Golden Ball Nominees 2006

[ForeverRed]

Six German players have made the nomination list, which is more than I expected. I take this award much more serious than the FIFA world player of the year award. The winner should be announced sometime mid december:

2006 Golden Ball shortlist: Ballack (Ger), Buffon (Ita), Cahill (Aus), Cannavaro (Ita), J. Cole (Eng), Coupet (Fra), Cris (Bra), Cristiano Ronaldo (Por), Deco (Por), M. Diarra (Mal), Drogba (IC), Essien (Gha), Eto'o (Cam), Fabregas (Spa), Gallas (Fra), Gattuso (Ita), Gerrard (Eng), Giuly (Fra), Grosso (Ita), Henry (Fra), Juninho Pernambucano (Bra), Kaka (Bra), Klose (Ger), Lahm (Ger), Lampard (Eng), Lehmann (Ger), Makelele (Fra), Malouda (Fra), Mendez (Ecu), Messi (Arg), Pirlo (Ita), Podolski (Ger), Puyol (Spa), Ribery (Fra), Ronaldinho (Bra), Riquelme (Arg), Robben (Ned), Rooney (Eng), Sagnol (Fra), Schweinsteiger (Ger), Shevchenko (Ukr), Terry (Eng), Thuram (Fra), Tiago (Por), Toni (Ita), Torres (Spa), Vieira (Fra), Villa (Spa), Zambrotta (Ita), Zidane (Fra)

In my opinion, Lehmann or Klose should get it but it won't happen.

[Gregoriak]

I wouldnt be surprised if Klose would make it. I think if he had a better run in the league right now and the CL he would almost be dead certain but his relatively poor form at the moment could cost him.

Who else is there. Zidane cant possibly get it after that disastrous head butting, it would a joke. Cannavaro would be a deserving winner, but he also suffers from poor recent form, never underestimate that, and he is a defender and thus very unlikely to win it.

It cant be Ronaldinho. Right he won the CL but his performance in the final was too anonymous and his World Cup was a downright disaster.

When it comes to goalies, its either Lehmann or Buffon, but I dont think their performances were outstanding enough in the eyes of the voters. If Kahn didnt win it in 2001 or 2002, then Lehmann and Buffon have no real chance to win it this year.

Pirlo, not big enough a star.

Shevchenko, a usual suspect but has no business this year.

Henry would be a strong candidate if Arsenal had won the CL or France the World Cup.

Interestingly, in the last three World Cup years, the World Cup top scorer twice won the Golden Ball trophy. Stoitchkov in 1994, Ronaldo in 2002. It also happened in 1970 and 1982.

[LoewenBoy]

2006 Golden Ball shortlist: Ballack (Ger), Buffon (Ita), Cahill (Aus), Cannavaro (Ita), J. Cole (Eng), Coupet (Fra), Cris (Bra), Cristiano Ronaldo (Por), Deco (Por), M. Diarra (Mal), Drogba (IC), Essien (Gha), Eto'o (Cam), Fabregas (Spa), Gallas (Fra), Gattuso (Ita), Gerrard (Eng), Giuly (Fra), Grosso (Ita), Henry (Fra), Juninho Pernambucano (Bra), Kaka (Bra), Klose (Ger), Lahm (Ger), Lampard (Eng), Lehmann (Ger), Makelele (Fra), Malouda (Fra), Mendez (Ecu), Messi (Arg), Pirlo (Ita), Podolski (Ger), Puyol (Spa), Ribery (Fra), Ronaldinho (Bra), Riquelme (Arg), Robben (Ned), Rooney (Eng), Sagnol (Fra), Schweinsteiger (Ger), Shevchenko (Ukr), Terry (Eng), Thuram (Fra), Tiago (Por), Toni (Ita), Torres (Spa), Vieira (Fra), Villa (Spa), Zambrotta (Ita), Zidane (Fra)
If Zidane wins it I will puke. That red card is enough to disqualify him IMHO. Any Italian player playing in Italy and for any of the "dishonored" teams will likely not get it. Frankly, I think Klose or Lehmann have a good chance. They both had excellent WMs, though not much club success.

FIFA will likely do the chicken-shit thing and give it to Zidane or some other "name". Frankly, Ribery had an excellent year...but he won't get it.

[Pakalolo]

Cannavaro, Henry or Klose should win it...

[Psychosis hsv]

Cannavaro, Henry or Klose should win it...
i add Grooso for that goal and remove Henry

[ForeverRed]

I wouldnt be surprised if Klose would make it. I think if he had a better run in the league right now and the CL he would almost be dead certain but his relatively poor form at the moment could cost him.

Who else is there. Zidane cant possibly get it after that disastrous head butting, it would a joke. Cannavaro would be a deserving winner, but he also suffers from poor recent form, never underestimate that, and he is a defender and thus very unlikely to win it.

It cant be Ronaldinho. Right he won the CL but his performance in the final was too anonymous and his World Cup was a downright disaster.

When it comes to goalies, its either Lehmann or Buffon, but I dont think their performances were outstanding enough in the eyes of the voters. If Kahn didnt win it in 2001 or 2002, then Lehmann and Buffon have no real chance to win it this year.

Pirlo, not big enough a star.

Shevchenko, a usual suspect but has no business this year.

Henry would be a strong candidate if Arsenal had won the CL or France the World Cup.

Interestingly, in the last three World Cup years, the World Cup top scorer twice won the Golden Ball trophy. Stoitchkov in 1994, Ronaldo in 2002. It also happened in 1970 and 1982.

Personally, I think when it comes to the Golden Ball and the FIFA world player of the year award, in all objectivity, the most consistent player should get it. In that case, we are looking at last season including the finals in the summer. Overall, only Lehmann, Klose and Henry had really memorable seasons.

Lehmann was the best GK in the EPL in my opinion, had an ASTRONOMICAL CL tournament and was good in the world cup and part of a great run by Germany.

Klose had a fantastic season in the Bundesliga, did well in the CL with Bremen and had an OUTSTANDING World Cup.

Henry was great in the EPL, as is always the case, was good in the WC, going to the final which was a feat in itself considering the teams they had to go through to get there and pretty much led his team to the CL final. Like Ballack in 2002 with Leverkusen and Germany, he very much deserves to get it.

[621380]

I wouldnt be surprised if Klose would make it. I think if he had a better run in the league right now and the CL he would almost be dead certain but his relatively poor form at the moment could cost him.

Who else is there. Zidane cant possibly get it after that disastrous head butting, it would a joke. Cannavaro would be a deserving winner, but he also suffers from poor recent form, never underestimate that, and he is a defender and thus very unlikely to win it.

It cant be Ronaldinho. Right he won the CL but his performance in the final was too anonymous and his World Cup was a downright disaster.

When it comes to goalies, its either Lehmann or Buffon, but I dont think their performances were outstanding enough in the eyes of the voters. If Kahn didnt win it in 2001 or 2002, then Lehmann and Buffon have no real chance to win it this year.

Pirlo, not big enough a star.

Shevchenko, a usual suspect but has no business this year.

Henry would be a strong candidate if Arsenal had won the CL or France the World Cup.

Interestingly, in the last three World Cup years, the World Cup top scorer twice won the Golden Ball trophy. Stoitchkov in 1994, Ronaldo in 2002. It also happened in 1970 and 1982.

gregoriak....

you have to put in perspective müller same year 1970 was topscorer in germany and europe with 38 goals in 33 games too....

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Henry deserves it, just because he lost 2 finals doesn't mean he should not get it.

[Gregoriak]

gregoriak....

you have to put in perspective müller same year 1970 was topscorer in germany and europe with 38 goals in 33 games too....


Of course.

BTW, I contacted raresoccervideos - he does not have the BRD-Ungarn'70 game . Has been looking for it, though.

[squidward123]

miroslav klose deserves it but he won't get it.

its too much of a popularity contest