-
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.
-
FC Barcelona – Lionel Messi Can’t Play Central Defender
Sometimes, it seems that Barcelona build their team each summer thinking – We’ve got Lionel Messi, the best player in the world; we’ve got Xavi and Iniesta, the best midfielders in the world. The rest will work itself out. And then, you find yourself heading into the Clasico, to play against Real Madrid, without a natural centre back.
-
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.
-
Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win UEFA’s Best Player in Europe
Surprise? Maybe with Andres Iniesta’s name, but not by seeing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have made it once again to the final three on the shortlist for UEFA’s best player in Europe award, with Iniesta guaranteed a third place while the two mega stars battle it out for the second consecutive year.
-
Euro 2012 Summary – MVP, First XI and Top Scorers
Once again, Spain. Some people thought Italy’s improvement during Euro 2012 meant that they would peak in the final, but it wasn’t to be. Many thought Germany, after a perfect group stage and four goals against Greece in the quarterfinals. Italy were in the way. Spain, ”boring” Spain, with the most dominating performance ever in a Euro final, because they simply have the best players, by far.