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duo, Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi, as well as Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo have been nominated in the final shortlist for the prestigious 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or award. The trio have been in rampant form for their clubs this year, and it comes as no surprise that their names popped up in the final shortlist.
Messi appears to be the favourite with all his achievements with Barcelona last season. Not only did he help dispatch Manchester United at Wembley last May, but Messi also scored a staggering 53 goals for the Blaugranas in the last campaign. Barcelona fought off stiff competition from Real Madrid to retain the Primera Division and Messi certainly played a huge part in the successful campaign.
Meanwhile, Xavi Hernandez’s importance is not small either, with the Spanish midfielder dictating the Barcelona midfield alongside Iniesta, crafting opportunities for the forwards who created havoc against opposition teams last season.
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Cristiano Ronaldo was another stellar performer last season, with his astonishing statistics for Real Madrid advocating his inclusion in the final shortlist. Despite his team finishing second in the Primera Division and exiting the Champions League after being defeated by none other than Barcelona, Ronaldo managed to grab the spotlight by smashing in 53 goals, also winning the Pichichi award. He scored the winning goal when Real Madrid overcame Barca in the Copa del Rey final. This season too, he has continued his brilliant run as Real continue to run riot in the La Liga.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have been nominated for the Manager of the Year award while Wayne Rooney’s wonder goal against Manchester City is being touted as the favorite to win for the FIFA Puskas Best Goal of the Year award. The other nominees include Lionel Messi’s chip and volley against Arsenal in the Champions League last season as well as Neymar’s splendid solo goal against Flamengo last July.
The winners for the awards will be announced in early January at a gala event in Zurich.
