One, if not the most, prestigious award for any footballer to receive, the Ballon D’Or is given to the player of the year of the previous season. The award is often referred to as the European Footballer of the Year award and is a huge honor and privilege to be a finalist. This years finalists include Manuel Neuer, Christiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. The winner will be announced on January 12th 2015, in Zurich.
Lionel Messi: The Four time Ballon D’Or winner has come back to attempt to win his fifth! The argentine is known worldwide for his fantastic style of playing and record breaking stats. In the 2013/14 season, Messi scored twenty-eight goals in thirty-one appearances for his club, FC Barcelona. Messi made his debut for FC Barcelona on October 16, 2004 and has since then won various prestigious awards that have set him aside from other players. In 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, Messi won the award for Best Player in the World, and was featured in UEFA team of the year. Messi has continued to break records, and stun viewers of the beautiful game.
Christiano Ronaldo: Recognized worldwide as one of the best players in the game at the moment, Christiano Ronaldo has become an idol to many, and one of the contenders for this year’s Ballon D’Or. The Portuguese striker scored 31 goals in 30 games for his club, and played a crucial part in winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid. Due to his stellar season in 2013/14, Ronaldo was named UEFA Best Player in Europe. The Real Madrid superstar won the Ballon D’Or last year, and is on his way to win his next.
Manuel Neuer: After finishing twenty-third in the Ballon D’Or list last year, Manuel Neuer has worked himself up to the top three, which hasn’t been accomplished by a goalkeeper since Gianluigi Buffon in 2006. In League play in 2014, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper allowed 8.5 goals fewer than would be expected based on total shots faced. He is known for redefining the meaning of goalkeeper, and being able to play outside the area. He was also part of the Germany team that won this past World Cup in Brazil!
After taking a poll, people hypothesized that Ronaldo would be the winner of this year’s Ballon D’Or. (A population of 50 was asked)
Ronaldo: 23
Messi: 19
Neuer: 8
Article contributed by: Lissette Becherano
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| Ballon D’Or finalists |
Christiano Ronaldo: Recognized worldwide as one of the best players in the game at the moment, Christiano Ronaldo has become an idol to many, and one of the contenders for this year’s Ballon D’Or. The Portuguese striker scored 31 goals in 30 games for his club, and played a crucial part in winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid. Due to his stellar season in 2013/14, Ronaldo was named UEFA Best Player in Europe. The Real Madrid superstar won the Ballon D’Or last year, and is on his way to win his next.
Manuel Neuer: After finishing twenty-third in the Ballon D’Or list last year, Manuel Neuer has worked himself up to the top three, which hasn’t been accomplished by a goalkeeper since Gianluigi Buffon in 2006. In League play in 2014, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper allowed 8.5 goals fewer than would be expected based on total shots faced. He is known for redefining the meaning of goalkeeper, and being able to play outside the area. He was also part of the Germany team that won this past World Cup in Brazil!
After taking a poll, people hypothesized that Ronaldo would be the winner of this year’s Ballon D’Or. (A population of 50 was asked)
Ronaldo: 23
Messi: 19
Neuer: 8
Article contributed by: Lissette Becherano
Twitter: @Lizzy_becherano
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