FIFA World Player of the Year nominations

FIFA World Player of the Year nominees:

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Republic), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan, Italy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Barcelona, France), Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (Milan, Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Alessandro Nesta (Milan, Italy), Andrea Pirlo (Milan, Italy), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England), John Terry (Chelsea, England), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, Argentina), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France), Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Netherlands), Patrick Vieira (Internazionale, France)

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Ten Premier League players have been included in the 30-man shortlist for FIFA's World Player of the Year award, but Cesc Fabregas was snubbed.

Champions Manchester United have one of the frontrunners in Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. Chelsea's Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and John Terry are all in the running.

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres of Liverpool also feature, yet amazingly there is no place for Arsenal talisman Fabregas. No Gunners were included on the shortlist.

However the hot favourite to take the prize is Milan playmaker Kaka, who inspired the Serie A outfit to Champions League glory in May.

Barcelona have a massive seven-player contingent, including stars such as Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.

The list is much the same as last year's and is very conservative in its composition. Older players like Lilian Thuram, Deco and Alessandro Nesta continuing to gain nominations despite their performance levels dropping.

Kaka has already been named 2007 Player of the Year by the professional soccer players' union FIFPro. He is also expected to claim the Ballon d'Or award for European Player of the Year.

The list is drawn up by members of FIFA's technical committees and voted on by the coaches and captains of every national team.

Last year's winner Fabio Cannavaro has a chance to retain the title but is not expected to feature heavily in the voting, while two-time winner Ronaldinho is also a relative outsider.

The winner will be announced at FIFA's World Player Gala in Zurich on December 17.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10102007/58/premier-league-cesc-snubbed-fifa-award.html

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I'm not particularly bothered about Fabregas being left out, he had no chance of winning it, but I don't understand how he can miss out and Thuram can make it! I really do question how some players get picked for this.

Sheffield gunner wrote:Fernando Torres of Liverpool

lmfao sh¡te for atletico from january to june, plays a dozen half decent matches for liverpool and is on the list ffs this is a joke.

henry injured for arsenal sh¡te for barça

i will now officially ignore all threads relating to this topic going forward, its a joke of a competition.

Forget Fabregas, what about




2nd best player in the league and one of our best players in the Champions league.

So 27 of the best players of the year play in either the EPL, La Liga or Serie A. 2 Played all year in the Bundesliga & Ribery is 1/2 Bundesliga, 1/2 Ligue1.

Question for those who watch the South American leagues: is there really NOBODY who should make this list?

Same goes for other European Leagues.

No Seedorf Brilliant!

Buffon? Henry? Juninho? Lahm? (thought he had a dip of form this season) Riquelme? Thuram?

jonathan de guzman wrote:Question for those who watch the South American leagues: is there really NOBODY who should make this list?

ok one last one, riquelme JdG, he's hardly played for villarreal, this is down to playing for Boca

7 players for Barca as well.

Parks lives wrote:7 players for Barca as well.

Amazing seems as the won nothing from a possible 7 competitions. One for each nominee

Parks lives wrote:7 players for Barca as well.

And I thought the Barca fans said that Deco, Marquez and Thuram played poorly last season. We always disagree with these lists and awards, but it really does seem that they've just selected some of the players on this list because of their achievements a couple of years ago. There are some very strange choices, and some players who shouldn't be anywhere near the list.

The-Frank-Tavern wrote:

jonathan de guzman wrote:Question for those who watch the South American leagues: is there really NOBODY who should make this list?

ok one last one, riquelme JdG, he's hardly played for villarreal, this is down to playing for Boca

Good point. Missed Riquelme. Still 1 from all South American leagues seems a bit too little.

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy)
Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Republic)
Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal)
Deco (Barcelona, Portugal)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast)
Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana)
Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon)
Gennaro Gattuso (Milan, Italy)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England)
Thierry Henry (Barcelona, France)
Juninho (Lyon, Brazil)
Kaka (Milan, Brazil)
Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England)
Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina)
Alessandro Nesta (Milan, Italy)
Andrea Pirlo (Milan, Italy)
Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, France)
Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina)
Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England)
John Terry (Chelsea, England)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, Argentina)
Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France)
Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Spain)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Netherlands)
Patrick Vieira (Internazionale, France)

I've highlighted the players that really shouldn't be in a top 30 players in the world this year list. Shocking.

Also, Klose wasnt that impressive last season, would rather give it to someone like Gomez, or Diego!

Juninho wasn't anywhere near his best last year.

Tevez played 8 good games?

So its the FIFA - ARE YOU BASED IN ITALY , SPAIN OR ENGLAND World player of the Year awards ?

No Totti? Afonso Alves? Alex? Sneijder? Diego? VDV?

All more deserving contenders than at least 65% of that list.

Since 1888 wrote:Tevez played 8 good games?

Following a cold streak that lasted nigh on 7 months.

No Lucho Gonzales or Quaresma in the list either.

Since 1888 wrote:Juninho wasn't anywhere near his best last year.

Tiago was better
Where is Seedorf!?
Van Bommel also a far-away ommision.

How can Henry even be considered for the list FFS! He was:
a) on vacation
b) injured
c) played 10 games
d) shite for Barca
e) all of the above

They might as well include Sheva in the list then.

Cannavarro is also another borderline inclusion. Yes, real won the league, but for a shocking amount of games Cannvarro was found out and the court jester.

Cannavaro was absolutely shite for Real last season....and what exactly did Ronaldinho do ? If I'm not mistaken he didn't have a great season as well....

Once again David Beckham is overlooked, his performances for Real (even though the manager vowed never to play him again) were of the highest level...and then some

Half of the players nominated are in due to reputation , which is a disgrace.

Sheffield gunner wrote:FIFA World Player of the Year nominees:

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Republic), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan, Italy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Barcelona, France), Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (Milan, Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Alessandro Nesta (Milan, Italy), Andrea Pirlo (Milan, Italy), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England), John Terry (Chelsea, England), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, Argentina), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France), Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Netherlands), Patrick Vieira (Internazionale, France)

How on earth did the players in bold make the list? Where are Totti, Zlatan, Vidic, Evra, Scholes, Carvahlo, Alfonso Alves, Seedorf, Casilias, VDV, Ramos, Quaresma, Dani Alves and Rossi .

I know everytime I see an award list, I ridicule it but this short list is beyond ridiculous.

Too few Inter players too might I say.

from fifa website "The lists were compiled by various groups of FIFA experts and will now be sent to each of the world governing body's member associations. Once there, the coaches and captains of each country's men's and women's national side will vote for their top three candidates, not including players from their own nation."


LMFAO, must be from the blind school

@Tweedle: we did win 2 of those 7 competitions - the Copa Catalunya and Spanish Super Cup


But yes, 7 Barcelona players is quite funny, when the only three from our club that should be in this year's list are Puyol, Iniesta, and Messi. But of course, the first two aren't in there.

Rez wrote:

Sheffield gunner wrote:FIFA World Player of the Year nominees:

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Republic), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan, Italy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Barcelona, France), Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (Milan, Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Alessandro Nesta (Milan, Italy), Andrea Pirlo (Milan, Italy), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England), John Terry (Chelsea, England), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, Argentina), Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France), Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Netherlands), Patrick Vieira (Internazionale, France)

How on earth did the players in bold make the list? Where are Totti, Zlatan, Vidic, Evra, Scholes, Carvahlo, Alfonso Alves, Seedorf, Casilias, VDV, Ramos, Quaresma, Dani Alves and Rossi .



I know everytime I see an award list, I ridicule it but this short list is beyond ridiculous.

Just realised there's no Totti

Typical. Essien, Rooney, Vieira, Marquez, Cech, Torres have done f@ck all this season.

Now that Torres is playing in England expect him to be listed in line for these awards more often

To be honest though, Essien's inclusion is fully deserved.
Agree with the rest, Rooney was having an off year and shrunk in the presence of Ronaldo FC, Viera was poor/unimpressive the with odd good game, Marquez... well, they say class is permanent but last year was a joke, Cech too long out to be considered IMO, Torres... not worthy of the inclusion based on this year.

DD wrote:To be honest though, Essien's inclusion is fully deserved.
Agree with the rest, Rooney was having an off year and shrunk in the presence of Ronaldo FC, Viera was poor/unimpressive the with odd good game, Marquez... well, they say class is permanent but last year was a joke, Cech too long out to be considered IMO, Torres... not worthy of the inclusion based on this year.

I thought the second half of last season Rooney was excellent, scoring important goals against Roma, Milan, in the league vs Everton and in the FA cup quarter final and semi final.

However if you wanted a Man United representative not only Ronaldo but Scholes, Vidic and Rio would all come in front of Rooney.

DD wrote:

Since 1888 wrote:Tevez played 8 good games?

Following a cold streak that lasted nigh on 7 months.

No Lucho Gonzales or Quaresma in the list either.

its THIS year though. January onwards he was really good for West Ham

Juego de la Okkas wrote:Typical. Essien, Rooney, Vieira, Marquez, Cech, Torres have done f@ck all this season.

What?

Its based more on last season than this season. From January to May last season Rooney was really really good for UTd

So seven Barca player, yet they don't pick Barca's best player last year.

Calidad wrote:So seven Barca player, yet they don't pick Barca's best player last year.

Well they didn't pick totti either! what can you do