal against Arsenal has also made the final three for the Puskas award alongside Rooney and Neymar.

Pep Guardiola makes the final three for coach of the year alongside Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Are we surprised?
.

Okay, they are good .

I hope in vain that Xavi wins it.
He deserves to win it atleast once in his career.

If Messi doesn't win I think that'd be considered a major upset.

Have the votes already been placed?

alexjanosik wrote:I hope in vain that Xavi wins it.
He deserves to win it atleast once in his career.

This isn't Oscar for best direction.

(as it is usually given from life achievements rather than best direction.)

Jiopsi your avatar is too big, could you resize it?

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Jiopsi your avatar is too big, could you resize it?

What is the maximum size allowed?

It was more than expected. I am guessing Iniesta is fourth on the list just like he was in the Best Player In Europe awards.

Messi will of course easily win it.

Have you guys voted your choices for Uefa team of the year and/or Fifpro World XI of the year?

Here's what I chose. I can still change my selections though which I will probably do if I read some comments that convince me otherwise.


Uefa - Neuer, D.Alves, T.Silva, Vidic. Abidal, Xavi, Iniesta, Gotze, Hazard, Messi, Falcao

Fifpro - Neuer, D.Alves, T.Silva, Vidic, Abidal, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Eto'o, Falcao

Can you imagine the riots if Ronaldo wins? JUST THINK OF THE RIOTS.

I am still struggling to understand how Xavi got nominated ahead of Iniesta.

Immaculate_Mole wrote:I am still struggling to understand how Xavi got nominated ahead of Iniesta.

Why not?
Xavi shone more in the big games and ultimately in these awards thats what matters.

alexjanosik wrote:

Immaculate_Mole wrote:I am still struggling to understand how Xavi got nominated ahead of Iniesta.

Why not?
Xavi shone more in the big games and ultimately in these awards thats what matters.

I don't agree. IIRC Iniesta was better than xavi at most of our big games last season. He was MOTM against Arsenal, he was our MOTM against real madrid in the copa final and in the el clasico at the bernabeu(this one im not so sure), was one of the best against real madrid in the CL.

The only real big games that Xavi outshined Iniesta last season was in the 5-0 against real madrid and in the CL final but imo Iniesta was better in more big games and had a better season than Xavi last season..

harhar11 wrote:

alexjanosik wrote:

Immaculate_Mole wrote:I am still struggling to understand how Xavi got nominated ahead of Iniesta.

Why not?
Xavi shone more in the big games and ultimately in these awards thats what matters.

I don't agree. IIRC Iniesta was better than xavi at most of our big games last season. He was MOTM against Arsenal, he was our MOTM against real madrid in the copa final and in the el clasico at the bernabeu(this one im not so sure), was one of the best against real madrid in the CL.

The only real big games that Xavi outshined Iniesta last season was in the 5-0 against real madrid and in the CL final but imo Iniesta was better in more big games and had a better season than Xavi last season..

He was MOM against Arsenal I agree but Xavi was great too.
The Cpa final we lost.
Also I dont know which match at the Bernabeau you talking about but in the CL SF first leg Iniesta didnt play and Xavi reigned supreme.
Also I dont see how he was one of the best against Madrid in the CL as he didnt play the decider in the first leg and the second leg was a dead rubber.
So Xavi was better in the big games.

Overally Iniesta probably had a better season but in the big games Xavi shone more and thats what matters in these awards.

Zealous wrote:Can you imagine the riots if Ronaldo wins? JUST THINK OF THE RIOTS.

You really think there is the slightest chance in hell of the voters being that stupid?

mole and harhar, by and large I agree with alex here.

See time and again I have said that when it comes to these awards what matters much more than consistency of performance is the impact of performance.

Yes Iniesta had a more consistent season than Xavi but study closely what Xavi did. In several of the so called smaller games he let Iniesta and others run the show and kind of even drifted out of the game at times but in the big games when it really mattered he was what only he can be. Ultimately when people vote it's those big matches and moments that count in their memories. The two defining moments of the season were the UCL final and the Manita. Iniesta was brilliant in both but Xavi was even better. See after all when people look at the excellence of Barcelona's midfield they see it quite rightly as being led by Xavi and assisted by Iniesta. So the only time Iniesta can possibly be recognized more than Xavi is when he has one of those defining stand out moments like the world cup final goal or the goal in the dying seconds against Chelsea. At other times Xavi will invariably be placed higher.

Surely Messi will win. Ronaldo may come 3rd like what happened earlier in the season!

alexjanosik wrote:

harhar11 wrote:

alexjanosik wrote:

Immaculate_Mole wrote:I am still struggling to understand how Xavi got nominated ahead of Iniesta.

Why not?
Xavi shone more in the big games and ultimately in these awards thats what matters.

I don't agree. IIRC Iniesta was better than xavi at most of our big games last season. He was MOTM against Arsenal, he was our MOTM against real madrid in the copa final and in the el clasico at the bernabeu(this one im not so sure), was one of the best against real madrid in the CL.

The only real big games that Xavi outshined Iniesta last season was in the 5-0 against real madrid and in the CL final but imo Iniesta was better in more big games and had a better season than Xavi last season..

He was MOM against Arsenal I agree but Xavi was great too.
The Cpa final we lost.
Also I dont know which match at the Bernabeau you talking about but in the CL SF first leg Iniesta didnt play and Xavi reigned supreme.
Also I dont see how he was one of the best against Madrid in the CL as he didnt play the decider in the first leg and the second leg was a dead rubber.
So Xavi was better in the big games.

Overally Iniesta probably had a better season but in the big games Xavi shone more and thats what matters in these awards.

Yeah we lost the cup final, but that doesn't change that it was a big game and Ineista was our best player.
I meant that Iniesta was one of our better player CL SF not that he made a legendary performance, I don't think that any of our player made that (apart from busquets and alves with their antic) just that he was of of our better player.

And Xavi didn't either play a deciding factor in the 1st leg or 2nd of the CL..

Votement is finished already or they will vote in december again? if they vote again messi will be first, xavi second, ronaldo third. if ballon dor decided already i think it messi, ronaldo and xavi in that order

I think they voted in november, no additional votes.

How Iniesta isn't nominated over Ronaldo is beyond me

omarish wrote:How Iniesta isn't voted over Ronaldo is beyond me

Fixed.