Cristiano? Messi? Neuer? – SPORT – EXPRESS

On Monday, FIFA announced the names of the three contenders for the top individual prize of the year.

Football world launched into a heated debate, again choosing a king. Who will get the “Golden Ball” -2014? Troika favorites, by and large, is not in doubt earlier: Lionel Messi, Manuel Neuer, Cristiano Ronaldo. On Monday, FIFA announced it officially. Victor will be called on pompous ceremony in Zurich on January 12. Yet at the same time to evaluate the success of the Argentine, German and Portuguese: one of them had the outgoing year brighter than the other? Whose performance best?

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If choose the best only on the basis of statistics, the two opinions can not be: the prize should get Cristiano Ronaldo. Forward “Real” broke this year a lot of records, and is worthy of the highest recognition for it. The winner of the Champions League with 17 goals for the unique drawing. Player of the Year UEFA. Winner of the “Golden Boot”. The best striker, the best player and the author of the most beautiful goals according to the Spanish Football League. In the current calendar year Ronaldo who scored 55 goals in all competitions, and this is not the limit! Especially succeeded him fall, when he scored a crazy form. But just at this time the survey was conducted and the captains and head coaches of teams across the globe. But there are nuances. Home – failure of the Portuguese national team at the World Championships.

Photo AFP

while Messi scored less – 52 goals. While the matches spent more than Ronaldo – 62 against 55. But it is certainly not the point. The Argentines have a trump card: the summer he received the title of best player in the World Cup in Brazil. That’s just it caused a lot of criticism, and even FIFA president Joseph Blatter admitted later that the decision was wrong. A different Messi can not boast: a trophy he has not won! But when Leo got his “Golden Balls” – from 2009 to 2012-th years – “Barcelona” was a real hegemon, crushing all in a row. Now this is no longer say.

Photo REUTERS

Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and Neuer – in the top three contenders for the “Golden Ball”

It remains Neuer. World champion and the best goalkeeper of the Brazilian tournament. In its active 20 matches at “zero” of the 54′s, carried out during the year. Recall goalkeeper received the “Golden Ball” only once in the history of the prize: in 1963 this honor was our Lev Yashin. Obviously, the defensive line players more difficult to win individual awards – usually gets all the glory of the masters of the attack. The latter, who broke this tradition was Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. Before him, the “Golden Ball” was in 1996 Matthias Sammer, while speaking at the libero position, he regularly went forward.

Photo AFP

However, in recent ceremony at all was only an additional point in the eternal duel Messi and Ronaldo. That you will agree, many pretty bored. Last year, the “Golden Ball” was awarded to the Portuguese, although more trophies won one of the leaders of the “Bavaria” Franck Ribery.

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– told his wife that he had lost as soon as got there – remember the Frenchman. – He saw Blatter hugging Cristiano, who brought with him his entire family. This year, everything will be the same. I’m afraid, and this time will be a political decision. “Golden Ball” is no longer given to the best player at the end of the year …

Ronaldo – perfectionist, before any light, probably not seen. And that is what his love and hate at the same time millions of people around the world: the Portuguese deliberately flawless. And as an athlete and as a person. Third Career “Golden Ball” just to amuse his pride.

Messi – the genius of nature that created it ideal for football. All have long understood: Argentinian unique. And another “Golden Ball” will not change anything.

And because I want to believe that voting players, coaches and journalists have also thought about it. And put a tick next to the names Noyer, who represents the whole German team – a team that has become this year the author of the main football play. Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Mueller and, of course, Kroos – they all deserved to be in the top three. And the victory goalkeeper would reward them all.