Ballon d'Or Worldview: Who Will Win The Golden Ball 2009?

"Lionel Messi. Finally the little Argentine has overcome both injuries and high expectations to excel for Barcelona and score in the Champions League final. On his day he's the world's best, and a true difference-maker. His Argentina form is mixed, but they're still the luckiest country on earth to have him."
--Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com International

"Lionel Messi. At this time, no player is as strong as Messi. He won the Champions League, has helped Argentina to go to the World Cup and is the soul of Barcelona. Messi is the best player and it would be a scandal if he didn't win the trophy ... There are no alternatives ...This is his year!!!
--Fabrizio Ponciroli, Goal.com Italy

"Lionel Messi. Incredible player, had a fantastic year with Barcelona, winning the treble and scoring a goal in the Champions League final, need we say more?"
--Tommy van Eldik, Goal.com Netherlands

"Xavi. I back the midfielder, although I think that Lionel Messi will be the winner because all of these prizes are championship and reputation based. For me, I see Xavi as the main reason for Barcelona's success, not Messi. So if it was down to me, I would select the best passer in the world: Xavi."
--Mohammed Awaad, Goal.com Arabic

"Lionel Messi. He maintained his fitness, scored a boat-load of goals (including many with his right foot), saved games under pressure and was central in his side winning everything on offer - all the things he had failed to do before, in addition to his already mesmeric natural talent.  And so not even a shambolic, underachieving national team can deny him the honour of being the year's greatest player. Topping this will be the problem."
--Sulmaan Ahmad, Goal.com UK

"Xavi. There's no chance that someone from outside Baracelona deserves this title more. The Catalans won every single competition they played in and did that with an impressive display of attacking football. The big question, though, is who deserves the top honors for this success? The 'brain' of the team, Lionel Messi, or the 'lungs', Xavi Hernandez? I'd go for the latter, Xavi, because he also lead Spain to finally win a major competition the previous summer and I don't think he can repeat such a grandiose season, while I'm sure that Messi will be among the serious competitors for the Ballon d'Or for many years to come."
--Michael Paterakis, Goal.com Greece

"Lionel Messi. He has delivered in the big games, especially against Madrid, Bayern and Manchester United. When Ronaldo won the award, he had 42 goals with eight assists to his name in the 2007-08 season. Last season, Messi scored 42 and had 18 assists. That says it all, doesn't it?"
--Rahul Bali, Goal.com India

"Andres Iniesta. Even if Messi is the favourite of the bookmakers, he did not show the consistency of Andre Iniesta. The man is the true leader of Barca, he is the engine of the team, the man who makes the team play better. Without him, Barcelona are not the same team. He is capable of scoring in big matches (like he did against Chelsea) and he showed tremendous leadership, something that is not the main characteristic of Messi. I would like Iniesta to lift the Ballon d'Or, as he is the perfect mix of beauty and efficiency."
--Alexandre Walraevens, Goal.com France

"Lionel Messi. The humble, yet supremely talented Barcelona star has done all that he can to ensure this year's award and he genuinely deserves to have the trophy on his mantle piece after a truly exceptional year. Quite simply, he put his hand up as one of the leaders of a squad full of incredibly good players. He has scored loads of goals and the titles he won with Barca last season are an indication that he has a great hunger to succeed. We may see him on the podium for many years to come."
--Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com Africa

"Andres Iniesta. This kind of prizes are without memory. They are always given to goalscorer, but Messi only scores because there is a midfield behind him that allows him to do so. And in that midfield, there is a phenomenon called Iniesta, the most undervalued player on the planet. I need to remind everybody that without Iniesta's golden goal against Chelsea, Barcelona would not be European Champions..."
--Sergio Stanco, Goal.com Italy

"Lionel Messi. I want to think of a more deserving candidate but Messi is the best. I think that Xavi and Iniesta represent the wonderful football Barcelona play. But the whole world will vote for Messi..."
--Takashi Sugiyama, Goal.com Japan

"Lionel Messi. He deserves this award. It is true that Xavi and Iniesta have also played key roles in Barcelona's success but both need Messi to win the big matches. The Argentinean scored big goals in big games and, of course, set up a great number too. And even when he didn't score or create, he entertained football fans around the world with his unrivaled individual abilities. This year could be the first of many Ballon d' Ors for him."
--Amoy Ghoshal, Goal.com India

"Lionel Messi. He played as the key role in Barcelona 'new dream team' and helped the Catalan club to lift the treble. The whole of 2009 was a fight between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and we got the final answer as to who was the best at the Champions League final in Rome. Although he suffered a lot of pressure with Albicelestes, they booked their ticket to WC 2010 finally and now we can look forward to him lighting up the tournament."
--Tony Mutong, Goal.com Hong Kong

"Lionel Messi. As hard as it is to look beyond the Barcelona poster-boy, Messi, for the top spot in the running, it would be a travesty if Xavi and Andres Iniesta failed to garner the second and third spots. The duo were integral to Barcelona's fortunes throughout 2009, and provided many a goal for Messrs Henry, Eto'o, Ibrahimovic and indeed, Messi himself. I am not expecting the judges to select anyone else besides Messi but it would be a victory for artistry, subtlety and craft if the Spanish midfield duo were recognised for their efforts in a poll that usually favors forwards."
--Peter Staunton, Goal.com International