Earlier this week, we brought to you the full list of the 55 contenders up for the prestigious Ballon d’Or prize, but we are now able to present the final trio up for the award. The large list was not without controversy and many people disagreed with the new names that appeared this year. However, there there is nothing new about the trio of players that were chosen.
The Barcelona duo, Lionel Messi and Xavi, have made the final three for the third time in three successive years. Cristiano Ronaldo will also make his third appearance on the list in 5 years after his name was also picked by the footballers panel.
Lionel Messi, who won the award last year, netted 53 times in all competitions last season, proving exactly why his name deserves to be on the list.
Cristiano Ronaldo equaled his counterparts goal tally after virtually carrying Madrid himself to a second placed finish in the La Liga last season.
A man who is sometimes forgotten in the highlight reel after a match is Barcelona’s Xavi who has been a key man on and off the pitch in the last few years. He creates or executes a good majority of his squads goals, and for that he joins Messi and Ronaldo on the exclusive list.
The awards ceremony, which will take place in Zurich on January 9, 2012, will be where the world’s best player is finally crowned. A manager will also be taking home the top award for his job on the same day.
The men in the running for the Coaches’ Award are Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola. If all goes well, Barcelona and Real Madrid both stand a chance in taking home all of the most prestigious awards in the sport.
lol at Messi with a bowtie
As a ream madrid fan, I hope Ronaldo gets it but I`m afraid Messi is going to win it.. again..
Yeah same cdrn23 I want ronaldo to get it. He could play striker in the prem, messi would get clattered
so do you see a single prem league player in this list of three, technical skill is more important than sheer bulk. Speed is more important than strength. England’s physical strategy is outdated, even the U.S. which was influenced by the British game for so long, is trying to distance itself now. Spain won the world cup for a reason and the Ballon d’Or is given to the best player, not to who could play what. I would say it’s a toss up between Messi and Ronaldo, both are so good they’re at the level where you can’t judge who’s better.
Why Neymar isn’t on the top three?
He hasn’t even moved to Europe and has a lot to prove still. He and Chicharito are just another flash in the pan. Remember Eden Hazard???
remember eden hazard?? he is the best prodigy behind gotze and wilshere
neymar has yet to prove himslef and chicharito is good but he scores cause hes smart
i think the reason alot of la liga fans think their players are so muched more skilled than epl is because Barca and madrid play second-rate teams week in, week out.
EPL is by far the better competition and teams in the bottom 6 are better than the top 10 of la liga(excluding barca and madrid)
boys…boys…u can daydream all u want but they give the best to the best and in this case it’s always messi…i mean cristina better go walk around in his high heels and become a glamour model…!!!!!!
i hate the guy buy could you at least spell CRISTIANO ronaldo’s name correctly? i thought this site was professional
Chill, chill. . . This is an online site, there’s not much editing if any at all. Hell if I catch typos in the Washington Post there is sure as hell going to be a bunch here.
Couldn’t they at least spell the player with arguably the best following in the sports name correctly. i mean everyone knows who he is; his name is everywhere. to not know how to correctly spell his name is sort of amateurish.
Where is it spelt wrong?
but*