Ballon D’Or Quotes: Battle Of The Barcelona Stars

There appears to be little doubt that the award goes to Barcelona this season. However, is Messi's triumph a foregone conclusion? Can Xavi or Andres Iniesta rival the Argentinian for the top honour? Here's what the football world has had to say on the matter...

Nov 30, 2009 12:00:00 PM

Lionel Messi in action for Barcelona during the team's Champions League final training session

Players

They Say:

“Without a doubt Messi is the best, most decisive player in the world. Leo can win a game on his own at any moment because he's extraordinary. Playing with him every weekend must be a joy.” Inter striker Diego Milito has little doubt about who will come out winner of the Ballon D’Or award.

"Every time I see Xavi play he lays down the law on the football field, for sure." Argentina coach Diego Maradona takes a break from giving journalists a tongue-lashing to declare his admiration for Xavi’s midfield manner.

"Any team in the world would miss Ronaldo. He is a fantastic player and a great goalscorer. However, other players have raised their game to cover the gap left by his absence and Wayne Rooney is banging the goals in.” Darren Fletcher highlights that Rooney has replaced Ronaldo perfectly as a goalscorer at club level and could do so as Ballon D’Or winner, too.

We Say:

“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 (Xavi and Iniesta) were recognised for their efforts in a poll that usually favours forwards.” Peter Staunton feels like it’s time for a midfielder to pick up some gold.

“There is seemingly nothing that can stop Messi’s inevitable crowning as Footballer of the Year. Well not quite. There is one slight blot on Messi’s copybook for the 2009 calendar year, and that regards his performances in his national shirt.” Walter Townsend is confident that Messi will be crowned as Footballer of the Year. Or is he? Messi has been underwhelming for los Albicelestes this calendar year, but then again, who hasn't?

“He maintained his fitness, scored a boat-load of goals, saved games under pressure and was central in his side winning everything on offer. And so not even a shambolic, underachieving national team can deny him the honour of being the year's greatest player.” Goal.com UK’s Sulmaan Ahmad doesn’t really care for Messi’s failure to shine for Argentina and insists that his peerless club form will see him through.

“Ribery has barely featured this side of summer for either Bayern Munich or France, due to injury, and was not even the best attacker in the Bundesliga last season either." Staunton wonders what Ribery did this season to merit a nomination.

You Say:

“Messi is just a videogame player. He always dribble easily, but Iniesta or Xavi are more complete. They both only need two or three ball touches to make the rest of the team play." Irr from Madrid isn’t too impressed with Messi’s abilities.

“Buffon not being on the list is criminal.” Justin Vella from Australia is thinking about calling the cops following the exclusion of the Juventus goalie.

“Landon Donovan couldn’t play for my high school team,” Chris from the Bahamas isn’t surprised that LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan is not among the nominees.

“Messi is the most overrated player ever. Yes, he has fancy footwork and occasionally does something highlight reel worthy, but without Xavi and Iniesta he isn't much. In fact, in my belief Iniesta was by far the best player of Barca's Champions League winning season.” Seb from Italy is convinced Iniesta is the big man behind Messi’s success.

“It’s all a marketing exercise for FIFA and UEFA. If the award was genuine, the winner would be Diego Forlan. He was the top goal scorer in Europe last year,” expressed Timzink his opinion that the Ballon D’Or voting panel have ignored Europe's best goal-getter.

Stefan Coerts, Goal.com

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