Ballon d'Or

[soggy biscuit]

Eric Abidal (France)
Karim Benzema (France)
Sergio Aguero (Argentina)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Iker Casillas (Spain)
Cesc Fabregas (Spain)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Gerard Pique (Spain)
David Villa (Spain)
Xabi Alonso (Spain)
Xavi (Spain)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Nani (Portugal)
Dani Alves (Brazil)
Neymar (Brazil)
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
Thomas Muller (Germany)
Mesut Ozil (Germany)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Wayne Rooney (England)
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)

I see the top English clubs are reprisented there - Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal & Liverpool

[YateleyRoyal]

Eric Abidal (France)
Karim Benzema (France)
Sergio Aguero (Argentina)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Iker Casillas (Spain)
Cesc Fabregas (Spain)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Gerard Pique (Spain)
David Villa (Spain)
Xabi Alonso (Spain)
Xavi (Spain)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Nani (Portugal)
Dani Alves (Brazil)
Neymar (Brazil)
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
Thomas Muller (Germany)
Mesut Ozil (Germany)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Wayne Rooney (England)
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)

I see the top English clubs are reprisented there - Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal & Liverpool

Liverpool and United are...

[Maguire]

And City

[TBM]

I know Fabregas is now at Barca but is this award for a whole year, rather than the season so far?! - if so, Arsenal are represented too

[soggy biscuit]

I know Fabregas is now at Barca but is this award for a whole year, rather than the season so far?! - if so, Arsenal are represented too

It's calender year so that nomination is more to do with his time at Arsenal than Barca

[soggy biscuit]

How come no Chelsea?

[TBM]

Why isn't the "best player" in the Premier League last season not on the list

Strange

[soggy biscuit]

Why isn't the "best player" in the Premier League last season not on the list

Strange

because he was an undeserving winner. Vidic should be there though

[cmonurz]

Quite how this award can go anywhere except Lionel Messi I don't know.

Messi
Ronaldo
Villa

maybe Suarez an outside bet for 3rd.

[AbovetheI]

Iniesta will win it I reckon

[who are ya?]

Good to see so many English names on the list.

[FiNeRaIn]

Quite how this award can go anywhere except Lionel Messi I don't know.

Messi
Ronaldo
Villa

maybe Suarez an outside bet for 3rd.

Suarez haha good joke.

Messi it is though...by a mile...followed by Ronaldo.

[Simon's Church]

Why isn't the "best player" in the Premier League last season not on the list

Strange

Who's that?

Pretty sure it'll be:
Messi







Xavi+Ronaldo

Just had a look through some of the winners and was amazed that Holland haven't had a player in the top 3 since 1993 with Dennis Bergkamp in 2nd.

[TBM]

Why isn't the "best player" in the Premier League last season not on the list

Strange

Who's that?

Well apparently, its Gareth Bale

[who are ya?]

[Simon's Church]

Racist
LOL

[Compo's Hat]

Quite how this award can go anywhere except Lionel Messi I don't know.

Messi
Ronaldo
Villa

maybe Suarez an outside bet for 3rd.

Suarez haha good joke.

Messi it is though...by a mile...followed by Ronaldo.

Suarez was player of the tournament in the Copa America and scored in the final against Paraguay as well as setting up another for Forlan. Was unplayable at times in the summer. Definitely an outside shout for the top three.

[cmonurz]

Quite how this award can go anywhere except Lionel Messi I don't know.

Messi
Ronaldo
Villa

maybe Suarez an outside bet for 3rd.

Suarez haha good joke.

Messi it is though...by a mile...followed by Ronaldo.

Suarez was player of the tournament in the Copa America and scored in the final against Paraguay as well as setting up another for Forlan. Was unplayable at times in the summer. Definitely an outside shout for the top three.

^This. What makes it a joke FR?

[sheshnu]

Suarez was player of the tournament in the Copa America and scored in the final against Paraguay as well as setting up another for Forlan. Was unplayable at times in the summer. Definitely an outside shout for the top three.

Wouldn't even say he's an outside bet, he's arguably had a better year than Villa - certainly in the eyes of the Ballon d'Or voters who are maybe not as Euro-centric as us laymen. Seems to have settled into the Premier League quite well too; I don't watch it a lot but I've seen him score a few goals already.

Messi's clearly the best attacking player in the world (but when's he going to single-handedly win something for the Argies?) and Ronnie scores every week so I guess you'd be daft not to put them in there. Abidal for the 'Giggs' award this year perhaps..?

[YateleyRoyal]

As commentators pointed out last night, a shedload goals in 2011 for Arsenal for RVP and another 6 or so for the Netherlands makes it quite a surprise he doesnt even make the shortlist.