18 Yard Box has a final look at the three finalists for the Ballon d'Or as the date for the much anticipated announcement edges closer.
Rishav is a writer for 18 Yard Box.
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| And Ballon d'Or 2012 is- who will it be? |
FIFA’s initiative to award the best football player of the
year with one of the most prestigious award, the FIFA Ballon d’Or, has been a
really appreciative gesture and hence every year we find football players
playing their level best to have a shot at the award.
Previously known as FIFA
World Player of the Year Award, many world-class footballers like Zinedene
Zidane, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo have been awarded this title and it will be an
honour for youngsters to get their names written on the history books alongside
such huge names.
2012 was a year of brilliance in world football. Top class football from all
around the globe, records made and then broken, and all credit goes to the top
3 shortlisted football players of the Year-Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and
Andres Iniesta. Not only are they a class apart, these footballers are the ambassadors of this beautiful game
and their performance of the top level has spurred many to look upto them as role models.
18 Yard Box analyses the Ballon d’Or nominees and why these players are the
greatest assets to World Football.
Andres Iniesta
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| Can he bag it? |
The 26-year old Spanish international and Barcelona’s
main-stay has been phenomenal this past season with both, club and country. Andres
Iniesta, known for his nimble feet, crisp passing, graceful dribbling and
play-making abilities, was voted the Player of the UEFA Euro 2012. His partnership with
Xavi at the heart of Barcelona and Spain midfield has been arguably the best combination seen in generations.
Andres Iniesta, the most complete player of Spain, is known for his willingness to
work throughout the game and giving his best through the course of 90 minutes.
He has been Barcelona's middle man and almost all goals flow through him. His dribbling skills are a treat to watch as he has the ability to leave the defenders in their wake. Having won a plethora of trophies for Barcelona, he
was instrumental in Spain winning the Euro 2012. This feat makes him one of the strong contenders to bag this award. Here are some of the statistics
of the midfield maestro in the past season for both club and country.
Stats-Zone
Games Started
|
49
|
Games subbed in
|
10
|
Goals scored
|
9
|
Assists
|
11
|
Shots/ On goal
|
79/24
|
Fouls Committed
|
29
|
Fouls suffered
|
94
|
Yellow Cards
|
6
|
Red Cards
|
0
|
Achievements:
1. Copa del Rey 2012
2. Euro 2012
3. UEFA Player of the Year 2012
Having already won the UEFA European Player of the Year 2012
beating the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Iniesta sure has his
sights set on winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time.
Lionel
Messi
 |
| A 4th time coming? Possibly |
Lionel Messi, the name that echoes through the entire
football world, the name that sends shivers through opposition defence, the prodigal boy from
Argentina has been nominated the record 6th time in 6 consecutive
years. He has won this award 3 times in the past 3 years and is unquestionably the favourite to bag it for the 4th time.
Undoubtedly the best player in the
world at this moment, Messi is responsible for improving footballing standards
all across the globe. A role model for youngsters, 25-year old Messi has been
scoring and assisting goals almost every game. His exquisite
ball-control, dribbling, finishing qualities are second to none and his runs
from midfield are lethal.
Breaking records time and again, he surpassed Cesar
Roriguez’s record of 232 goals in March 2012 and became the all-time top
scoring player of Barcelona. Add to this he also broke the miraculous feat (a tally of 88 goals in a calendar year) achieved by Gerd Muller in his playing days. Here are Lionel Messi’s contributions to
club and country which makes him a strong candidate for the Ballon d'Or award.
Stats-Zone
Games
Started
|
70
|
Games subbed in
|
3
|
Goals
scored
|
77
|
Assists
|
27
|
Shots/
On goal
|
304/158
|
Fouls
Committed
|
53
|
Fouls
suffered
|
150
|
Yellow
Cards
|
9
|
Red
Cards
|
0
|
Achievements:
1. Spanish Super Cup 2011.
2. Golden Boot winner- La Liga 2011/12.
3. Copa del Rey 2012.
4. Most number of goals in a calendar year (2012)- 91 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo
 |
| Will this time be his time? |
There was Luis Figo. Now, there is
Cristiano Ronaldo. The legacy of Portugese football continues as Cristiano
Ronaldo gets yet another shot at being the world’s best football player.
Already
crowned the best player in 2008 for his phenomenal performance with Manchester
United, he has stepped up his game at Real Madrid to compete with the likes of
Lionel Messi for the crown. The 27-year old talismanic winger, with searing pace
and class dribbling qualities, is someone the opposition defence would not want to face.
Tearing down defence, taking shots and scoring at will, Ronaldo
is one of the most lethal two-footed player a team would dream to have. Having
stayed in the shadow of Lionel Messi for the past few years, Ronaldo played a major role for Real Madrid to win the La
Liga beating Barcelona to the crown by 9 points. He almost single-handedly led
Portugal to the Euro 2012 semi-finals where they lost to Spain in the penalty-shootout.
Here are some of his personal endeavours in the past season with club and
country
Stats-Zone
Games Started
|
64
|
Games subbed in
|
3
|
Goals scored
|
71
|
Assists
|
16
|
Shots/ On goal
|
400/158
|
Fouls Committed
|
45
|
Fouls suffered
|
135
|
Yellow Cards
|
9
|
Red Cards
|
0
|
Achievements:
1. Most number of hat-tricks in La Liga 2011/12 season.
2. La Liga 2011/12
3. Euro 2012 Semi finalist
4. Joint top scorer in Euro 2012.
5. First Real Madrid player to score 40+ goals in a season.
Having lost out on the European Player of the Year 2012
title, Cristiano Ronaldo would be hoping that the votes tilt his way for the
Ballon d’Or.
A day remains till this award is announced. Would
Messi extend his winning streak to 4th title in consecutive years ?
Would Iniesta win his first ever Ballon d’Or ? Would Ronaldo finally eclipse
Messi ? Well, it’s just a matter of time before we know.
Written by,
Rishav Ghosh
Rishav is a writer for 18 Yard Box.
Also read: Why Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to be the Ballon d'Or? Our most read article.
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