Messi wins Ballon D'Or

[dorgie]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1201/ballon.html

 

Messi named Ballon d'Or winner

Tuesday, 1 December 2009 07:19

Argentina's Lionel Messi has won the prestigious Ballon d'Or.

 

 

The talented Barcelona forward beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place in the poll for Europe's footballer of the year, organised by France Football magazine.

 

Messi, 22, becomes the sixth Barcelona player to take the award but the first for four years - since Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho.

 

 

Messi recently signed a two-year contract extension with the European champions until 2016 - an improved deal which includes a buy-out clause worth €250million euros.

 

The Argentinian won an unprecedented treble last season as the Catalan side won the Champions League, the Spanish title and the Copa del Rey.

 

Messi was the top scorer in last year's Champions League with nine goals, including a header in the 2-0 final defeat of Manchester United in Rome.

 

Messi told France Football: 'There's lots of emotion - the Ballon d'Or is very important for me. I know I appeared among the favourites because Barcelona had a profitable year.

 

'For me it's a big honour to win - but also to become the first Argentinian in history to receive the trophy. I dedicate it to my family, they were always present when I needed them and sometimes felt even stronger emotions than me.'

 

Messi polled 473 votes, more than double the number Real Madrid's Ronaldo totalled (233) and 27 more than the impressive number the Portuguese international managed in winning last year's award.

 

Ronaldo was the only non-Barcelona player in the top four, with Xavi (170) and Andres Iniesta (149) next in the list.

 

 

Former Barca striker Samuel Eto'o - now with Inter Milan, was fifth on 75, 17 votes clear of Real's former AC Milan playmaker Kaka.

Barcelona's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who moved in the opposite direction to Eto'o, polled 50 - before a quintet of English-based players.

 

 

Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba were eighth and ninth, with Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard completing the top 10.

 

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was 11th, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas 12th, with Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs - who netted his 100th Premier League goal at Portsmouth on Saturday, finishing 14th.

 

Barcelona's Thierry Henry, heavily criticised for his handball in France's World Cup play-off win over the Republic of Ireland, completed the top 15.

 

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic shared 16th place with eight points alongside Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

 

Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan polled seven and Bordeaux striker Yoann Gourcuff six, while Arsenal midfielder Andrei Arshavin and Chelsea counterpart Frank Lampard shared 21st with five alongside Inter keeper Julio Cesar.

 

Inter Milan's Maicon (four), Juventus' Diego (three), Valencia's David Villa and Chelsea defender John Terry (two), and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Barcelona's Yaya Toure (one) completed the star-studded list.

[Flight]

Good to see Terry and Lampard getting the recognition they deserve (ie f*** all).

 

 

Golden Ball results:

 

1. Lionel Messi (Barca), 473 points.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real), 233.

3. Xavi (Barcelona), 170.

4. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), 149.

5. Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan), 75.

6. Kaka (Real Madrid), 58.

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barca), 50.

8. Wayne Rooney (Man United), 35.

9. Didier Drogba (Chelsea), 33.

10. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), 32.

11. Fernando Torres (Liverpool), 22.

12. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), 13.

13. Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg), 12.

14. Ryan Giggs (Man United), 11.

15. Thierry Henry (Barcelona), 9.

16. Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) 8.

(tie) Nemanja Vidic (Man United), 8.

(tie) Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), 8.

19. Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), 7.

20. Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), 6.

21. Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal), 5.

(tie) Julio Cesar (Inter), 5.

(tie) Frank Lampard (Chelsea), 5.

24. Maicon (Inter), 4.

25. Diego (Juventus), 3.

26. David Villa (Valencia)

(tie) John Terry (Chelsea), 2.

28. Franck Ribery (Bayern M), 1.

(tie) Yaya Toure (Barcelona), 1.

30. Karim Benzema (Real), 0.

[richwilks]

How on this f***ing earth did Rooney finish in the top 10?

 

Although he was only just ahead of Torres and Gerrard who have played about 3 games in 2009.

[Snookie]

how did Ryan Giggs finish 14th?

[CarraLegend]

how did Ryan Giggs finish 14th?

 

f*** knows, this is completely out of control, he's on the top 10 shortlist for sports personality of the year now aswell!

 

There must have been at least 50 players that have had a better year 18months than him domestically and 100s world wide, its a f***ing joke.

[ManxRed]

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barca)

 

What.

 

 

The.

 

 

Fu- ???

[richwilks]

Where's PEPE??? Would have thought Alonso would have been there as well.

Edited December 1, 2009 by richwilks

[floyd]

f*** knows, this is completely out of control, he's on the top 10 shortlist for sports personality of the year now aswell!

 

There must have been at least 50 players that have had a better year 18months than him domestically and 100s world wide, its a f***ing joke.

Fvckin PR campaign behind "Lord Baron Giggs of puching Women" is really slick

[Sion]

f*** knows, this is completely out of control, he's on the top 10 shortlist for sports personality of the year now aswell!

 

There must have been at least 50 players that have had a better year 18months than him domestically and 100s world wide, its a f***ing joke.

 

but he's dead old and never won it before.

[Snookie]

but he's dead old and never won it before.

 

If that's the criteria then we should nominate Kenny.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Did Yaya Toure's mother get a vote ? I only ask because Benzema's mother didnt

[yellow jumper]

xavi's the best player in europe.

[Nebraska Red]

xavi's the best player in europe.

 

he may well be, but Messi is always going to get the adulation as he regularly pops a few goals in and produces great highlight reel moments.

 

Messi is not nearly as effective when Xavi is not playing.

[richwilks]

xavi's the best player in europe.

 

Xavi and Iniesta.

[Jacks Jackie Jackson]

Voronin just missed out then? He was 31st, I take it?

[stressederic]

Voronin just missed out then? He was 31st, I take it?

 

He would have been but upon hearing he'd missed out, he stopped and remonstrated with his team mates for not putting thenomination on a plate for him.

[Duncan Disorderly]

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real), 233.(GOOD GRIEF!)

 

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barca), 50.(Shyte!)

 

8. Wayne Rooney (Man United), 35.(See #2)

 

9. Didier Drogba (Chelsea), 33.(How?)

 

10. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), 32.(Only 10th???)

11. Fernando Torres (Liverpool), 22.(Beyond comprehension???)

 

14. Ryan Giggs (Man United), 11.(Aye, right!)

 

(tie) Nemanja Vidic (Man United), 8.(Oh, bugger off!!!)

 

19. Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), 7.(Seriously? Well surprised!))

 

(tie) Frank Lampard (Chelsea), 5.(T.W.A.T!)

 

(tie) John Terry (Chelsea), 2.(See immediately above)

Edited December 1, 2009 by Duncan Disorderly

[Rich Gobey]

How did Benzema get the same number of votes as me and yet I'm not on that list?

[Benzo-13]

How on this f***ing earth did Rooney finish in the top 10?

 

Although he was only just ahead of Torres and Gerrard who have played about 3 games in 2009.

Rooney's the most over rated player on this planet.

[floyd]

Rooney's the most over rated player on this planet.

"Take the agression out of Rooney, and he's half the player"

 

Tired old fvckin expression.

[Benzo-13]

"Take the agression out of Rooney, and he's half the player"

 

Tired old fvckin expression.

Yep, he's a Mark Hughes type with attitude. Nothing more.

[anfield11]

how did Ryan Giggs finish 14th?

 

 

 

How was he even put on the list!!

[Maldini]

Messi must be one of the youngest winners as well, did either Ronaldo win it when younger?

 

Checked it, I think he's the third youngest after the real Ronaldo and Owen.

Edited December 2, 2009 by Maldini

[Leo No.8]

I might not like him, but I think Rooney is top class personally. He's a horrible, whining, ugly c*nt, but he'd walk into any of the top teams in Europe with his versatility, pace, work rate and technical ability on the ball.

 

I find it hard to see how United keep winning the league when according to most people here all their players are crap.

 

If Wayne Rooney isn't the primary factor in them winning games this season, then I'm not sure who really is - in my opinion he is their best attacking player by some distance now Ronaldo is gone.

 

Add to the fact that he has been outstanding for England under Capello, I'd say he deserves to be in the top 10. Its all well and good being biased, we're all biased but you have to show some level of objectivity.

Edited December 2, 2009 by Leo No.8

[kop205]

I find it hard to see how United keep winning the league when according to most people here all their players are crap.

 

If Wayne Rooney isn't the primary factor in them winning games this season, then I'm not sure who really is - in my opinion he is their best attacking player by some distance now Ronaldo is gone.

 

The second statement is undeniably true - but the first one, although obviously exaggerated, isn't totally without truth (and ironically it is the truth of the second statement that draws attention to it).

 

Rooney is massively important to them. They are a serious injury to him away from looking a really mediocre side in my opinion. In fact, for large parts of the season they have looked mediocre so maybe it is more accurate to say 'achieveing really mediocre results'.

 

I don't think he is better than Torres or Gerrard but I think they rely on him as an indidivual more than we do on either of those two individually.