The 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner will be Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Xavi Hernandez. Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie can forget about receiving it.
Portugal and Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina and Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi and Spain and Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez have been nominated above the rest to make the Ballon d’Or’s three-man shortlist. The announcement was made on Monday morning by France Football director Francois Moriniere and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke.
Lionel Messi, who is the hot favorite to grab the prize, could emulate Michel Platini’s record of three consecutive Ballon d’Or triumphs. His team mate from Catalonia, Xavi Hernandez, has never won the award despite receiving worldwide praises for his majestic attitude on and off the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, succeeded in the voting of the 2008 edition.
For the Women’s Player of the Year award, the final three places have gone to Brazil’s Marta, Japan’s Homare Sawa and USA’s Abby Wambach. After failing to fire Brazil to World Cup glory in Germany this year, chances are that Marta’s 5-year run as world football’s acclaimed best female might end.
Champions League winner Pep Guardiola, Copa del Rey champion Jose Mourinho and veteran manager Alex Ferguson will compete for the FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year award. Ex-Internazionale boss Mourinho won the latest edition of the trophy.
The FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year award will go to France’s Bruno Bini, Japan’s Norio Sasaki and United States manager Pia Sundhage.
The gala will take place on January 9, 2012. In the meantime, the exclusion of Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez from the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or shortlist is sure to produce debates.
Lionel Messi, who is the hot favorite to grab the prize, could emulate Michel Platini’s record of three consecutive Ballon d’Or triumphs. His team mate from Catalonia, Xavi Hernandez, has never won the award despite receiving worldwide praises for his majestic attitude on and off the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, succeeded in the voting of the 2008 edition.
For the Women’s Player of the Year award, the final three places have gone to Brazil’s Marta, Japan’s Homare Sawa and USA’s Abby Wambach. After failing to fire Brazil to World Cup glory in Germany this year, chances are that Marta’s 5-year run as world football’s acclaimed best female might end.
Champions League winner Pep Guardiola, Copa del Rey champion Jose Mourinho and veteran manager Alex Ferguson will compete for the FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year award. Ex-Internazionale boss Mourinho won the latest edition of the trophy.
The FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year award will go to France’s Bruno Bini, Japan’s Norio Sasaki and United States manager Pia Sundhage.
The gala will take place on January 9, 2012. In the meantime, the exclusion of Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez from the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or shortlist is sure to produce debates.
