Cristiano Shortlisted for FIFA World Player of the Year Award

[♥ Majiek ♥]

drogba because the world cup will be held in his continent

and his strenght and goals... i thought that weird to...good thing that the WC isn't being held in Antarctica...we'd have some eskimo nominated too j/k

Drogba the token English-based player! I'd be hilarious if he won!

him or the eskimo? j/k  but really i don't think he'll make top 5

if he doesn't well, he will go to the camera and call it a "f'ing disgrace!" j/k

[Samia]

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo was given a chance to defend his world player of the year title on Monday when he was named on the short list for this year's accolade.

Argentina's Lionel Messi, Brazil's Kaka, the 2007 winner, and Spanish pair Andres Iniesta and Xavi completed the short list for the title which will be awarded by soccer's governing body FIFA on Dec. 21.

All five nominees play for Spanish clubs - Ronaldo and Kaka for Real Madrid and Xavi, Messi and Iniesta for Barcelona.

Messi has already won the Ballon D'Or awarded by France Football magazine, mainly after helping Barcelona to win the 2008/09 Champions League.

The winner will be chosen by national team coaches and captains, who cannot vote for players from their own country.

Last year Argentina coach Diego Maradona labelled the rules as stupid after he was unable to vote for Messi.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/ronaldo-messi-on-short-list/article1391420/

ronaldo's in the top 5, so he should be at the gala i like kaka, but i have no idea what he's doing there! although it would be nice to have some pictures of the two staring into each other's eyes.

The FIFA World Player Gala 2009 will have a number of exciting new features, including two new awards:

? The FIFA/FIFPro World XI, which will honour the best 11 players of the year as chosen by over 50,000 professional football players from all over the world.

? The FIFA Puskás Award, created in honour and in memory of Ferenc Puskás, the captain and star of the Hungarian national team during the 1950s, will be presented to the player ? man or woman ? who has scored the ?most beautiful goal? during the past year.
http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/releases/newsid=1145159.html

ronaldo should be in the team of the year.

[♥ Majiek ♥]

Kaka in the top 5?? geez, I like Kaka but he seems to get nominated on reputation more then anything for these awards.

[♥ Majiek ♥]

Cristiano will be at the Gala, hot pics! Cristiano will hopefully be in the top 3 like the Ballon d'Or.

That's the 3rd time Cristiano has been nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year isn't it in 3 years?? not bad!

[Samia]

how awkward will it be if a journo asks iniesta or ronaldo about the iniesta diving incident in the pre gala press conference

top 5 dominated by la liga based players.

[♥ Majiek ♥]

top 5 dominated by la liga based players.

That's amazing, no token England-based player, who's the strongest now, England?? top 5 players in the world from La Liga! j/k

tbh I think Torres should of been in the top 5 ahead of Kaka, but that's only my opinion.

[just_anna]

top 5 dominated by la liga based players.

That's amazing, no token England-based player, who's the strongest now, England?? top 5 players in the world from La Liga!

tbh I think Torres should of been in the top 5 ahead of Kaka, but that's only my opinion.

well yeah kinda of...i mean Kaka isn't a player to really stand out all the time...but he does do a lot for the team...i agree he didn't have the best year but well...if he got in the top 5 it must be for some reason... he has to keep Cristiano company...

[♥ Majiek ♥]

^ True, he needs to help Cristiano defend against the evil Barcelona era players!

[just_anna]

a Real Madrid vs. Barcelona duel for the Fifa Player of the Year...

[Harmony]

we all know who will win - i have no problem with it tbh.
but what i don't get is Kaka?

My top 5:
1. Messi
2. Cristiano
3. Xavi
4 Iniesta
5 Kaka

[Kari]

I agree with your Top 4, kazzia... but it doesn't please me to see messi ahead of Cris 

As for Kaka, I think he's doing great in Madrid... but yes, there were other very talented players in the world who have done better than him this year and who deserve to be in this top 5 too... so I would put Ibrahimovic or Gerrard, instead of him 

[ronamor]

was about to post this

good to see ronaldo nominated again. he won't be winning it, but it would be nice to see him all suited up for the gala and receive the silver or bronze trophy, if they call 2nd and 3rd place on stage i.e. he has the golden and bronze trophies...what he needs is the silver one

I agree.

I wonder who Cristiano voted for?? since hes the captain of the Portuguese national team??

he probably voted for kaka..... since they are bet buddies now

[♥ Majiek ♥]

A little bit off-topic:

Grammy award winner Laura Pausini to perform at the FIFA World Player Gala 2009

Grammy award winner Laura Pausini will headline the musical acts at this year?s FIFA World Player Gala, which will take place at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, FIFA?s home city, on 21 December 2009. Support act The Harlem Gospel Singers will also perform at the gala, which will be hosted by CNN International Sports presenter Pedro Pinto and Sky Sports presenter Charlotte Jackson.

The FIFA World Player Gala has been organised by FIFA since 1991, and has become the most prestigious awards ceremony in the world of football. At this annual ceremony, the FIFA World Player award is given to the best male and female player of the year, as chosen by the national team coaches and captains.

This year, two new awards will be presented at the gala: the FIFA/FIFPro World XI to honour the best 11 players of the year as chosen by over 50,000 professional players from all over the world, and the FIFA Puskás Award for the ?most beautiful goal? of the year as voted on FIFA.com by fans, a prize created in honour and in memory of Ferenc Puskás, the captain and star of the Hungarian national team during the 1950s.

Online voting for the FIFA Puskás Award is open until 14 December via the link on the right.

source: FIFA.com

It looks like FIFA are trying to make this awards the biggest yet!

[just_anna]

A little bit off-topic:

Grammy award winner Laura Pausini to perform at the FIFA World Player Gala 2009

Grammy award winner Laura Pausini will headline the musical acts at this year’s FIFA World Player Gala, which will take place at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, FIFA’s home city, on 21 December 2009. Support act The Harlem Gospel Singers will also perform at the gala, which will be hosted by CNN International Sports presenter Pedro Pinto and Sky Sports presenter Charlotte Jackson.

The FIFA World Player Gala has been organised by FIFA since 1991, and has become the most prestigious awards ceremony in the world of football. At this annual ceremony, the FIFA World Player award is given to the best male and female player of the year, as chosen by the national team coaches and captains.

This year, two new awards will be presented at the gala: the FIFA/FIFPro World XI to honour the best 11 players of the year as chosen by over 50,000 professional players from all over the world, and the FIFA Puskás Award for the “most beautiful goal” of the year as voted on FIFA.com by fans, a prize created in honour and in memory of Ferenc Puskás, the captain and star of the Hungarian national team during the 1950s.

Online voting for the FIFA Puskás Award is open until 14 December via the link on the right.

source: FIFA.com

It looks like FIFA are trying to make this awards the biggest yet!

well i guess it's normal to try and make this awards better every time... and awww i like Laura Pausini... and haha Kaka will be happy about "The Harlem Gospel Singers" performing.. i can't wait for pictures... Kaka and Cristiano against the world...

[Pärla]

Yay for Laura Pausini!
The music in recent years has been a bit too much on the classical side for me.lol

I agree about Kaka being there,but these awards are allways a bit biased one way or other.