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Football is a team sport, but ironically there is that one individual in every team who happens to be the ‘star player’ or the one – man (unless you are Barcelona) that the entire team looks up to, to provide that moment of magic to inspire the team.
With the nominations for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or out, it is time to analyze who really stands a chance to break Messi’s stranglehold on the award. I have short-listed ten players out of the possible 23, based on their achievements, and the impact of their performance to their respective clubs and country. Some inclusions may perhaps be surprising; others however are expected. Is it again going to be Ronaldo who would really pose a threat? Or is it going to be one of his mates from Catalonia? While some may disagree with the selections, these are the players I believe have the best chances to receive the award.
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Surprise Exclusions from the 23:
Edison Cavani:
The Uruguan scored a staggering 33 goals for Napoli with 26 of them coming in the league driving them into The Champions’ League group stages. Yet somehow, his contribution was over-looked when the nominations came out.
Mario Gomez:
The German striker was the only ray of sunshine that came out of a Bayern team that was largely disappointing in the last term. “Mr. Zuverlässig” scored an incredible 39 goals in all competitions with 28 coming in the league making him the top goal scorer in Germany.
After being ditched by his own manager in The Champions’ League final, more disappointment came his way as he missed out on being nominated. The languid Bulgarian had his best season in United’s red scoring 22 goals with 21 coming in the league as he clinched the Barclay’s Premier League’s Top Goal Scorer’s award.
The Top 10:
10. Iker Casillas:
The Real Madrid and Spanish Captain is the lone Goal-Keeper in the list and surely deserves a mention. The last line of defense and often as Madrid Goal Keeper - the only line of defense, did get some help from his team-mates this season. His key performance came in the Copa Del Rey final as he kept a rare clean-sheet against the Catalans enabling Madrid to win their first trophy in three years.
9. Gerard Pique:
Oh, how United rue selling the 23-year old. The Spaniard has gone on to reach the heights that are much greater than any United coach could ever imagine. With the decline of Rio Ferdinand, Pique would have been the perfect long term replacement for him. But alas, for it was not to be. He was destined to go to Barca and be the defensive pillar on which this brilliant team stand. Firmly established as one of the best center-backs in the world, he helped Barca win La Liga and later on the champions’ league. He was mammoth in the 5 Classicos as Barca let in only 3 goals against Ronaldo and Co.
8. Nani:
The erratic and mercurial Portuguese winger, found consistency early in 2010 and has not looked back since. In a United team that lacked flair, he was the one man who added that spark to The Red Devil’s game-play. He scored 10 goals and assisted 19 others which made him the club’s Players’ ‘Player of the Year’. He was also a part of the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. It seems as though, the €25.5 million man is finally living up to the title of The ‘New Ronaldo’.
7. Mesut Ozil:
As one of the few German stars that emerged from The World Cup in 2010, a €15 million transfer from Werder Bremen was a bargain. And it proved to be precisely that, as he knocked over Kaka off the playmakers’ role at a Madrid team oozing with talent. Not only that, he played a crucial role in the Copa Del Rey as Los Blancos won their first title in 18 years. Scoring 10 goals in all competitions and assisting 26 others, Mesut has made a cracking start to his Madrid career.
6. David Villa:
The € 40 million man, enjoyed a stunning start to his Barcelona career. His tally of 23 goals and 9 assists which included a magnificent goal in the final of the biggest club competition in Europe helped Barca to a double. Even when played out of position – out on the wings, his commitment to the team was undeniable. That, and his brace in the 5-0 thumping of the ‘Men from Madrid’ helped him firmly establish himself in the hearts of the Barcelona faithful.
5. Samuel Eto’o:
The 30-year old captain of the Cameroon national team is still one of the most potent strikers in Europe. Having won The Champions’ League the previous season, he continued on his rich vein of form and stood out, as The Nerazzurri outfit struggled to emulate under three different managers what they had achieved under Mourinho the previous season. The man who was ‘too ugly’ to be a Galactico netted an astonishing 37 goals out of which 8 came in Europe. He also assisted 15 other goals, all of which truly makes him the dark horse in the race. His key assets as a striker still remain his pace and agility which is astounding considering his age.
4. Andres Iniesta:
Last year’s runners-up, he would be breathing down Messi’s neck yet again as he was sublime this year as well. Consider these stats to realize just how sensational he was this year, in Barca’s 2-0 home win over Viktoria Plzen, he had a 90.9 percent pass success rate (90/99 passes completed). 63 of those were classified as ‘attacking third passes’. He has been famously dubbed as ‘Spain’s most complete midfielder’ by his partner in crime Xavi. The duo orchestrate the Barcelona midfield and Iniesta’s passing accuracy rate of 89.06 percent sparks that effervescent flow of forward passes to Villa and Messi.
3. Xavi:
‘The Puppet Master’ was at his best again this season, pulling the strings for Barca and Spain. He was the catalyst behind Barca’s dominance in Spain and Europe last season as well. He orchestrated the midfield, with a pass completion rate of 91 percent against United in The Champions’ League final. Not only that, his 105 completed passes against Arsenal at the Nou Camp guided Barca through a difficult fixture. His goal against The Gunners was one of my favorite moments of the season.
The 2008 Fifa World Player of the Year won his first trophy in Spain this year. He is right up there fighting Messi for the award. Ronaldo scored 40 goals and set up 10 others in his 2010-2011 La Liga season, the highest tally ever scored by one player in domestic competition. Over-all Ronaldo scored an unbelievable 53 goals in 54 matches at a strike-rate of 98.1 percent. He’s a ruthless record breaking machine, and to put him at no. 2 almost seems unfair. As ‘The special one’ recently said “There’s no doubt on my mind that the Golden Boot is a much more objective award than the Ballon d’Or.”
1. Lionel Messi:
The defending champion of the last two years, he clearly is the favorite to retain it. The first ‘Number 10’ of the Argentine national team since God himself – Diego Maradona, he produced the kind of form that is now a mere expectation of him. Messi proved yet again, that what Ronaldo can do, he can do better as he scored 53 goals in 55 appearances, along with 24 assists on his course to winning La Liga and The Champions’ League. His goal in The Champions’ League semi-final first leg at The Bernabeu was magical and was one of the moments of the season.
