The Ballon d’Or award has released their shortlist of candidates for this year which includes favorites Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The list includes 30 players in Europe but has no Italian players even though they are reigning World Cup champions. Who will win this year’s award? Messi is probably the favorite for the award but it is still up in the air. The winner will be announced on December 1, 2009.
Here’s the full list of nominees.
2009 Ballon d’Or shortlist (30 nominees)
Andreï Arshavin (Russia, Arsenal)
Karim Benzema (France, Lyon/Real Madrid)
Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester United/Real Madrid)
Diego (Brazil, Werder Brême/Juventus Turin)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea)
Edin Dzeko (Bosnia, Wolfsburg)
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, FC Barcelona/Inter Milan)
Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal)
Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool)
Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid)
Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool)
Ryan Giggs (Wales, Manchester United)
Yoann Gourcuff (France, Bordeaux)
Thierry Henry (France, FC Barcelona)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Inter Milan/FC Barcelona)
Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Julio Cesar (Brazil, Inter Milan)
Kakà (Brazil, Milan AC/Real Madrid)
Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea)
Maicon (Brazil, Inter Milan)
Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona)
Luis Fabiano (Brazil, FC Séville)
Franck Ribéry (France, Bayern Munich)
Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United)
John Terry (England, Chelsea)
Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United)
David Villa (Spain, Valence)
Xavi (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast, FC Barcelona)
i think chiristiano RONALDO is better then messi because of his interception better doaging and speed as wel as his hight
Ronalndo is one of the players who just taken the samphaties the peoples even those who have no interest in football because of his skills and maturity in football
Ronaldo is the favorite of the almost every country even his enemy country he likes as he is the member of that countrys team