FIFA World Player of the Year Shortlist

[jebus]

Usual horse **** from FIFA, throwing brand names onto their best of list, look at some of this shower

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/ Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain/ Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Czech Republic/ Chelsea), Nelson de Jesus Silva ‘Dida’ (Brazil/ AC Milan), Edwin van der Sar (Holland/ Manchester United)

Defenders: Éric Abidal (France/ Olympique Lyon), Daniel Alves (Brazil/ Sevilla), Roberto Ayala (Argentina/ Valencia), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy/ Real Madrid), Roberto Carlos da Silva (Brazil/ Real Madrid), Jamie Carragher (England/ Liverpool), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal/ Chelsea), Cristian Chivu (Romania/ AS Roma), Ashley Cole (England/ Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (England/ Manchester United), Philipp Lahm (Germany/ Bayern Munich), Ferreira Lucio (Brazil/Bayern Munich), Paolo Maldini (Italy/ AC Milan), Marco Materazzi (Italy/ Inter), Alessandro Nesta (Italy/ AC Milan), Carles Puyol (Spain/ Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/ Real Madrid), John Terry (England/ Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia/ Manchester United), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy/ Juventus).

Midfielders: David Beckham (England/ Real Madrid), Anderson Deco (Portugal/ Barcelona), Mickaël Essien (Ghana/ Chelsea), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy/ AC Milan), Steven Gerrard (England/ Liverpool), Andrès Iniesta (Spain/ Barcelona), Ricardo Kaká (Brazil/ AC Milan), Frank Lampard (England/ Chelsea), Claude Makélélé (France/ Chelsea), Andrea Pirlo (Italy/ AC Milan), Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina/ Villareal/Boca Juniors), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/ Manchester United), Paul Scholes (England/ Manchester United), Clarence Seedorf (Holland/ AC Milan), Xavi (Spain/ Barcelona).

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria/ Tottenham Hotspur), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast/ Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon/ Barcelona), Thierry Henry (France/ Arsenal), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/ Inter), Filippo Inzaghi (Italy/ AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina/ Barcelona), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Holland/ Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (Brazil/ Barcelona), Ronaldo (Brazil/ Real Madrid/ AC Milan), Wayne Rooney (England/ Manchester United), Carlos Tévez (Argentina/ West Ham United), Luca Toni (Italy/ Fiorentina), Francesco Totti (Italy/ AS Roma), David Villa (Spain/ Valencia).

I mean what the hell has Brazilian Ronaldo, Rooney, Makelele, Lampard, Iniesta, Beckham, Cole, Ferdinand, Roberto Carlos, and Tevez done individually last season that has made them stand out as being among the top 55 players in the world? And where the hell is Cesc Fabregas?? And Buffon may be one of the best keepers around, but last season he was playing Serie B football ffs

[gilberto_eire]

ill agree with all them players bar Ronaldo.... the fella is one of the best players in the world!. good in the air, great feet, good shot accuracy, 2 footed, lighting speed... has definitly emerged as one of the best. United wouldnt be half the team without him!!

also Shay Given is a better goalkeeper then Van Der Sar in englan alone along with Brad Friedal but i suppose its more to do with it been an ''International football power-houses selection'' then anything else....

ill even say it as a man utd fan..... Wayne Rooney??.... the fella is the most over-rated player in the world by a country mile, because of ONE small fact.....

Nationality:ENGLISH

can you imagine he choose us from an early age?.. there wouldnt have been a £20 Million+ price tag when he moved frm Everton and there wouldnt be Nike tv commercials with him in them either!!

[shanman2]

ill even say it as a man utd fan..... Wayne Rooney??.... the fella is the most over-rated player in the world by a country mile, because of ONE small fact.....

Nationality:ENGLISH


First of all its the Brazilian Ronaldo that the lad is talking about not Christiano. You obviously dont watch too many Man u matches because the fella has to have one of the best football brains in the world- his passing is unbelievable and you dont become a massive player at Man u if your not good enough to play for them. Also a fantastic display against Milan at home in the quarter finals of the Champions league against one of the best teams in the world counts for nothing????.

[gustavo]

Usual horse **** from FIFA, throwing brand names onto their best of list, look at some of this shower


I mean what the hell has Brazilian Ronaldo, Rooney, Makelele, Lampard, Iniesta, Beckham, Cole, Ferdinand, Roberto Carlos, and Tevez done individually last season that has made them stand out as being among the top 55 players in the world? And where the hell is Cesc Fabregas?? And Buffon may be one of the best keepers around, but last season he was playing Serie B football ffs

It depends on whether the list is of the best 55 players playing today or the best 55 players on form

Either way Fabregas should be in it

[jebus]

It depends on whether the list is of the best 55 players playing today or the best 55 players on form

Its meant to be on form, which is why I ask why Wayne Rooney, who can't cut it on the international stage, who coasts through the title winning season, all too randomly turning in a good performance, and who was absent in all but two games in Europe for United last season was included?

Furthermore where is Ryan Giggs? He was a much more consistent performer for United than Ferdinand, Rooney and Van Der Sar? Plus wasn't last season the season that Thierry Henry missed most of due to injury? I'm just surprised they didn't throw Zidane in for a bit more star quality

[gustavo]

Its meant to be on form, which is why I ask why Wayne Rooney, who can't cut it on the international stage, who coasts through the title winning season, all too randomly turning in a good performance, and who was absent in all but two games in Europe for United last season was included?

Furthermore where is Ryan Giggs? He was a much more consistent performer for United than Ferdinand, Rooney and Van Der Sar? Plus wasn't last season the season that Thierry Henry missed most of due to injury? I'm just surprised they didn't throw Zidane in for a bit more star quality


It's presumably given a lot of importance to Champions League games where in the knockouts last season he done quite well

[seand]

It's a disgrace.... where's Raul? He's a big name AND he plays for a big club. How could he be omitted!

[jebus]

It's presumably given a lot of importance to Champions League games where in the knockouts last season he done quite well

I wouldn't say he did quite well in the knockouts. I remember him being the main United player in one match against AC Milan, but thats about it. Plus if they do give importance to the Champions League than how does Tevez get in? He's only there because he signed for Man Utd in my opinion, no other reason

[shanman2]

I wouldn't say he did quite well in the knockouts. I remember him being the main United player in one match against AC Milan, but thats about it. Plus if they do give importance to the Champions League than how does Tevez get in? He's only there because he signed for Man Utd in my opinion, no other reason

Tevez was unbelievable for West ham towards the end of the year. Most Hammers fans would tell you he kept them up single-handedly.

[jebus]

Tevez was unbelievable for West ham towards the end of the year. Most Hammers fans would tell you he kept them up single-handedly.

Most football fans would tell you it was the FA though, but regardless, playing well enough so your mid table team scraps themselves out of relegation isn't cause for Top 55 players in my eyes, a lot of the time last year he looked mediocre as well, only starting to play very well in the last third of the season

[DmanDmythDledge]

Jebus, Ferdinand is the best centre back in the Premiership- that might have something to do with him being on the list.

[shanman2]

:ball:
Most football fans would tell you it was the FA though, but regardless, playing well enough so your mid table team scraps themselves out of relegation isn't cause for Top 55 players in my eyes, a lot of the time last year he looked mediocre as well, only starting to play very well in the last third of the season

Ill grant you that but when he was good he was spectacular and his work rate was exceptional. I think its hard to find 55 top players because lets be honest there aint that many top players out there anymore.

[seand]

Jebus, Ferdinand is the best centre back in the Premiership- that might have something to do with him being on the list.

Well he's certainly among the top half dozen in Manchester ;)

[jebus]

Jebus, Ferdinand is the best centre back in the Premiership- that might have something to do with him being on the list.

You are joking right? I know football is a matter of opinion and all but do you seriously think Ferdinand is a better centre back than even Vidic? Thats not even mentioning Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Toure, and Carragher, who are certainly better than him, and Richards, King, Dawson, and Agger, who many people would take ahead of Rio (I know I would).

All that clown is interested in is getting himself in the papers the next day after United score the winner. Watch the amount of times United score and 4 or 5 of them run to the sideline to congratulate the scorer. Ferdinand always jumps on the scorers back and you can actually see him looking for the best camera to look intense into. Absolute joke of a footballer, who even the British tabloids have now stopped praising and started saying he wasted the promise he showed at West Ham, which should say it all really. I'm sure Fergie has kept him around for so long because of the price he paid for the guy, because it certainly isn't for his match winning capabilities

[gilberto_eire]

ill even say it as a man utd fan..... Wayne Rooney??.... the fella is the most over-rated player in the world by a country mile, because of ONE small fact.....

Nationality:ENGLISH


First of all its the Brazilian Ronaldo that the lad is talking about not Christiano. You obviously dont watch too many Man u matches because the fella has to have one of the best football brains in the world- his passing is unbelievable and you dont become a massive player at Man u if your not good enough to play for them. Also a fantastic display against Milan at home in the quarter finals of the Champions league against one of the best teams in the world counts for nothing????.

you obviously didnt read my message properly either, go back and read it again and you'll see me praising Cristiano although you seem to think ive done the opposite!

i agreed with all jebus's selections to be ommited bar who i taught was C.Ronaldo, rather then say
Cristiano is the only one i would take out of the 55, i should have made that clearer!!.... i just missed the BRAZILIAN word before Ronaldo and presumed it was Cristiano he was speaking against

[Hibs4Ever]

Jebus, Ferdinand is the best centre back in the Premiership- that might have something to do with him being on the list.

Ferdinand is easily the most over rated defender ever

The guy is craap

[NeilMcD]

I think for years he was overated but now the backlash has been so much I think he might now be underated.

[DaveyCakes]

It's a bit like the way players get called into Irish international squads as soon as they leave an EL club for England or Scotland. How long was Berbatov knocking in goals in the Bundesliga nd Europe for Leverkusen, but I'm sure he was never even considered. Likewise, when Diego leaves Bremen fo Madrid or Barcelona, he be on the list before the ink on his contract is dry.

Pure laziness.

[backstothewall]

If Dida is better than Given I'm going to take up goalkeeping. If flapping at crosses and throwing them in is what top italian sides are after, I'm due my Seria A medal

[gustavo]

If Dida is better than Given I'm going to take up goalkeeping. If flapping at crosses and throwing them in is what top italian sides are after, I'm due my Seria A medal

Dida is a class goalkeeper one of the best in Serie A

[jebus]

Dida is a class goalkeeper one of the best in Serie A

I agree, I mean he's made his mistakes but so do most keepers including people like Reina, Casillas and the legendary Peter Schmeichal (who gaffed a lot more than people care to remember)

[backstothewall]

...one of the best in Serie A

I really don't consider that much of a recomondation. three quarters of seria a goalkeepers wouldn't make a premier league bench.

[gustavo]

I really don't consider that much of a recomondation. three quarters of seria a goalkeepers wouldn't make a premier league bench.
:confused:
Seriously?
I can think of Dida , Toldo , Amelia , Buffon , Serini , Curci , Abbiati , Belardi , Chimenti and Frey that would all would " make a premier league bench"

[backstothewall]

Toldo, Buffon and Frey, Abbiati isn't in Serie A at the minute, on loan in Spain. Belardi as an example is a 29 year old, who is warming a bench, and has never played for his country. Chementi is 37, and never been capped!! Sereni has spent his career trying (unsuccessfully) to establish a regular place in a team, and has just gone on a free transfer to try same at Torino.

As an example Man city have Swedens first choice keeper on the bench. Villa have Denmarks. Even Fulham have Kasey Keller, who has been to 3 world cups and has over 100 caps

Italian keepers, the top 1 or 2 at any time, always strike me as dodgy. They simply can't cope with the ball in the air, and seem to spend all their time rolling about on the ground when they get the slightest touch.

[bellavistaman]

Jebus your bang on in every point you make, even though i disagree about wayne rooney, the sheffield wed factor makes you a very fair judge and all you rpoints seem to be more than reasonable.

Why not 50 names aswell, 55?

[DmanDmythDledge]

You are joking right? I know football is a matter of opinion and all but do you seriously think Ferdinand is a better centre back than even Vidic? Thats not even mentioning Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Toure, and Carragher, who are certainly better than him, and Richards, King, Dawson, and Agger, who many people would take ahead of Rio (I know I would).
As I watch almost all of Man Utd's matches I can say without doubt that Rio is a better player than Vidic. Terry, Carvalho and perhaps Carragher are the only players you mentioned close to him but Ferdinand just shades it.

[Dodge]

I mean what the hell has... Iniesta.. done individually last season that has made them stand out as being among the top 55 players in the world?
Iniesta was Barcelona's best player last season (Messi is better but was injured for large parts of it). He's second only to Messi this season


Jebus, Ferdinand is the best centre back in the Premiership- that might have something to do with him being on the list.
:D

I think for years he was overated but now the backlash has been so much I think he might now be underated.

:D:D

[jebus]

As I watch almost all of Man Utd's matches I can say without doubt that Rio is a better player than Vidic. Terry, Carvalho and perhaps Carragher are the only players you mentioned close to him but Ferdinand just shades it.

Seriously, there's blind support and then there's idiocy, this is leaning more towards the area normally occupied by those Americans who still think invading Iraq was a good idea :p


Iniesta was Barcelona's best player last season (Messi is better but was injured for large parts of it). He's second only to Messi this season

I don't doubt that Iniesta is a fine player, but I do doubt that he would be in the top 55 in the world. He did reasonably well (didn't score enough goals for his type of player in my opinion) last year in a stuttering Barcelona team that didn't quite rightly win anything, and this year its been more of the same. He's good, not great though, but he's probably the one player I listed that I would concede I may have been a bit harsh on and that he might, just might, get in the top 55, but again I have no doubt that if he played for Sociedad, Levante or even Depor that he would never even be considered for this type of list.

[backstothewall]

Dida: Fool

[Dodge]

I don't doubt that Iniesta is a fine player, but I do doubt that he would be in the top 55 in the world. He did reasonably well (didn't score enough goals for his type of player in my opinion) last year in a stuttering Barcelona team that didn't quite rightly win anything, and this year its been more of the same. He's good, not great though, but he's probably the one player I listed that I would concede I may have been a bit harsh on and that he might, just might, get in the top 55, but again I have no doubt that if he played for Sociedad, Levante or even Depor that he would never even be considered for this type of list.
I'd honestly rate Iniesta as one of the top 5 midfielders in Europe. And the stuttering Barcelona team would've won La Liga if they had the same rules as any other European league, so they weren't as bad as you've made out...

[jebus]

I'd honestly rate Iniesta as one of the top 5 midfielders in Europe. And the stuttering Barcelona team would've won La Liga if they had the same rules as any other European league, so they weren't as bad as you've made out...

They were poor in Europe, and didn't deserve to win the league in my eyes, but then again I'm in favour of all leagues adopting the head-to-head rule to determine league positions if clubs finish level on points

[bellavistaman]

Anybody think Arteta should be in it, obviously behind Fabregas but i thin khes a better midfielder than Seedorf i think if Seedorf is in it so should Raul, i think there careers are at the same stage now really

[gustavo]

Seedorf had his best Milan season last season so I'd have to disagree , plus Rauls only 30

[Over the post]

World player of the year list: Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cech (Chelsea, Czech Rep), Ronaldo (Man Utd, Portugal), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Gattuso (AC Milan, Italy), Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Henry (Barcelona, France), Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lampard (Chelsea, England), Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Nesta (AC Milan, Italy), Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy), Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Rooney (Man Utd, England), Terry (Chelsea, England), Tevez (Man Utd, Argentina), Thuram (Barcelona, France), Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Holland), Vieira (Inter Milan, France).

Fair amount of average performers in here: Cannavaro, Eto'o, Henry, Klose, Lahm, Lampard, Ronaldinho and Thuram have all had poor seasons. I reckon Kaká will walk it.

[noby]

World player of the year? Is there no-one outside of Europe deserving of a place on the shortlist? Genuine question, as I am unfamiliar with football on other continents.

[Over the post]

World player of the year? Is there no-one outside of Europe deserving of a place on the shortlist? Genuine question, as I am unfamiliar with football on other continents.


Riquelme is included as playing for Villareal although he spent last season on loan at Boca.

I suppose anyone who's halfway decent gets snapped up by a European club while they're young but if you look at nationalities there are a good few South Americans and Africans in there.

[DmanDmythDledge]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7121175.stm

AC Milan and Brazil star Kaka has been named Fifa's world player of the year, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the honour in Zurich.

Kaka's latest award crowns a superb year in which he led AC Milan to Champions League victory this season, scoring 10 goals in the process.

In a poll of all national coaches and captains, Kaka polled 1,047 votes, Messi 504 and Ronaldo 426.

The 25-year-old was named European player of the year earlier this month.

"It's really special for me - it was a dream for me just to play for Sao Paulo and one game for Brazil," he said.

"But the Bible says God can give you more than you even ask for."

Kaka, who has won 42 caps for Brazil, scored one goal and set up two others at the Club World Cup final in Japan on Sunday to hand AC Milan a record fourth title.

More to follow.
_____________________________

No suprise there with the order. Kaka has been amazing this year.

Also since the award was introduced no players outside of La Liga or Serie A have won it.

[geysir]

In a poll of all national coaches and captains, Kaka polled 1,047 votes, Messi 504 and Ronaldo 426.
I wonder who Stan voted for :)

I think Mick voted for Rui Costa in 2001, the year Figo won it.

[superfrank]

Over half the votes....says it all really.

Champions League, World Club Championship, Ballon d'Or, World Player........not a bad year for him.

[stojkovic]

I wonder who Stan voted for :)

The Three Man Committee voted.

They nominated Messi and presented their vote to the FAI Board for ratification. This was rejected.

RayDonDon are still interviewing candidates.

[DmanDmythDledge]

I wonder who Stan voted for :)
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=54686324&postcount=25