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2013 Ballon d’Or – The 23 Man Shortlist
FIFA have announced their 23-player shortlist for the 2013 Ballon d’Or award, pretty much being another name for best footballer in the world this year, with Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Franck Ribery (France) being the favorites to win it and are also the representatives of their country.
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FIFA World Player of the Year – The Barcelona – Real Madrid Connection
Simple rule to follow. If you want to win the FIFA World Player of the year award, which has now merged into the FIFA Ballon d’Or, you’re going to have Real Madrid or Barcelona on your resume, before or after winning it.
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Messi vs Ronaldo – Image More Important Than Skill
You’ll never convince Cristiano Ronaldo that Lionel Messi is greater than him, rightfully so. To be the best you have to believe you’re the best, no matter the facts and numbers and the overall perception of most people on the planet who watch football. The Real Madrid star, tired of losing in the Ballon d’Or every year, is doing everything he can to win votes.
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Nominees for the 2012 Ballon d’Or
The list for the nominees for the 2012 Ballon d’Or award were released by FIFA, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the obvious candidates to win this one, while Real Madrid beat Barcelona in terms of number of players on this list and no one really came close to Spain on the international front.
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Lionel Messi – Just Breaking Another Goal Scoring Record
Sometimes, I don’t really understand how the Ballon d’Or for 2012 is even a question. Lionel Messi has won it three times in the past, and should win a fourth. When you’re about to break the record for goals in a calendar year, after already setting records for goals in the league, Champions League and an entire season, there shouldn’t be any debate.
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Real Madrid – The Conspiracy Against Iker Casillas
According to Raul Albiol, there’s some grand campaign and conspiracy by the Spanish media to prevent Iker Casillas from winning the Ballon d’Or, despite everything he’s done and won this year with the club and the national team.
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Jose Mourinho – The Campaign to Win Cristiano Ronaldo the Ballon d’Or
Don’t compare Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo. According to Jose Mourinho and his unbiased opinion, Messi is only the best in the world. Not enough for another Ballon d’Or trophy; not when Ronaldo is the best player in the universe.
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Andres Iniesta, European Footballer of the Year, Not Messi or Ronaldo
For the first time since 2007, someone not called Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi wins the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, what was once the Ballon d’Or, won by Andres Iniesta of Barcelona for the 2011-2012 season.
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Cristiano Ronaldo – His MLS “Future” and the Ballon d’Or
Footballers like to please their hosts and interviewers if they ask them the right question, in the right way. When Cristiano Ronaldo has an interview in the United States while Real Madrid get rich off touring over there, of course he’s going to throw a hint or two regarding playing in the MLS, when the time comes.