Ballon d'Or and FIFA World XI
By abhas1987
@abhas1987 (9)
India
January 9, 2013 8:11am CST
FIFA's annual awards are over, and Lionel Messi has been crowned as the World Player of the Year yet again. In the process, he became the first player ever to receive the prestigious award for the fourth time, that too in successive years. As astonishing an achievement it is, his crowning was largely expected. Because it has come at the end of the most stellar year of his career, one in which he scored 91 goals for Barcelona and Argentina (smashing the previous record of 85 goals by Gerd Muller). Most of us already know this.
What many don't know is that FIFA also announces a World XI team every year, and the team they have chosen this year has generated a big controversy among football enthusiasts and experts around the world. 10 out of 11 players in the team are from Barcelona or Real Madrid, with the other one from Athletico Madrid. Just imagine there was no place for players like Pirlo, van Persie, Ibrahimovic or Buffon. These guys are among the best in the world in their respective positions. A world team without any of them is a travesty and a mockery of judgment. The jury has made a complete mess, and the credibility of FIFA World XI is permanently gone.
4 responses
@abhas1987 (9)
• India
10 Jan 13
Yes, both of them have been included as strikers. The choice of Falcao as the third striker has been a surprise though. Robin van Persie and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been equally brilliant, if not better. The judges have shown a blatant and embarrassing bias towards La Liga.
Ronaldo may not feel good about coming second best to Messi again, but there's not much scope for him to complain. Ronaldo has been great, but Messi has been truly extraordinary. It would have been nearly impossible to give the award to someone else.
1 person likes this
@rahul_2689 (634)
• Hyderabad, India
27 Feb 13
The way these awards have been given out in the last few years, there's no surprise Messi's won it again. And its even lesser a surprise that the World XI consists entirely of players plying their trade in the La Liga. Both FIFA and UEFA seem to have a grown a liking for Spanish club football and hence all the awards go there. What's baffling to me is how Messi's won it 4 years in a row. He surely didn't deserve it 2010 or even last year. What's the point of breaking all goal scoring records if your team doesn't win anything.
@fannekhan (783)
• India
10 Jan 13
You are a soccer enthusiast. I have watched World cup football matches and have been amazed by the athleticism and football skills.
I am an avid cricket enthusiast and with 3 formats in the game there is a never ending stream of cricket. But I would love football to do well in all countries because it is a tribute to supreme physical fitness and sublime ball skills that players possess.
waiting for football to become popular in India.
@zabuqamar (138)
• Australia
9 Jan 13
I agree, speeking as a barca fan i do agree with you about the XI and some players where over rated such as Gerard pique as in the last period obviously his performance was worse that he was, and also xabi alonso was over rated and some of the players where wronged such as Pirlo and his performace in the italian juventus was just terrific, I think also the best maneger/coach where all either spanish or coaching a spanish team. so this year the fifa was really a bit nonsence but we cant do anything
