The race to be crowned the best player in the world for 2011 is on as FIFA revealed its 23-man shortlist of contenders for the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy. Traditionally dominated by attacking players and the fantasista, with names like Ronaldinho, Baggio, Zidane and Platini winning the award, this year is no different and by a bizarre (lucky!) twist of fate, this year’s shortlist contains no fewer than five fantasista stars.
So in no particular order, let’s take a closer look at this fantasista five in…
Five fantasisti nominted for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or:
5. Cesc Fabregas (Spain / Barcelona / Arsenal)
His love affair with his beloved Arsenal came to an end this year as he returned to his boyhood club Barcelona, where he won two trophies in his first two weeks at the club. Seemingly interchanging at will with Lionel Messi, into the ‘false-9’ position, Fabregas’ early goalscoring antics have so far been remarkable, notching his first in the European Supercup Final vesus FC Porto, whilst also scoring on his La Liga debut.
Whist he wears no.4 for Barcelona, Cesc is a true no.10
4. Mesut Ozil (Germany / Real Madrid)
After an outstanding 2010 in Bundesliga and with the German national team, this year has been somewhat quieter for the mercurial Real Madrid man. Ozil struggled initially to hold down a regular first team place after his move to the Spanish capital, but grew in confidence and influence as his first season drew to a close, winning the Copa del Rey and finishing runner-up in La Liga. So far, this new season seems to be continuing in similar vain to the last, but the return to form of Kaka recently will provide a further challenge for the German schemer.
Ozil dances past an opponent for Real Madrid
3. Andres Iniesta (Spain / Barcelona)
Things couldn’t really get better for the Spanish maestro after scoring the most important winning goal in his nations history in the 2010 World Cup final, but that didn’t stop Iniesta from trying. With no international honours to aim for it was back to sweeping up all before him domestically as he helped Barcelona win a third straight La Liga title as well as a fourth European Cup (his third).
Dazzling for club & country in 2011
2. Wesley Sneijder (Holland / Inter)
One of only two Italian based players on the shortlist, Sneijder perhaps makes this list on virtue of his incredible achievements in 2010, not this year. Many believe the Dutch playmaker should have won the award last season when he won an astonishing league and cup double in Italy, inspired Holland to the World Cup final, and then finished the year by winning the FIFA World Club Cup with Inter. For all his team achievements that year, he even manage a podium finish, being voted in at fourth place for the Ballon d’Or award. 2011 has been a most extreme contrast.
Injuries & problems at Inter have not made it a happy 2011 for Sneijder
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina / Barcelona)
Already two-time winner and going for his third in a row, the little Argentine genius is odd-on favourite to win it again. We are running out of superlatives to say about, who is widely acknowledged as the current greatest player in the world – certainly the greatest number-10 – but Messi keeps dumbfounding the football world. His trophy haul increased yet again in 2011 with Barcelona as he tormented both Real Madrid and Manchester United (again) on the way to winning another La Liga/Champions League double, and has started this season on fire, already scoring three hat-tricks in the league and heading the Pachichi list. Messi also slotted his 200th goal for Barcelona this week and his only blip came in Argentina’s poor showing in the summer’s Copa America tournament held on home soil, with the number-10 singled out unfairly for extra criticism.
Can Messi make it 3-in-a-row?
