OFFICIAL: FIFA Ballon d'or 2013 - Voting extended

Khaled wrote:Same people who wanted Sneijder to win it in 2010, want Cristiano to win it this year! Which doesn't make sense!

Here's why:
- If its just about goals, the same people who want CR to win it this year shouldn't have any problem with Messi winning it in 2010. Messi scored 60 goals and assisted 19 in 2010 (calender year). But, what Messi has over Cristiano that in that year he won Liga title, won pichichi, european golden shoe and was the ucl top scorer!

Individually, he was the best and he added some major individual trophies. Yet, some fans until now consider it undeserved.

IMO its deserved but I would have preferred to see the world cup winner Xavi who had a consistent performance through out the whole year and played a major role for both Barcelona & Spain. Spain's system was build around Xavi and that was a major factor that helped Spain win the World Cup. Some considered Spain boring, but the way that Xavi controlled the games was the reason why they won the World Cup!
note: Xavi had the most passes (699) and created the most chances (30, 10 ahead of the 2nd Ozil 20, Messi had 16 with 2 less games).

Anyway, if it was up to me:

2009: Messi
2010: Xavi
2011: Messi
2012: Messi
2013: Ribery

[Individual+Team achievements should be considered, unless you have the best individual performance ever like Messi 2012 who only won minor team trophies].

*Ribery vs Sneijder.

1- Ribery performance was consistent through out the year, Bayern are unbeaten in their last 51 games with Ribery on the pitch. He played a major role and according to Bayern players them selves he was the best and most important player on the team. While Sneijder only played 2nd part of 2009/10 at high level. Also, System wssn't build around him. Inter's defensive qualities and Mourinho's tactics with players like Zanetti, Cambiasso, Cesar, Maicon, Lucio and Samuel made the difference. Plus, Milito was votted best player in UCL & Seria A and not Sneijder. I think his performance was overrated comapred to others.

2- Stats: Ribery 20 goals, 19 assists (ongoing) compared to Sneijder's 12 goals and 10 assists in 2010 for club and country.

3- Ribery has been playing at a high level since 2009, while Sneijder was never a consistent player and I can't really say that he deserves to be a ballon d'or winner.

4- IMO, Xavi in 2010 was ahead of Sneijder in terms of importance for club and country. In terms of trophies UCL+League = WC+League.

Although, Iniesta 2010 individually was great, but like Messi 2013 he was injured for few months.

You should take into consideration the following facts which IMO are important to your argument in bold:

- This was Sneijder's first year in a new team and new league. Hell, it was his first season in three years where he was actually a regular guaranteed starter. I think that is important to explain his relative slow start to the season.
- He built up steam heading into the business end of the season, and delivered in almost all the title deciding games. Its true that it was Milito's goals that propelled the Nerrazuri to the titles, but Sneijder was just as important IMO.
- Milito was rightly given that monstrosity of a trophy for the European player of the year. As i said, it was finally his goals in all the important games that delivered their first ever Treble. However, Maradona trolled him big time by not making him the starter for the WC (Though Pipa did just fine i might add). There was no way El Principe was gonna win the Ballon D'Or without playing in the WC at all.
- Sneijder was arguably better than any Spaniard in the WC. He turned the Brazil quarter final around for his team after they were 0-1 down.
- Finally, Sneijder was denied a World Cup winning Assist by Robben and Iker. If Iker had not stretched his boot just far enough, or Robben was not such a choke artist, we could well be talking about the Oranje's first triumph, because remember, Spain had barely created any chance of note prior to that missed opportunity.

P.S : Milito was not even included in the top 32 list for the Ballon D'Or. But Miroslav "I only score for Germany" Klose and Asamoah "I only score penalties, but not the important ones" Gyan were. Just one more reason why this award is such a farce.

You know, after this thread I *really* would like to see the Ballon d'Or go to Manuel Neuer, just to see the deception in all people who say "But X scored more than Y so he deserves the Ballon d'Or more"....

I've said this in other threads and I will post it again here. It is still shocking to me that people think Ribery was the best player in the world last year.

To come to that opinion you have to just completely ignore some pretty glaring facts about Frank Ribery.

1) He scored 1 freaking goal in last years Champions League. That's right, 1 goal. Yes, you read that correctly 1 goal.

2) Since he only had 1 goal he must have had a ton of assists in last years CL. Nope, 2 freaking assists. Yes, 2 assists.

3) He is not the best player on his own team let alone the world. Lahm and Neuer are easily better players and I would even add a couple other players Bayern have on there team that are better and no, Robben isn't one of them.

4)His form for France has been good. Not exceptional but good. IT's very obvious to me he doesn't really have the ability that Messi, Ronaldo, Ibra and others do to lead there national teams and put them on there back when need be. In fact I would say Portugal to an extent underachieved and Argentina has at times as well but France since they lost Zidane (the same class of player Messi and Ronaldo are) have at most times been a total disaster, especially when you consider the talent at there disposal.

Now can any of the Ribery supporters really sit here and tell me if Ronaldo or Messi scored 1 goal and 2 assists in the CL they wouldn't be crucified? Hell I've heard people say Messi and Ronaldo didn't play well in certain CL games when they have scored 2 goals in that 1 game let alone the whole tournament.

If either Messi and Ronaldo had Ribery statistics from last year people would not in a million years consider them for the Balon D'or they would be posting things like "has Messi lost it" or What's wrong with Ronaldo, should Madrid sell him".

It's like people judge Ribery on a different level than Messi and Ronaldo. They know he's not even close to as good as those 2 so they say well Ribery had a good year for Ribery so he should get the best player in the world award because his team is really good.

I mean I may be alone on this point but do people really think last years Bayern team couldn't win the CL with out Ribery? I think they could have and pretty easily too.

If you watch Bayern they are quite used to playing w/o ribery in the side and there really isn't a huge difference, the same can be said about France.

Can you say that about Barca or Madrid? no, they are a shell of themselves w/o Messi and Ronaldo.

It's like people think Ribery is a Defensive midfielder. He plays the same position basically as Ronaldo and very close to Messi yet his stats are a shell of what Ronaldo and MEssi put up.

To end this, if you judge Ribery under the same criteria as Messi and Ronaldo it's 100% impossible to think he deserves an individual award over those 2. It's not even close.

Ronaldo is the most in form player for sure, but as lonfg as Messi exists he will never be the best. It's just not happening. Ronaldo will be the first player to win it without any silverware and breaking any records. I commend him.

The passes Moutinho made were more impressive than any of the goals that he scored, yet he takes the plaudits. This has become a WHOSCOREDTHEMOST D'OR. Ronaldo scored empty goals the whole of last season and his amazing ability is leading Madrid into....3rd place...did nothing in the 2 biggest games this season vs Barcelona and Atletico.

Let's compare his empty goals to Gerd Muller shall we...that is why  Ronaldo will never be greater than Gerd. Gerd scored goals and his goals won his teams silverware, Ronaldo did nothing in the group stages of WC qualifyer but he carried Portugal against Swede, who are amateur at best.

I'll sum this up saying this, Ronaldo is NOT the best footballer in the world and he never will be unless Messi stops playing. He is the most in form. At the end of the day if individual performances do not translate to trophies are you really the best player?

jibers wrote:Ronaldo is the most in form player for sure, but as lonfg as Messi exists he will never be the best. It's just not happening. Ronaldo will be the first player to win it without any silverware and breaking any records. I commend him.

The passes Moutinho made were more impressive than any of the goals that he scored, yet he takes the plaudits. This has become a WHOSCOREDTHEMOST D'OR. Ronaldo scored empty goals the whole of last season and his amazing ability is leading Madrid into....3rd place...did nothing in the 2 biggest games this season vs Barcelona and Atletico.

Let's compare his empty goals to Gerd Muller shall we...that is why  Ronaldo will never be greater than Gerd. Gerd scored goals and his goals won his teams silverware, Ronaldo did nothing in the group stages of WC qualifyer but he carried Portugal against Swede, who are amateur at best.

I'll sum this up saying this, Ronaldo is NOT the best footballer in the world and he never will be unless Messi stops playing. He is the most in form. At the end of the day if individual performances do not translate to trophies are you really the best player?

Thank you!!

And I get just a little less annoyed, cause I am biased, when they are doing the same thing with Messi.

Agreed Jibers, brilliant post. Who do you think will win or deserves to win?

jibers wrote:Ronaldo is the most in form player for sure, but as lonfg as Messi exists he will never be the best. It's just not happening. Ronaldo will be the first player to win it without any silverware and breaking any records. I commend him.

The passes Moutinho made were more impressive than any of the goals that he scored, yet he takes the plaudits. This has become a WHOSCOREDTHEMOST D'OR. Ronaldo scored empty goals the whole of last season and his amazing ability is leading Madrid into....3rd place...did nothing in the 2 biggest games this season vs Barcelona and Atletico.

Let's compare his empty goals to Gerd Muller shall we...that is why  Ronaldo will never be greater than Gerd. Gerd scored goals and his goals won his teams silverware, Ronaldo did nothing in the group stages of WC qualifyer but he carried Portugal against Swede, who are amateur at best.

I'll sum this up saying this, Ronaldo is NOT the best footballer in the world and he never will be unless Messi stops playing. He is the most in form. At the end of the day if individual performances do not translate to trophies are you really the best player?

lmao this is just ridiculous.

Did not think one could discredit a hat trick in a big game like Jibers just did. To each his own I guess...

Casciavit wrote:Agreed Jibers, brilliant post. Who do you think will win or deserves to win?

Ribery. I think two things should happen, split the award and let us have the balon d'or back without fifa involvement and let it be done in August so that season and international performances can be analysed in isolation without all this early season BS. Football is a seasonal game not a yearly game. It's this same BS that lead people to say Barcelona won a 'sextuple' when they didn't. Journalists would be able to vote with much sense and not be swayed by 'current form'.

Doc wrote:Did not think one could discredit a hat trick in a big game like Jibers just did. To each his own I guess...

I'm not discrediting anything. Look, why were Portugal in that situation if Ronaldo was so amazing and the best player in the world as people are claiming? Sweden are a *bleep* awful team. It's the equivalent of let's say Barcelona coming fourth this season and playing a CL qualifier to get into the group stages and Messi scores a hattrick against Fenerbache or some shitty swedish team, would we all start raving about him? No, we would say Barcelona should never have been in that position in the first place. And the passes moutinho made were far more spectacular.

urbaNRoots wrote:Stopped reading at "he's not even their best player in the squad". You're clueless regarding this subject.

LOL, if you think Ribery is the best player on Bayern you don't know a thing about football. Ribery has a well documented injury and history to miss games and when he doesn't play Bayern rarely misses a beat. In fact they will play Dortmund this weekend with out him and they will be just fine.

Manuel Neuer and Phillip Lahm are better players then Ribery. You would be in the minority if you think otherwise as most people share this opinion.

Dnmac4 wrote:

urbaNRoots wrote:Stopped reading at "he's not even their best player in the squad". You're clueless regarding this subject.

LOL, if you think Ribery is the best player on Bayern you don't know a thing about football.   Ribery has a well documented injury and history to miss games and when he doesn't play Bayern rarely misses a beat.  In fact they will play Dortmund this weekend with out him and they will be just fine.

Manuel Neuer and Phillip Lahm are better players then Ribery. You would be in the minority if you think otherwise as most people share this opinion.  

I agree that Lahm is Bayern most important player. It's too hard to judge which is why the people that can give u hard stats like goals usually take plaudits.

It's a shame there wasn't this sort of campaign for Drogba in 2012 after his heroics that year in his late thirties. He was the major factor we won the FA Cup and Champions League that season but he wasn't even a candidate for this award.

Scoring a brace against Valencia in a must win group game.
The epic performance against Napoli.
Goal against Barcelona.
Last second equalizer against Bayern and in the impending winner from the spot.
Wondergoal against Spurs in the FA Cup Semi's.
Winner against Liverpool in the Final.

And a handful of moments in "big games" since this is what the award should be based on as well as trophy count.

Must be closet racism. "That African guy" wasn't even a second thought despite all that. Even the "Best Player in Europe" trophy or whatever went to Iniesta and his 0 goals/0 assists.

Gil wrote:It's a shame there wasn't this sort of campaign for Drogba in 2012 after his heroics that year in his late thirties. He was the major factor we won the FA Cup and Champions League that season but he wasn't even a candidate for this award.

Must be closet racism.

It is what it is. Which is why I take the European award a lot more seriously than this farce. If it was after July he would be in the running. The truth is the balon dor has become a popularity contest, that's the way it will be.

Kamikaze692 wrote:

Khaled wrote:Same people who wanted Sneijder to win it in 2010, want Cristiano to win it this year! Which doesn't make sense!

Here's why:
- If its just about goals, the same people who want CR to win it this year shouldn't have any problem with Messi winning it in 2010. Messi scored 60 goals and assisted 19 in 2010 (calender year). But, what Messi has over Cristiano that in that year he won Liga title, won pichichi, european golden shoe and was the ucl top scorer!

Individually, he was the best and he added some major individual trophies. Yet, some fans until now consider it undeserved.

IMO its deserved but I would have preferred to see the world cup winner Xavi who had a consistent performance through out the whole year and played a major role for both Barcelona & Spain. Spain's system was build around Xavi and that was a major factor that helped Spain win the World Cup. Some considered Spain boring, but the way that Xavi controlled the games was the reason why they won the World Cup!
note: Xavi had the most passes (699) and created the most chances (30, 10 ahead of the 2nd Ozil 20, Messi had 16 with 2 less games).

Anyway, if it was up to me:

2009: Messi
2010: Xavi
2011: Messi
2012: Messi
2013: Ribery

[Individual+Team achievements should be considered, unless you have the best individual performance ever like Messi 2012 who only won minor team trophies].

*Ribery vs Sneijder.

1- Ribery performance was consistent through out the year, Bayern are unbeaten in their last 51 games with Ribery on the pitch. He played a major role and according to Bayern players them selves he was the best and most important player on the team. While Sneijder only played 2nd part of 2009/10 at high level. Also, System wssn't build around him. Inter's defensive qualities and Mourinho's tactics with players like Zanetti, Cambiasso, Cesar, Maicon, Lucio and Samuel made the difference. Plus, Milito was votted best player in UCL & Seria A and not Sneijder. I think his performance was overrated comapred to others.

2- Stats: Ribery 20 goals, 19 assists (ongoing) compared to Sneijder's 12 goals and 10 assists in 2010 for club and country.

3- Ribery has been playing at a high level since 2009, while Sneijder was never a consistent player and I can't really say that he deserves to be a ballon d'or winner.

4- IMO, Xavi in 2010 was ahead of Sneijder in terms of importance for club and country. In terms of trophies UCL+League = WC+League.

Although, Iniesta 2010 individually was great, but like Messi 2013 he was injured for few months.

You should take into consideration the following facts which IMO are important to your argument in bold:

- This was Sneijder's first year in a new team and new league. Hell, it was his first season in three years where he was actually a regular guaranteed starter. I think that is important to explain his relative slow start to the season.
- He built up steam heading into the business end of the season, and delivered in almost all the title deciding games. Its true that it was Milito's goals that propelled the Nerrazuri to the titles, but Sneijder was just as important IMO.
- Milito was rightly given that monstrosity of a trophy for the European player of the year. As i said, it was finally his goals in all the important games that delivered their first ever Treble. However, Maradona trolled him big time by not making him the starter for the WC (Though Pipa did just fine i might add). There was no way El Principe was gonna win the Ballon D'Or without playing in the WC at all.
- Sneijder was arguably better than any Spaniard in the WC. He turned the Brazil quarter final around for his team after they were 0-1 down.
- Finally, Sneijder was denied a World Cup winning Assist by Robben and Iker. If Iker had not stretched his boot just far enough, or Robben was not such a choke artist, we could well be talking about the Oranje's first triumph, because remember, Spain had barely created any chance of note prior to that missed opportunity.

P.S : Milito was not even included in the top 32 list for the Ballon D'Or. But Miroslav "I only score for Germany" Klose and Asamoah "I only score penalties, but not the important ones" Gyan were. Just one more reason why this award is such a farce.

Sneijder had 6 good months and that's it. He even disappeared after the World Cup! No way such player is a ballon d'or material. Individually, he wasn't even the best on his team [Milito ahead]. Also, Inter's solid defense what made them special in that season. While, Barca/Spain system are build around Xavi. Until now, Barca still suffers and losses control without Xavi. Even quality players Cesc+Busquets+Iniesta couldn't control games the way Barca does with Xavi on pitch!

Xavi's 2010 World Cup performance is very underrated!
He had most passes (699) and created most chances (30), controlling all games [that's his role and he did it perfectly!

jibers wrote:Ronaldo is the most in form player for sure, but as lonfg as Messi exists he will never be the best. It's just not happening. Ronaldo will be the first player to win it without any silverware and breaking any records. I commend him.

The passes Moutinho made were more impressive than any of the goals that he scored, yet he takes the plaudits. This has become a WHOSCOREDTHEMOST D'OR. Ronaldo scored empty goals the whole of last season and his amazing ability is leading Madrid into....3rd place...did nothing in the 2 biggest games this season vs Barcelona and Atletico.

Let's compare his empty goals to Gerd Muller shall we...that is why  Ronaldo will never be greater than Gerd. Gerd scored goals and his goals won his teams silverware, Ronaldo did nothing in the group stages of WC qualifyer but he carried Portugal against Swede, who are amateur at best.

I'll sum this up saying this, Ronaldo is NOT the best footballer in the world and he never will be unless Messi stops playing. He is the most in form. At the end of the day if individual performances do not translate to trophies are you really the best player?

jibers wrote:

Doc wrote:Did not think one could discredit a hat trick in a big game like Jibers just did. To each his own I guess...

I'm not discrediting anything. Look, why were Portugal in that situation if Ronaldo was so amazing and the best player in the world as people are claiming? Sweden are a *bleep* awful team. It's the equivalent of let's say Barcelona coming fourth this season and playing a CL qualifier to get into the group stages and Messi scores a hattrick against Fenerbache or some shitty swedish team, would we all start raving about him? No, we would say Barcelona should never have been in that position in the first place. And the passes moutinho made were far more spectacular.

GOLD

Sadly, the midget will win it again.

Do you really think the captain of Somalia watches football ?? He's heard of Messi and probably thinks Ronaldo is racist, hence will vote for Messi. same goes with 50-60 other 4th world countries.

the while system is flawed

Quote from Iker:

"I would be surprised if he (Ronaldo) didn't win it this year because his goal tally is out of this world".

Sums up the award in a nutshell. This is how the coaches and players vote. Farcical.

Messi talking about Ronaldo

'He is always there scoring goals in all the games and taking part in his club and national side,' Messi told Marca.

'He has been doing that for many years and whether he is at his peak or a bit below it makes no difference.'

Iker: "We all have our own criteria for the award. Some of us value titles more, others playing style, but for me, it's about goals."

I can foresee this award turning into a big joke after Messi and Ronaldo are out of the picture. People will start voting for the most hyped players and flavors of the month.

A standardized system should be implemented tbh.. something similar to WhoScored but where overall play is valued. It won't be 100% accurate, but then, what is? Won't be unbiased atleast. Hype, personal choices will always overshadow rational judgment.

DROBA winning ballan dor haha he should have won BALL OF SH*t for driving bunker bus .

hooftricks 9-0-1 . bulldog footballers wont get ballan dor . its given to champagne strikers and midfielders .not to kick and rush players

jibers wrote:Ronaldo is the most in form player for sure, but as lonfg as Messi exists he will never be the best. It's just not happening. Ronaldo will be the first player to win it without any silverware and breaking any records. I commend him.

The passes Moutinho made were more impressive than any of the goals that he scored, yet he takes the plaudits. This has become a WHOSCOREDTHEMOST D'OR. Ronaldo scored empty goals the whole of last season and his amazing ability is leading Madrid into....3rd place...did nothing in the 2 biggest games this season vs Barcelona and Atletico.

Let's compare his empty goals to Gerd Muller shall we...that is why  Ronaldo will never be greater than Gerd. Gerd scored goals and his goals won his teams silverware, Ronaldo did nothing in the group stages of WC qualifyer but he carried Portugal against Swede, who are amateur at best.

I'll sum this up saying this, Ronaldo is NOT the best footballer in the world and he never will be unless Messi stops playing. He is the most in form. At the end of the day if individual performances do not translate to trophies are you really the best player?

I do agree with Ribery deserving to win but smh at how Ronaldo is just discredited. Moutinho made the pass...and CR made the run and shot at goal. What he did was special, that was a brilliant performance and a crucial game for his country. Credit to him for an excellent performance.