Who should have won the FIFA Ballon D'or?

[Spike 12,049]

Ever since FIFA World Player of the Year and FFF's Ballon D'or were merged FIFA Ballon D'or has been awarded to the best individual player. Some take it seriously some think it's a wank. Little Messi has been FIFA's golden child for a while now and I think he shouldn't have won all three awards.

The last ten winners looks like this:

2011 Lionel Messi

2010 Lionel Messi

2009 Lionel Messi

2008 Cristiano Ronaldo

2007 Kaka

2006 Fabio Cannavaro

2005 Ronaldinho

2004 Andriy Shevchenko

2003 Pavel Nedved

2002 Ronaldo

In 2009 I think Lionel Messi was hands down the world's best player he was instrumental in Barcelona's sextuplet. However I don't believe he was the best player in 2010 or 2011. Sure he recorded and astronomical amount of goals and assists but I don't think he was the most important or instrumental player.

In 2010 Wesley Sneijder basically carried the Netherlands to the World Cup final where the lost to Spain and was one of the main forces behind Inter Milan's and Italian footballs first ever Treble. Diego Milito is also a good shout for that year because he was even more instrumental in Inter Milan's success scoring 22 goals in the league, the winning goal for the Coppa Italia and the two goals in Inter Milan's Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich. Winner Diego Milito. Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba also deserve a shout for this year.

The 2011 winner should definitly been Xavi. He hit his best form this year scoring more goals then he has ever and assisting quite a few also. He dictated play better than ever (when Cesc wasn't on the pitch) and I just don't think Barca could have survived without him. They look so much more vulnerable when Xavi isn't playing, they give up possession more and look more vulnerable on the counter. David Villa would be second for me. With Messi pushing him to the wing he sitll managed to score 20+ goals and a lot of important ones too.

My winners:

2011 Xavi

2010 Diego Milito

2009 Lionel Messi

Who do think will win in 2012?

[Mustafa 885]

Even though this is highly unlikely .... Didier Drogba

He won the Champions League for us and scored in the winning goal in the FA Cup final. He won bigger and better trophies than CR7 and Messi.

[silviupastean 135]

i think they won't even look at drogba. probably messi again

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

My guess is Ronaldo. They basically just go back and forth with those two. In 2010, it should have been Iniesta or Xavi who were not only excellent for Barcelona, but helped Spain win the World Cup.

[manpe 10,861]

I'd be surprised if Ronaldo or Messi didn't win it. Those 2 will be topping the charts for quite a while now. Hopefully Hazard will have a say one day. It would be a shame if Xavi didn't win it at least once in his career, for the past decade he's been more instrumental and iconic for Barcelona and his country than Messi. Judging by the winners of last 10 years, anybody else but attackers don't get much love (with the exception of Cannavaro). Last midfielder to win it was Zidane in '98, and even he won it for his goals.

[capriccioso 2,545]

If it was based on who single handedly dragged their team to victory it's got to be, so far, Drogba. That's before someone team carries another club for the rest of this season or their nation in Euro 12.

[manpe 10,861]

If it was based on who single handedly dragged their team to victory it's got to be, so far, Drogba.

That is such an exaggerated statement. He did nothing single handedly. He could have easily been the anti-hero had Messi or Robben converted their penalties, but he had the bar and Cech to thank for dragging him out of looming shit. There, I said it, but that's what I think, and I feel I can say it now that all the biggest emotions have faded. Cech was at least as important as Drogba in the final games. Not to mention the ones who did the dirty work all game long.

[capriccioso 2,545]

That is such an exaggerated statement. He did nothing single handedly. He could have easily been the anti-hero had Messi or Robben converted their penalties, but he had the bar and Cech to thank for dragging him out of looming shit. There, I said it, but that's what I think, and I feel I can say it now that all the biggest emotions have faded. Cech was at least as important as Drogba in the final games. Not to mention the ones who did the dirty work all game long.

We wouldn't have made the knockout stages without that brace against Valencia where he ran the show.

[manpe 10,861]

We wouldn't have made the knockout stages without that brace against Valencia where he ran the show.

And is that the sole reason why we won the whole thing? We wouldn't have won it without a lot of things, not all of them involve Drogba.

[Ollie 4,400]

They will give it to Ronaldo because it's his turn and Real Madrid won the league. Lampard shoulda won it in 2005.

[Shane 2,275]

Millito should have got it in 2010, as should Lampard have got it in 2005.

[Santiago. 1,500]

2012- Drogba

2011- Messi

2010- Sniejder

2009-Ronaldo

2008- Ronaldo

2007- Kaka

[CHOULO19 24,332]

2012 Cech

2011 Xavi

2010 Sniejder

2009 Lionel Messi

2008 Ronaldo

2007 Kaka

2006 Buffon

2005 Ronaldinho

2004 Andriy Shevchenko

2003 Pavel Nedved

2002 Ronaldo

Why don't keepers ever win this thing?

[Spike 12,049]

2012 Cech

2011 Xavi

2010 Sniejder

2009 Lionel Messi

2008 Ronaldo

2007 Kaka

2006 Buffon

2005 Ronaldinho

2004 Andriy Shevchenko

2003 Pavel Nedved

2002 Ronaldo

Why don't keepers ever win this thing?

Because the masses can't appreicate that saves are equally important to goals. Cech could win for his clu performances but he has been very average for the Czech Republic.

[capriccioso 2,545]

According to FM, voting is solely down to international managers, so international performances may have a higher bearing than club, especially as there's a major tournament on this year.

How did Drogba go in the AFCON?

[CHOULO19 24,332]

According to FM, voting is solely down to international managers, so international performances may have a higher bearing than club, especially as there's a major tournament on this year.

How did Drogba go in the AFCON?

Missed a pen in the final.

[We Hate Scouse 10,286]

Steven Gerrard should win it this year.

He always excels himself on and off the pitch. He is such a good player, better than Lampard without a doubt.

He is the pinnicle to the success of the EPL. It's also arguable that he was soley responsible for winning us the olympics.

His humanitarian work is phenomenal. He helps so many people. After all he does he probably only gets about 10% of his own wage.

What a man. What a hero.

Saint Steven George Gerrard

[capriccioso 2,545]

There's no chance if he leaves Europe and spends 6 months in some mickey mouse league. That and he hasn't scored enough goals- though each of his strikes has been vital, sheer volume will see him probably not even get nominated.