Chew on that! Suarez omitted from Ballon d'Or shortlist

As you’d expect, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have made Fifa’s Ballon d’Or shortlist but, surprisingly, there is no place for Luis Suarez.

The Uruguay international led the way with his sublime performances for Liverpool last season but his 31 Premier League goals were apparently not enough to warrant a spot in the 23-man list.

Tuesday, 28 October 2014 12:30

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Cry-baby Ribery throws his toys out of the pram

Franck Ribery has not taken losing out on the Ballon d’Or to Cristiano Ronaldo at all well, if his latest comments are anything to go by.

The Bayern Munich man finished third behind the Real Madrid ace and Lionel Messi despite winning a historic treble with the Bundesliga side last season.

"I won everything I could win with Bayern and individually. Ronaldo on the other hand did not win anything," he told AZ.

"I am not sad that I missed out, but it does hurt a bit. I deserved to win the Ballon d'Or.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 11:47

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Ronaldo fires Real Madrid past Osasuna

Fresh from winning the Ballon d'Or, Cristiano Ronaldo was back in action as Real Madrid took on Osasuna in the Copa del Rey.

Carlo Ancelotti's men held a 2-0 lead from the first leg and quickly added to that tally with Ronaldo opening the scoring after just 20 minutes.

The Portuguese unleashed a free kick which flew straight at goalkeeper Andres Fernandez with the shot-stopper trying to punch the ball clear and succeeding only in forcing the ball onto the ground, between his legs and into the back of the net.
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Ronaldo beats Ribery & Messi to Ballon d'Or

There were lots of tears as Cristiano Ronaldo scooped the Ballon d'Or for the second time in his career on Monday evening.

The Real Madrid forward batted away stiff competition from treble-winning Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery and Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi, who has already won the prize four times.

"First of all I have to say a great thanks to all of my team-mates with the club and the national team," said an overjoyed Ronaldo.

"Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award.

"Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level I have to thank. My wife, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment. All I can say is thank you to everybody that has been involved."

Tuesday, 14 January 2014 12:00

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Ronaldo the favourite to win Ballon d'Or

The winner of the 2013 Ballon d'or is announced on Monday, and Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite to claim the award.

The Real Madrid star is facing competition from Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery.

But Messi, who won the award in 2010, 2011 and 2012, has struggled with injuries this season, leaving Ronaldo as the frontrunner despite Ribery's Champions League-winning campaign.

Monday, January 13, 2014 12:00

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Ballon d'Or rivals tend to injured Messi

Barcelona may have been left reeling by the news that Lionel Messi could be out of action for eight weeks with a hamstring tear.

But with the announcement of the winner of the Ballon d'Or just around the corner, the injury may be considered something of a blessing for some of the game's biggest stars.

Messi - who won last year's award - is likely to be included in the three-man shortlist for the accolade to be announced in December.

However, the extended absence of the Argentina international could allow the likes of Franck Ribery, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo the chance to steal a march on the Barcelona superstar.

Tuesday, 12 November 2013 11:15

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Messi and Ronaldo’s last chance to stop Ribery's Ballon d’Or pursuit

Saturday's El Clasico has extra significance for both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the duo look to halt Franck Ribery's pursuit of the Ballon d'Or.

The France international's scintillating form inspired Bayern Munich in their treble-winning campaign last season and so far this term the 30-year-old has picked up where he left off, which makes him a strong contender to scoop Fifa's highest individual accolade ahead of the Barcelona star and the Real Madrid ace.

Will Messi or Ronaldo be able to put in a Ballon d'Or-winning display at Camp Nou?

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Ribery stacks up the silverware in bid for Ballon d'Or

 

Can anyone stop Lionel Messi from steamrolling his way to a fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or title? Well a certain French winger thinks he can...

Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery made his announcement in no uncertain terms on Saturday, insisting that it is he who should be crowned the best player in the world.

"I think I've done everything to be the world's best player," he told the Bundesliga's official website.

"I've played a very, very good season. It's either now or never for winning this prize. I can't play any better than this."

So with the titles stacked up, including a Champions League and Bundesliga title, as well as a DFB-Pokal triumph, is the Ballon d'Or within Ribery's grasp?

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Happy birthday Cristiano Ronaldo!

 

He may have been pipped to the Ballon d'Or once again by Lionel Messi, but it's been quite a year for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Real Madrid star turns 28 on Tuesday on the back of 12 months which have seen him claim his first La Liga crown in the Spanish capital as well as a host of individual honours.

February 5 is an illustrious occasion indeed for footballers' birthdays, as Carlos Tevez and Neymar also celebrate turning 29 and 21 respectively.

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Cristiano Ronaldo remains in Messi's shadow after Ballon d'Or defeat

 

Lionel Messi made history on Monday night, securing his fourth Ballon d'Or - more than any player has ever managed.

The Argentine's brilliance saw him deservedly crowned the best player in the world, but spare a thought for Cristiano Ronaldo, who was once again pipped to the post by the Barcelona man.

Leading Real Madrid to the Liga title over the Blaugrana was not enough for the Portugal captain, who couldn't even grab more attention with his suit than Messi at the glitzy ceremony in Zurich.

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Sour grapes for Zlatan over Messi nomination

 

Paris Saint-Germain's outspoken centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic courted controversy once more last week by stating that Barcelona striker Lionel Messi shouldn't pick up the Ballon d'Or award this year.

The 31-year-old Sweden international believes that after having already won it three times in a row, that the Blaugrana genius would be far from a deserving winner and that it should be shared around more.

With Fifa whittling it down to just a three-man shortlist, and Messi competing alongside team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic may have to wait a little while longer to get his wish, with the Argentine the current front-runner and overwhelming favourite.

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Why always him?

 

The outspoken and controversial figure that is Mario Balotelli has been talking up his footballing talents again, stating that he believes he has the ability to be crowned a future winner of the Ballon d'Or award. However, the Manchester City striker has admitted that three-time World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi, is a better player and the Argentine's form will need to drop if he is to ever get his hands on the prestigious trophy.

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A Messi vision of the future for Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo

        On Monday evening, Barcelona star Lionel Messi once again stole the show as he was voted the best player in the world for the third year in succession during the annual Fifa Ballon d'Or Gala in Zurich.

The Argentina international thus followed in the footsteps of former France star Michel Platini to become only the second player in history to win the award three years in a row.

Two of the main personalities of the football world who weren't present at the ceremony at the Kongresshaus were Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, nominated for the Coach of the Year and Player of the Year awards respectively.

The duo opted not to attend as they prepare for Tuesday's Copa del Rey away match against Malaga, and was possibly watching the event unfold on television.

Neither of the two won in their respective categories, but perhaps they will have better luck in the next few years ...

 

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Mou, CR7 & Perez cannot bear to see Barca scoop more awards

 

PEREZ: Guys, guys! We're losers, guys!

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo will not be attending the Ballon d'Or gala on Monday in Zurich.

The official line from the club is that the pair will be too busy focusing on the Copa del Rey round of 16 second-leg against Malaga the following evening.

Zinedine Zidane and Emilio Butragueno will represent the Spanish giants at the star-studded event, which will see Ronaldo battle it out with Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Xavi for the prestigious award of best player in the world.

Mourinho will be up against Catalan counterpart Pep Guardiola, with Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson completing the shortlist for best coach.

One has to praise the Portuguese duo's professionalism to shun the glitz and the glamour, yet the pessimist in us all will wonder whether the real reason for the no-show is the unwillingness to watch Barcelona win another double.

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2011 FIFA Ballon D'or nominees

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Messi weights more than them all

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Sneijder is not a Ballon D’or nominee

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