The most prestigious award that a soccer player can get is the Ballon d'Or award and it is given to the world's best footballer. In 2012, there was a shortlist of three people who were competing for this award. Those competitors were Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi, his teammate Xavi, and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. Lionel Messi who is only 24 years old had won the award the past two years and is looking to win the accolade for a third year in a row. Only two people have received the award three times, french striker Zinedine Zidane, and Brazilian striker, Ronaldo. Now Messi joins those other two strikers as the world's best soccer players. Cristiano Ronaldo who is only 26 years old won the accolade in 2008. Although the last competitor, Xavi, has never won the award before, he was still supported by many to win it this year. The result was announced on January 9th, 2012 and the award went to Lionel Messi who received 47.88% of the votes cast by national team coaches and captains for a third straight year. Ronaldo came in 2nd with 21.6% of the vote and Xavi came in 3rd with 9.23% of the vote. Messi dedicated his 3rd time receiving this award to his teammate Xavi, and said, " This one is very special because I want to share this with my friend and team-mate Xavi. He deserves it."
Although Messi won the award for the past three years including this year, I personally don't think he's the best soccer player in the world right now. I would have choose striker Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid to win the award for the past two years because he is simply the best player in the world in every aspect. Ronaldo can score in any way, either from a free kick, penalty shot, or a distance shot. Last season, he set a Real Madrid and Primera Divison goal scoring record by beating Madrid's Hugo Sanchez (38 goals) by scoring 40 goals, 9 more than Messi, and claiming the Pichichi award. He has truly mastered all of these abilities and showed this great form this season by currently being the La Liga goal scorer with 16 goals, two more than Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has been explosive by scoring in international games with Portugal while Messi is hardly ever seen in international games and is rather quiet. Ronaldo was also Tested to the Limit by Castrol EDGE where leading sports scientists used latest technology to test him in a series of challenges through vision, skills, strength, and agility. At the end of the four part test, it was determined that he had all of these abilities and was stated to be the best player in the world by Castrol edge and Arsenal's manager, Arsene Wenger. Some say Messi is the best player in the world, but I say Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world because he has truly lived up to his potential.
With all of Cristiano Ronaldo's accomplishments, I would have thought he would be more famous and well known. I guess he's a rising star with amazing athletic ability!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I personally think he's the best player in the world, but i guess people in Europe don't see the skills and abilities in him that I see.
DeleteIt's amazing how we har so much about great football, basketball, and baseball players but never about these soccer players. I never knew any of these guys existed.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I guess it's just that soccer isn't as famous in the US as it is in South America or in England.
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