Ballon d'Or: Cristiano Ronaldo + 2013 FIFA-FIFPro world all-star team

---------------------------------------Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)---------------------------------------

--Dani Alves (Barcelona)----Thiago Silva (PSG)--Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)----Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)--

----------Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)-------Xavi (Barcelona)-------Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)------------

----------Lionel Messi (Barcelona)-------Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)-----Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)------


Second Year In a row no EPL players, in my opinion Alves, xavi and Ramos shouldnt be there, Maybe have Suarez or RVP instead of Zlatan (although he played well - it is the French league (1 Excellent sides and 2 good sides and few average teams))

My Team

--------------------------------------------------------Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)-------------------------------------------

-Philipp Lahm (C) (Bayern Munich)--Thiago Silva (PSG)--Mats Hummels  (Real Madrid)---Leighton Baines (Everton)
--------------------------------------------------------Vidal (Barcelona)-----------------------------------------------------------------
--------------Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)--------------------
----------Lionel Messi (Barcelona)------------------------------------------------Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)--------------
------------------------------------------------Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)---------------------------------------------------------------

It's all got a bit pointless the Ballon D'or, most players now just vote for team mates or friends, Ronaldo and Messi not voting for each other just highlights that point. The defence aside from Lahm is just awful, Zabaleta is a better right back than Alvez every day of the week while seeing Barcelona played off the park by Bayern makes the inclusions of Xavi and Iniesta pretty terrible too, Schweinsteiger should definitely have been in the team.

Lham shouldn't be there? That's bonkers imo. I can honestly say I've never seen Phillip Lham have a bad game for country or club. He was outstanding for Bayern last year and has even played midfield this year. Walks into any world XI.

Alves agree, should be no where near the side. Zabaleta should be there for me. Ramos should also not be in that side. Not sure who i'd pick otherwise but Ramos, not a chance.

Xavi and Iniesta there purely for their names. They were below par last season and they know it. Schweinstiger and Martinez take their places. Both pivotal to their sides success.

No qualms about the front 3. Suarez form maybe too late for him to oust those 3.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:It's all got a bit pointless the Ballon D'or, most players now just vote for team mates or friends, Ronaldo and Messi not voting for each other just highlights that point. The defence aside from Lahm is just awful, Zabaleta is a better right back than Alvez every day of the week while seeing Barcelona played off the park by Bayern makes the inclusions of Xavi and Iniesta pretty terrible too, Schweinsteiger should definitely have been in the team.

Thiago silva Is probably the best CB in the Game right now, he is terrific - but Ramos and Alves shouldnt be there, Baines was so much better, play lahm right back and Baines Left, xavi hasnt done anything this year- he was on par with Carrick in 2013 (not saying thats bad)

Last Years Team


Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain)

Defender: Daniel Alves (Barcelona and Brazil)

Defender: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid and Spain)

Defender: Gerard Pique (Barcelona and Spain)

Defender: Marcelo (Real Madrid and Spain)

Midfielder: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid and Spain)

Midfielder: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain)

Midfielder: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona and Spain)

Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)

Forward: Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid and Colombia)

Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)

1 non Real Madrid or Barca player, are they that good or in your opinion is there some bias?

6 Madrid Players, 5 Barca Players, Worlds best team = 2 cities

Baines isn't even Englands best left back let alone the best left back in the world, could possibly have Lahm at right back with Alaba at left back. Had actually forgotten that Lahm has reverted back to the right side in the past season. Seeing Madrid and Barca being played off the park by Bayern and Dortmund but still ending up with a combined 6 players in the best teams makes a mockery of the whole thing, it no longer has any significance.

Liam wrote:Lham shouldn't be there? That's bonkers imo. I can honestly say I've never seen Phillip Lham have a bad game for country or club. He was outstanding for Bayern last year and has even played midfield this year. Walks into any world XI.

Alves agree, should be no where near the side. Zabaleta should be there for me. Ramos should also not be in that side. Not sure who i'd pick otherwise but Ramos, not a chance.

Xavi and Iniesta there purely for their names. They were below par last season and they know it. Schweinstiger and Martinez take their places. Both pivotal to their sides success.

No qualms about the front 3. Suarez form maybe too late for him to oust those 3.

'The defence aside from Lahm is just awful,'

I think you misread the post

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Baines isn't even Englands best left back let alone the best left back in the world, could possibly have Lahm at right back with Alaba at left back. Had actually forgotten that Lahm has reverted back to the right side in the past season. Seeing Madrid and Barca being played off the park by Bayern and Dortmund but still ending up with a combined 6 players in the best teams makes a mockery of the whole thing, it no longer has any significance.

Baines is clearly the Best LB - Cole has been poor for the last couple of years

in 2013 in my honest opinion i feel like Carrick, Gundodan, Vidal, Pirlo, Schweinsteiger, Martinez>Xavi (He had an average season)

KO-KING wrote:---------------------------------------Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)---------------------------------------

--Dani Alves (Barcelona)----Thiago Silva (PSG)--Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)----Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)--

----------Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)-------Xavi (Barcelona)-------Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)------------

----------Lionel Messi (Barcelona)-------Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)-----Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)------


Second Year In a row no EPL players, in my opinion Alves and Lahm shouldnt be there, Maybe have Suarez or RVP instead of Zlatan (although he played well - it is the French league (1 Excellent sides and 2 good sides and few average teams))

I read it in your original post King

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BEBrZblMeE

Liking Messi's Red Tuxedo (can you imagine if that was Ballotelli/Zlatan/Ronaldo - people saying they are seeking attention...)

Liam wrote:

KO-KING wrote:---------------------------------------Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)---------------------------------------

--Dani Alves (Barcelona)----Thiago Silva (PSG)--Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)----Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)--

----------Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)-------Xavi (Barcelona)-------Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)------------

----------Lionel Messi (Barcelona)-------Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)-----Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)------


Second Year In a row no EPL players, in my opinion Alves and Lahm shouldnt be there, Maybe have Suarez or RVP instead of Zlatan (although he played well - it is the French league (1 Excellent sides and 2 good sides and few average teams))

I read it in your original post King

Accident, Lahm is class - corrected now.

My side would be:

Neur

Lham
Hummels
Silva
Zabaleta

Martinez
Vidal/Gundongen can't decide
Schweinstiger

Ribery
Ronaldo
Messi

KO-KING wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Baines isn't even Englands best left back let alone the best left back in the world, could possibly have Lahm at right back with Alaba at left back. Had actually forgotten that Lahm has reverted back to the right side in the past season. Seeing Madrid and Barca being played off the park by Bayern and Dortmund but still ending up with a combined 6 players in the best teams makes a mockery of the whole thing, it no longer has any significance.

Baines is clearly the Best LB - Cole has been poor for the last couple of years

Cole has been poor in comparison to his very high standards but is still the best left back we have, defensively he is superior and that's what I look for primarily in a full back.

I can't see how Ramos is the starting CB, the most redcarded player in world history. Xavi is a bit over the hill I think Cesc, Ozil, and Isco are better than him right now. Suarez is better than Zlatan as great as Zlatan has been he is playing in a pretty soft league and had a rather favorable group in the CL. Also would rate Ya Ya better than Xavi. This team has a lot of reputation player who are a bit long in the tooth.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:

KO-KING wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Baines isn't even Englands best left back let alone the best left back in the world, could possibly have Lahm at right back with Alaba at left back. Had actually forgotten that Lahm has reverted back to the right side in the past season. Seeing Madrid and Barca being played off the park by Bayern and Dortmund but still ending up with a combined 6 players in the best teams makes a mockery of the whole thing, it no longer has any significance.

Baines is clearly the Best LB - Cole has been poor for the last couple of years

Cole has been poor in comparison to his very high standards but is still the best left back we have, defensively he is superior and that's what I look for primarily in a full back.

Very true, that is also what comes first as a LB, but in my opinion if I had to rate them, Cole - Def = 8, Att= 5, Baines Def= 7, Att= 9 (for a full back). So I would choose Baines instead.

Piszczek is a very underrated right back


--------------------------------------------------------Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)-----------------------------------------------

-Philipp Lahm (C) (Bayern Munich)--Thiago Silva (PSG)--Mats Hummels (Real Madrid)---Leighton Baines (Everton)
--------------------------------------------------------Vidal (Barcelona)-----------------------------------------------------------------
--------------Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)--------------------
----------Lionel Messi (Barcelona)------------------------------------------------Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)--------------
------------------------------------------------Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)---------------------------------------------------------------

Defense: Lahm, Silva, Hummels, Zabaleta

Midfield: Schweinsteiger, Ya Ya, Ribery

Forwards: Messi, Ronaldo, and Suarez

Gk: Neuer

This is some anti-PL list, isn't it? #whocares

Xavi over Vidal/Gundogan/Yaya Toure is laughable.

Let alone the lack of Jonny Howson

It's just become the Madrid/Barca fanboy club and it's been that way for years, go back a few years and every man and his dog knew Henry was the best player in the world but guess what Barcelonas Ronaldinho undeservedly gets the reward twice in a row.

I actually agree with Hammersmith, it does seem like anyone who is a regular starter at those two clubs gets consideration. I am sorry Xavi has had a great career but he is not the anywhere near the player he was, neither is Iniesta and Ramos is certainly not one of the best CBs in the world I wouldn't even rate him in the top 5 forget about top 2, maybe not even top 10.

Did you not see ronaldinho those seasons?

Unquestionably the best.

Cannavaro, kaka, Ronaldo followed him the next few years and nine of them were at Madrid or barca at the time (though they all ended up there).

Ent wrote:Did you not see ronaldinho those seasons?

Unquestionably the best.

Cannavaro,Ronaldo followed him the next few years and nine of them were at Madrid or barca at the time (though they all ended up there).

Sorry, Cannavaro despite Italy's victory was never the best player in the world, he won it because an italian team won the world cup and he was their best defender. I can't fault Ronaldino for winning the ballon d'or but I think the year Arsenal went unbeaten Henry deserved the nod. Ronaldino was sick but so was Henry.

Olly wrote:Xavi over Vidal/Gundogan/Yaya Toure is laughable.

Let alone the lack of Jonny Howson

yaya had a poor season least season, one of the reasons why city were so far behind united. it shouldnt be a purely who's the best but have to take into account form. thats why so many have ridiculed the inclusion of xavi and ineista when they haven't played anywhere near there best

ramos must be the most over hyped defender around, his art of defending is just to foul them then hope the ref is lenient. also dont see what the massive fuss about thiago silva is, dante out performed him for club and david luiz!!! was better for country. he plays in a very poor league where he barely has to do any defending. kompany is a much better centre half

i would also have RVP over zlatan for the fact zlatan has been scoring in a weak league, scoring some beauties i may add but still a bit of a bully and hasnt done it against top teams. RVP almost single handily fired us to the title last season

think i must be the only one who thinks robben consistently out performs ribery as well

over the last year:

robben:

12/13- 30 app 13 goals
13/14- 19 app  13 goals

ribery:

12/13 - 43 app 11 goals
13/14 - 22 app 12 goals

stats would appear to back me up aswell

ignoring some absolutely rubbish decisions as they've been vastly commented on, surprised no one has mentioned just how far off the balance of the side is!! Ribery is not a genuine midfielder (in a 4-3-3 formation, he'd be the wide-left attacker), while Xavi and Iniesta are both attacking midfielders, so you're left with no anchor. Add in the fact that Ramos likes to wander down the wing at times, and you get a team so poor defensively I'd honestly expect any of the PL's top 4 teams to rip them to shreds...

If you're going to pick Ribery, Messi and Ronaldo (and you probably should), then you play them as the three forwards. Messi and Ronaldo have both played CF on several occasions have they not?

The rest of the team, Lahm and Neuer aside, is so laughable it doesn't deserve a comment.

Quite embarrassing these awards & nominations for team of the year. Glad Ronaldo won, fully deserved but the voting is so rigged its laughable.

Anyone who watched La Liga & Champions Lge last year knows how far Xavi`s game has worsened. He can't control matches anymore, has poor stamina nowadays & generally can't effect the big games to the extent he did five years ago. He`s purely there for namesake & him playing for Barcelona. Sergio Ramos` inclusion is just shocking on all levels. Extremely surprised Bale did not get the nod for this side.

Ronaldo was worthy of the main award. Has just been immense for the past few years and his performance in the WC playoff against Sweden sealed it this time.
The poor performance of PL teams in last years CL was the main reason for their lack of representation.
Bale was the only British player that could potentially have made the list but faced strong competition in his position.
FIFA's love affair with Real and Barca is again laughable. Messi and Ronaldo are the only two from those clubs that are truly worthy of their place.

John wrote:Anyone who watched La Liga & Champions Lge last year knows how far Xavi`s game has worsened. He can't control matches anymore, has poor stamina nowadays & generally can't effect the big games to the extent he did five years ago.

Was thinking about the Spainish national team the other day. Del Bosque still seems to opt for the old guard in their starting 11 and I think it will prove costly for them at the WC.
I'd like to see Spain play a more fresh and adventerous squad next year - Martinez, Navas, Silva in MF with Mata and Fabregas pulling the strings and Negrado up front.

not convinced with navas, going missing in games and he's playing for the best attacking team in the league. he's very one dimensional as well. i see valencia slagged off a lot on here but navas is no different. a one footed winger who just sticks out wide and try crossing it. any decent full back should have him tied up easily enough.

not sure that type of player is suited to spain either, it isnt the way they play. although negredo would give you a better option for the cross. but id still have pedro in over him all day. been in good form recently

J.Benson II wrote:

John wrote:Anyone who watched La Liga & Champions Lge last year knows how far Xavi`s game has worsened. He can't control matches anymore, has poor stamina nowadays & generally can't effect the big games to the extent he did five years ago.

Was thinking about the Spainish national team the other day. Del Bosque still seems to opt for the old guard in their starting 11 and I think it will prove costly for them at the WC.
I'd like to see Spain play a more fresh and adventerous squad next year - Martinez, Navas, Silva in MF with Mata and Fabregas pulling the strings and Negrado up front.  

I fully agree, if Spain decide to keep the old guard instead of playing Cesc, Pedro, Isco, Navas, Negredo, Martinez and those players they are in for a rude awakening. Xavi is not the player he was two or three years ago, I don't even think he is one of the top 5 or 6 players at Barcelona at the moment. The retreads already got pummeled by Brazil in the confed cup. I think if they trust the newer and younger players they still have the talent to win or get to the final. But if they rely on Xavi and Iniesta this world cup I think they will get found out in the quarters or semis.

As others have said this team is just too Barca and Madrid heavy. Ok you can make an argument for Alves, but Ramos is highly overrated and often a liability. Xavi and Iniesta no way are good enough at this stage of their careers. It is rather shocking that there is not a single premier league based player on the team. Rather odd considering that 4 champion's league berths are awarded to the EPL and premier league teams do pretty well year in and year out although last year they didn't perform in the CL.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12040/9115806/ballot-box-opened

Ballot box Opened

Nice little Barca love-in for Messi - he voted Iniesta, Xavi and Neymar.

In my opinion it should be 1 - Ronaldo, 2- Ribery 3- Messi, It was 1- Ribary 2- Ronaldo 3- Messi but after Qualifiers it had to be Ronaldo

It would be a travesty if Iniesta finishes his career without Big golden Ball...

kingraf wrote:It would be a travesty if Iniesta finishes his career without Big golden Ball...

Don't worry, Kingraf.....I doubt that the world will stop turning. <yawn>

I'm sorry to sound negative, but this award has been a stitch-up for years now. I would not disagree that Cristiano Ronaldo is quite deserving of it on this occasion, but the very nature of it is such that his achievement is devalued by the decline in the award as a fair and unbiased assessment.

Until the voting system is changed (and I have no suggestions as to how they might do that), then it will continue to decline until it eventually becomes an irrelevance to all but the in-crowd.

I suppose we can go back to the journos doing it alone? I'm still not sure how a Messi won it in 2010... Given the fact that Cannavaro won it soley on the back of his World cup, I'm not sure how Messi managed to snare the 2010 edition.... Wasnt even that good in the club game...

the original ballon dor was just a journalists originally from europe then eventually opened up to the rest of the world. it was a much better award, until fifa hijacked it because it was outstripping there own world player of the year award.

since fifa took over only messi and now ronaldo have won it

Can't look past Messi in 2009, 2011, and he broke the Scoring record in 2012. This is Ronaldo's first "Fifa Ballon d'or", and the award has been around for what, four years? Other than 2010, I don't think there was a year the winner didn't deserve it...

I agree with Kingraf, Messi deserved his player of the year awards. The guy broke records that no one thought would be broken. La liga in my mind does allow a great attacker to pad their stats as defense is pretty poor in that league. However look at how Messi is scoring at CL level as well and even at international level he has been tearing it up the last couple of years. I actually think Cannavaro is the guy who didn't deserve it. Does anyone think he was the best player in the world in 06? It is an individual award. That is why I don't by Ribbery or Cannavaro. They are just a very good piece of great team. For me the award should go to the player who was the best individual, sure winning things is one part of it but it isn't a team award.

I think the best player in the world this year has been Suarez, if he continues and scores more than a goal a game in the EPL he should be the ballon d'or winner. Regardless of whether Liverpool win the league or win the cup. If he continues the way he does he will get them in CL, and he will put up scoring numbers previously thought impossible in the premier league. He is on pace to smash the single season scoring record while missing about 15 percent of the season to suspension.

compelling and rich wrote:the original ballon dor was just a journalists originally from europe then eventually opened up to the rest of the world. it was a much better award, until fifa hijacked it because it was outstripping there own world player of the year award.

since fifa took over only messi and now ronaldo have won it

+1
Journalists can be biaised at times but at least the vote meant something back then. Now it's just schoolyard politics with x voting for his mate y because he doesnt want z to get it. FFS, even the eurovision song contest has a higher standart of probity!

Messi's vote sums it up really doesn't it.

kingraf wrote:Can't look past Messi in 2009, 2011, and he broke the Scoring record in 2012. This is Ronaldo's first "Fifa Ballon d'or", and the award has been around for what, four years? Other than 2010, I don't think there was a year the winner didn't deserve it...

2009, 2011 messi clearly deserved it, 2012 maybe he deserved it - could be debated but no issues there, but in 2010 Sneijder got robbed of it