Ballon d’Or debate is in full swing!
With the New Year upon us, the time of year when one lucky footballer is named the best player in the world is fast approaching. The Ballon d’Or ceremony, being held in Zurich on January 12, will see one of the three finalists, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Manuel Neuer, walk away with the coveted prize.
Messi, who dominated the race for the glorious individual honor for the past five years, last season being the only real exception, is believed to be behind his two rivals as favorite to clinch the award this time around.
With Ronaldo’s unrivaled goalscoring form this year, the Portuguese star was handed the 2014 Best Player of the Year prize at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, and after winning the World Cup with Germany back in July, Neuer was named Player of the Year by French publication L’Equipe.
La Pulga, however, has been overlooked this season in the individual accolades department, even losing out the Argentine Player of the Year award to Manchester United's Angel Di Maria for the first time since 2006. Despite captaining his national team to the World Cup final at the famous Maracana stadium, many believe Barcelona’s trophy-less season will hinder Messi’s Ballon d’Or chances.
However, Blaugrana team-mate Andres Iniesta believes otherwise, insisting the Albiceleste skipper deserves to receive the prize, claiming no other candidate is as worthy as the 27-year-old Argentine.
"For me, the only candidate I see is Leo," Iniesta proclaimed. "Everyone has their opinion and they are free to express it.
"The Ballon d'Or is not decided by titles but by a vote of people who believe a player deserves it because they are the best. For me, the number one is Leo. Today and always."
