Messi walks the Ballon d'Or

[Darkzzz_]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/de...n-dor-barcelona

[Sly]

Individual standings

1 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), 473 points

2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), 233

3 Xavi (Spain, Barcelona), 170

4 Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), 149

5 Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Internazionale), 75

6 Kaká (Brazil, Real Madrid), 58

7 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Barcelona), 50

8 Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), 35

9 Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), 33

10 Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), 32

11 Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool), 22

12 Cesc Fábregas (Spain, Arsenal), 13

13 Edin Dzeko (Bosnia, Wolfsburg), 12

14 Ryan Giggs (Wales, Manchester United), 11

15 Thierry Henry (France, Barcelona), 9

16= Luis Fabiano (Brazil, Sevilla) 8

16= Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United), 8

16= Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), 8

19 Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Atlético Madrid), 7

20 Yoann Gourcuff (France, Bordeaux), 6

21= Andrey Arshavin (Russia, Arsenal), 5

21= Júlio César (Brazil, Inter), 5

21= Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), 5

24 Maicon (Brazil, Inter), 4

25 Diego (Brazil, Juventus), 3

26= David Villa (Spain, Valencia), 2

26= John Terry (England, Chelsea), 2

28 Franck Ribéry (France, Bayern Munich), 1

28= Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast, Barcelona), 1

30 Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), 0

[Uncle Albert]

Probably does just about deserve it.

[Darkzzz_]

Individual standings

1 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), 473 points

2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), 233

3 Xavi (Spain, Barcelona), 170

4 Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), 149

5 Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Internazionale), 75

6 Kaká (Brazil, Real Madrid), 58

7 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Barcelona), 50

8 Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), 35

9 Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), 33

10 Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), 32

11 Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool), 22

12 Cesc Fábregas (Spain, Arsenal), 13

13 Edin Dzeko (Bosnia, Wolfsburg), 12

14 Ryan Giggs (Wales, Manchester United), 11

15 Thierry Henry (France, Barcelona), 9

16= Luis Fabiano (Brazil, Sevilla) 8

16= Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United), 8

16= Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), 8

19 Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Atlético Madrid), 7

20 Yoann Gourcuff (France, Bordeaux), 6

21= Andrey Arshavin (Russia, Arsenal), 5

21= Júlio César (Brazil, Inter), 5

21= Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), 5

24 Maicon (Brazil, Inter), 4

25 Diego (Brazil, Juventus), 3

26= David Villa (Spain, Valencia), 2

26= John Terry (England, Chelsea), 2

28 Franck Ribéry (France, Bayern Munich), 1

28= Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast, Barcelona), 1

30 Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), 0

It was a close battle, blimey.

[Guest Bilo]

The scores reflect the reality.

Messi is the best player on the planet by fucking miles.

Congrats Leo!

[purpleronnie]

I agree messi stands alone at the moment.

[Uncle Albert]

People do need to realise these awards dont show the true story, like Ryan Giggs won PFA by a mile. Yeah Messi probably does deserve it this year but for people to say he is the best by a mile is a joke because Ronaldo is just as good as Messi but when you win a treble then you are going to win the big awards.

Just like Ronaldo won it when United done the League/European double.

[Finnegan]

They've both got the tecnical ability, maybe, sure. But if you believe Ronaldo's footballing brain is anywhere near as quick as Messi's then you're in need of psychiatric attention.

[StanSP]

240 points I believe does actually eqaul a mile.

Messi is better by a mile.

He doesn't 'just about deserve it'.

He fully deserves it.

[Uncle Albert]

240 points I believe does actually eqaul a mile.

Messi is better by a mile.

He doesn't 'just about deserve it'.

He fully deserves it.

What the hell..?

Messi is not better by a mile, even Nathko might agree with me there because if you seen Ronaldo's last three seasons then he has been untouchable in the 'best league in the world'. This isn't me making petty excuses but Ronaldo has had a few injuries this calender year and hasnt played as many games as Messi.

They are both unreal players but total different players at the same time.

[Guest Bilo]

They've both got the tecnical ability, maybe, sure. But if you believe Ronaldo's footballing brain is anywhere near as quick as Messi's then you're in need of psychiatric attention.

Correct.

That's something that can never be taught to a player either. Thus, Messi is naturally a better player than Ronaldo and always will be.

[StanSP]

What the hell..?

Messi is not better by a mile, even Nathko might agree with me there because if you seen Ronaldo's last three seasons then he has been untouchable in the 'best league in the world'. This isn't me making petty excuses but Ronaldo has had a few injuries this calender year and hasnt played as many games as Messi.

They are both unreal players but total different players at the same time.

Okay it was a bit of an exaggeration on my part, but I still think Messi deserves it quite a bit and not 'just about'.

[lildave3]

Fully deserved, because over the last 12 months he has been the stand out player on the planet.

[Sly]

Can someone explain to me why Ronaldo even came 2nd?

[Darkzzz_]

No doubt about it, Ronaldo is world class, he is one of the best players in the world and you're quite right, winning the treble played a huge part in this win for Messi.

There will always be people taking sides to each of them as they are different types of players who have their strengths and weakness. I do believe that Messi has an unbelievably gifted football brain which Ronaldo can't compete with and for me the margin he won by was fully deserved.

[Darkzzz_]

Can someone explain to me why Ronaldo even came 2nd?

I thought that.

Although you could argue that maybe Xaxi and Iniesta deserved to win it.

[lildave3]

Can someone explain to me why Ronaldo even came 2nd?

Another 2 trophies, another hatful of goals (including 9 in his first 8 at Real Madrid) and a world record transfer fee would be my guess.

[Samilktray]

Better by a mile, what a daft thing to say.

Messi does deserve it though, but I would still prefer Ronaldo in my team and rate him more.

Hope this doesnt make too many people emotional.

[lcfc_jme]

Messi is an unbelievable footballer, some of the challenges he rode at the weekend and the way Madrid were by and large unable to get the ball from him without fouling him just served to highlight to me why he's the best player on the planet. When he was out wide and skipped away from Diarra and somebody else before tangling Pepe up was sublime.

Definitely prefer him to Ronaldo, myself, but each to their own.

Congrats to him, though!

[StanSP]

Messi seems to perform more consistently in the bigger matches too.

[Tommeh]

"Best league in the world" with no one on the top 7. Excellent.

Messi has been streets ahead of everyone this season, fully deserved. Stunned at how far Yaya Toure is down would have certainly had him down as top 10.

[StanSP]

I wonder how Karim Benzema feels. Being nominated and getting absolutely nothing .

[AjcW]

Well done Leo .

However I would of voted for Xavi or Iniesta.

I like the understated players of the top teams. So much so that the stand out Barca player for me this season is Seydou Keita.

I dont think Ronny has much chance of getting 2010 already as Real look unlikely to win the champions league(And the Ballon d'Or is usually someone from the champions league winners 11.)

[Sparky]

Never in doubt this year , think Xavi and Iniesta can count themselves unlucky to come behind Ronaldo.

When talking about greats in the past World cups are always at the forefront of the debates (Maradona 86 Pele 70 etc) so the next step for Messi is to help retain the Champions league which would lift this Barcelona side to one of the best club sides of all time followed by Messi inspiring Argentina to the latter stages of the world cup !!!

[Uncle Albert]

"Best league in the world" with no one on the top 7. Excellent.

Messi has been streets ahead of everyone this season, fully deserved. Stunned at how far Yaya Toure is down would have certainly had him down as top 10.

Yet Ronaldo was at United for the majority of time this year and since he won this award last year, have a think next time, I just think if it was Ronaldo who scored the crucial goal in the Champs League Final this year then Ronaldo would of won it.

This season? 2009/2010? No he hasnt.