» FIFA World Player of the Year

Messi and Marta: 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year

Ana — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:27:06 +0000

As expected, Messi and Marta are 2009’s FIFA World Player of the Year.

Messi took his first FIFA World Player award home by beating C. Ronaldo (who had 352 points against his 1,073). Xavi was third, Kaka fourth and Iniesta fifth. Very well deserved.

Marta took the award for the fourth consecutive time, something never achieved before by male or female player. And she deserves it more then anyone out there. The superiority of her game and skills make it impossible for anyone to win. Germany’s Prinz was second with 290 points (Marta had 833), Kelly Smith had 252, and Cristiane had 239.

FIFA Award: Marta is, again, number 1. Oh.. and so is C. Ronaldo.

Ana — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:53:53 +0000

Marta is the queen. For the third consecutive year, the Brazilian took home the FIFA award for best player in 2008. Very well deserved. On the men’s side, also no big surprises: C. Ronaldo beat Messi, Kaka and Fernando Torres to take home the trophy of FIFA’s best in 2008. Also deserved (even if I don’t like to admit it).

And even though both the guy and the gal received the same award, the difference between these 2 players is big:

Marta is something out of this world when she’s on a pitch. Her skills are so unbelievably superior to any woman playing out there. Any person who knows a bit about football can tell that there’s no one better than her, past or present, in the women’s game. Nobody even gets close.

C. Ronaldo is a different story. He’s a very good player, of course. Not like Marta. Maybe it is because women’s football is not yet as developed as men’s, maybe not. I tend to believe in the latter. In my opinion, Ronaldo is a strong player but fails to shine in key moments (especially when playing for his national team, Portugal). When you think of it, however, he’s the one that had the best 2008 out there (Kaká and Messi did not do so well). And that’s what counts.

So I take this post to take the focus out of Ronaldo, and into Marta and all her achievements, especially her so amazingly beautiful football and all she’s done for the women’s game. I believe we’ll be seeing her win again in the next few years.

FIFA Gala: who is the C. Ronaldo who will take best player?

Ana — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:48:40 +0000

Today FIFA unveiled the very short list of players who will watch C. Ronaldo win best player on January 12th. We are all very sure he will win so there are no other expectations there. The men’s nominees are: Kaká (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Fernando Torres (Spain), and Xavi (Spain).

On the women’s side, my opinion is Marta will take it again. And she should after a spectacular Olympic performance. But then agains, so did Cristiane. The women’s nominees are: Nadine Angerer (Germany), Cristiane (Brazil), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany) and Kelly Smith (England)

The big change this year is that instead of the short list being 3 players, they’ve allowed 2 more fellas and lady fellas to join the gala night. Coaches and captains of national football teams were the ones selecting the above mentioned.

What should I do with my FIFA award?

Ana — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:42:08 +0000

Well, if you want any advice from our fellow mate Kaka, you give it to your church. That is what the AC Milan superstar did when he went to Brazil for new years. After spending the night in church, he left his trophy there as a gift (and what a nice gift shall I say). While there, Kaka also thanked God for the baby he and his wife, Caroline, have on the way.

The gift will be exposed to whomever wants to check it out (even if you are not Christian). People will be able to see the award from 11am to 10pm at Renascer em Cristo (Reborn in Christ) church.

Kaká’s got it all. So does Marta.

Ana — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:43:23 +0000

Kaká is the footballer of the year in all respects. So is Marta. The Brazilian took all prizes available and it was no big news that he was up for winning FIFA’s best player of the year award. And he did. The AC Milan star, just one day after winning FIFA’s club world title took the award home and is surely the hottest player out there (in football terms.. you lnow, there’s still Beckham). However, Kaká wasn’t the only Brazilian receiving the biggest individual award in football: Marta (the magician!) took home the women’s version for the second time in a row.

Oh how nice it is to be young and successful. Kaká, at 25, and Marta, at only 21, are at the top of the world.

And once again, Kaká beat the young Messi and C. Ronaldo to take home the big prize. By the way, Messi, who was second, had 1/2 the point Kaká did.

Religious Kaká sai this after getting the trophy from Pele’s hands:

“This is a very special night for me. I dreamed to become a professional footballer and play for the national team, and that was it. The Bible says the we can have much more of what we can think of, and that’s what has happened to me.”

Kaká is, indeed, a blessed player!

Marta, who is the most amazing player I’ve seen touch a pitch, had it well deserved. Her football at FIFA’s Women’s World Cup was unbelievable and even though Brazil lost the final to Germany, Marta was by far the best player of 2007.

[tags]kaka, marta, FIFA world player of the year[/tags]

FIFA announces the 3 finalists for Best Player of the Year.

Ana — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:30:59 +0000

The world’s predictions became true. The real FIFA short list for World Player title was announced with Kaka, Messi and ~~cocky boy~~ Cristiano Ronaldo as the 3 finalists. As for the ladies, the top 3 are Brazilians Marta and Cristiane and Birgit Prinz, from Germany. Isn’t it great to be in your early 20’s and be one of the top 3 footballers in the world? Seriously, I am here still thinking I could get there, but Marta is only 21, Messi is 20 and Ronaldo is 22 (with a pretty face, lots of money, and good football I think I would also be cocky). Guess I am a bit late for it. But it seems like first place is going to the “old” Kaka (he is 25), who’s not only (probably) taking home 2 prizes (Ballon D’or and FIFA) but also has a baby on the way.

The 6 were chosen after a poll of the coaches and captains of men’s and women’s national teams around the world. MArta already took the prize last year and I believe she can take it again this year. Birgit Prinz took it home in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

I believe second should go to Messi. But then again, I am extremely biased against the Portuguese hunk. Messi is a genius on the pitch his dribbling skills are comparable to Maradona’s. He is well on his way to become Argentina’s new God. After all, it was about time they dropped Dieguito from the post.

FIFA writes Ronaldo “is undoubtedly one of the hottest talents in world football (pay extra attention to “hottest”).” But one cannot deny he possesses amazing speed and skill. His cockiness kills me and I think that’s the reason why I am not so “pro Ronaldo.”

On the other hand, Marta is who I want to be when I grow up. Seriously, I have never seen such skill and speed. She could really go play some matches with the guys from Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Manchester.

my pick: Kaka (duh) and Marta.

And here are the nominees…

Ana — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:33:31 +0000

FIFA has announced their (not so short) shortlist for 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year. I think I read Romario’s name in there but the thing is so long I can’t even remember. Maybe they do that so that all players feel included in the event. Anyhow, the names of the three finalists (now that is a shortlist) in each category will be announced in early December.

And the nominees are (with my vote):

Men’s

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
Petr Cech (Czech Republic)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Deco (Portugal)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Michael Essien (Ghana)
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
Gennaro Gattuso (Italy)
Steven Gerrard (England)
Thierry Henry (France)
Juninho (Brazil)
Kaka (Brazil) – WINNER !
Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Philipp Lahm (Germany)
Frank Lampard (England)
Rafael Marquez (Mexico)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Alessandro Nesta (Italy)
Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
Franck Ribery (France)
Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina)
Ronaldinho (Brazil)
Wayne Rooney (England)
John Terry (England)
Carlos Tevez (Argentina)
Lilian Thuram (France)
Fernando Torres (Spain)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)
Patrick Vieira (France)

Women’s
Abby Wambach (USA)
Adjoa Bayor (Ghana)
Ane Stangeland Horpestad (Norway)
Ariane Hingst (Germany)
Bente Nordby (Norway)
Birgit Prinz (Germany)
Cathrine Paaske Sörensen (Denmark)
Christie George (Nigeria)
Christine Sinclair (Canada)
Cristiane (Brazil)
Daniela (Brazil)
Duan Han (China)
Formiga (Brazil)
Ingvild Stensland (Norway)
Jie Li (China)
Kelly Smith (England)
Kerstin Stegemann (Germany)
Kristine Lilly (USA)
Lisa de Vanna (Australia)
Marta (Brazil) – WINNER !
Nadine Angerer (Germany)
Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria)
Ragnhild Gulbrandsen (Norway)
Rebecca Smith (New Zeland)
Renate Lingor (Germany)
Un Suk Ri (North Corea)