All Hail the New Golden Ball Winner: Fabio Cannnnnavaro!

['Uaglio]

The media in Spain and Italy are leaking info that Cannavaro has won the Golden Ball. Well deserved!!!

His defending has no peers. It is sublime and timeless. His sense of the game, ability to anticipate, extraordinary quickness and leaping ability, and sheer heart all combine to make him the best defender in the world....and for this year..the best overall player too!!

Watch and enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4E9vyoT_ag

[jfcule]

It's good they finally realized that defenders are important to the game. But this seems really unfair...
I don't get how Cannavaro gets a golden ball while Paolo Maldini, who was a thousand times better never got one. Some of you may argue that he won a world cup, but his club was involved in a scandal and was sent to serie B. Paolo won everything someone could win with Milan in 1994, including a Champions League and was runner up in the World Cup.

[Achillean]

It's good they finally realized that defenders are important to the game. But this seems really unfair...
I don't get how Cannavaro gets a golden ball while Paolo Maldini, who was a thousand times better never got one. Some of you may argue that he won a world cup, but his club was involved in a scandal and was sent to serie B. Paolo won everything someone could win with Milan in 1994, including a Champions League and was runner up in the World Cup.

Mad that ronaldinho didnt get it because he sucked at the world cup? as a matter of fact 2006 was a world cup year. so his performance was incredible and the man deserves it.

[blanc]

Go CANNAAAAAAAA :)

[benito camelpene]

There is no doubt that defenders like Maldini deserved this award in the past but this is no fault of Cannavaro. Cannavaro is worthy winner so Congrats to him. I think he deserved it.

Blame France Football Magazine(I think they are the one who choose the winner) for not recognizing the talent and contributions of great defenders in the past ie. Maldini.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

His defending has no peers.

He's a very good stopper in great form (particularly during the WC) but let's stick within the realms of reality when discussing him.

[jfcule]

Mad that ronaldinho didnt get it because he sucked at the world cup? as a matter of fact 2006 was a world cup year. so his performance was incredible and the man deserves it.

No, Ronaldinho didn't deserve it this year, Eto'o did. :D
Barça has nothing to do with this discussion. I don't care that Cannavaro plays for real, he didn't earn this while playing for real...he earned it while playing for Juve and the Italian NT. I just think there have been better defenders in the past that have been snubbed. Especially Maldini. I just think it's unfair that while Cannavaro is not the best defender of the last 10 years, but he's the only one recognized with a golden ball.

[Excape Goat]

No, Ronaldinho didn't deserve it this year, Eto'o did. :D
Barça has nothing to do with this discussion. I don't care that Cannavaro plays for real, he didn't earn this while playing for real...he earned it while playing for Juve and the Italian NT. I just think there have been better defenders in the past that have been snubbed. Especially Maldini. I just think it's unfair that while Cannavaro is not the best defender of the last 10 years, but he's the only one recognized with a golden ball.

It is not Cannavaro's fault that no one else has a good year.

[bigjerry]

Barça has nothing to do with this discussion. I don't care that Cannavaro plays for real, he didn't earn this while playing for real...he earned it while playing for Juve and the Italian NT. I just think there have been better defenders in the past that have been snubbed. Especially Maldini. I just think it's unfair that while Cannavaro is not the best defender of the last 10 years, but he's the only one recognized with a golden ball.

Well, the Golden Ball is awarded to the best playerof the year.

He earned it while playing for Juve, the Italian NT AND Real Madrid. Do you think he can get the votes if he couldn't fit well into Real Madrid? The defence against Barca was almost perfect. ;)

[blanc]

He's a very good stopper in great form (particularly during the WC) but let's stick within the realms of reality when discussing him.

Please. Your English 'holier-than-thou' attitude is weak. When have (I assume) Terry, Ferdinand, et al, et al been better than Cannavaro when it matters?

Cannavaro is easily top3 in the world, and if you stubbornly want to believe your friends Terry and Ferdinand are also top3, just accept they are obviously 2nd and 3rd.

When have Terry and Ferdinand won anything with England?

Pssh.

[Alex1975]

Fabio definately deserves the award. He along with Buffon were instrumental in helping Italy to win the World Cup.

Does anyone know if a Goalkeeper has ever won the Golden Ball?

[luciusmagister]

Fabio definately deserves the award. He along with Buffon were instrumental in helping Italy to win the World Cup.

Does anyone know if a Goalkeeper has ever won the Golden Boot?
Golden Boot? No. Golden ball? Yashin!

[Prenn]

Pssh.

Pish indeed given that Teso isn't English....

[rangers00]

Please. Your English 'holier-than-thou' attitude is weak. When have (I assume) Terry, Ferdinand, et al, et al been better than Cannavaro when it matters?

For the game that mattered, Ferdinand and Terry combined to give up ZERO goal. I guess you can blame Terry and Ferdinand for not scoring goals.

For the game that mattered, Cannavaro's led defense gave up 1 goal. He got bailed out because Matterazzi equalized for Italy and Trezeguet hit the cross bar in the shootout.

So for games that mattered, Cannavaro got lucky and Ferdinand/Terry got unlucky...

When have Terry and Ferdinand won anything with England?

When have Terry/Ferdinand ever had the luck to play alongside Matterazzi and against Trezeguet in the shootout?

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Pish indeed given that Teso isn't English....

Oops! :cool:

[divinocodino1018]

For the game that mattered, Ferdinand and Terry combined to give up ZERO goal. I guess you can blame Terry and Ferdinand for not scoring goals.

For the game that mattered, Cannavaro's led defense gave up 1 goal. He got bailed out because Matterazzi equalized for Italy and Trezeguet hit the cross bar in the shootout.

So for games that mattered, Cannavaro got lucky and Ferdinand/Terry got unlucky...


When have Terry/Ferdinand ever had the luck to play alongside Matterazzi and against Trezeguet in the shootout?

Oh, you must mean the penalty kick Zidane scored which was a result of dive from the French forward.

All kidding aside, I think Terry is a top 5 defender in this order:

1. Nesta
2. Puyol
3. Thuram
4. Cannavaro
5. Terry

That list can obviously be moved according to likes/dislikes but speaking about "luck" is absurd. If you're indirectly trying to say the Italian National Team is better than the English National Team, they say that. :)

[ELADO]

It is not Cannavaro's fault that no one else has a good year.

TiTi Hednry should have been the winner!this great palyer has been disrespected for so long and it all boils down to jealousy. the man had easily the best year than any player except maybe eto'o but he was the shining light this season. cl finals, world cup finals, second leading goal scorer in the wc006, leading goal scorer in the premiership...... what does the brotha need to do to get some love huh?

[ELADO]

Mad that ronaldinho didnt get it because he sucked at the world cup? as a matter of fact 2006 was a world cup year. so his performance was incredible and the man deserves it.

you crazy madrid fagboy scum!!!1 you are at it again huh! hey biachboy!! cannavarro won the award because of his performances with the azzurri and juve not with your stupid fascist club, you nut!! he has done nothing for you guys and just like all you mafagdristas you take credit always when it dont belong to you!! now go back to your fascist board!!:mad:

[dor02]

Canna is one of the most worthy of winners. Baresi and Maldini should have won it in the past but Canna's performance in Germany was amazing.

Henry played brilliantly for the Gunners but his World Cup wasn't to convincing. At the World Cup, Henry changed character. A player who is usually known for fair play starting diving and acting. The match between France and Spain springs to mind. Puyol is known for being a rough player but when Henry and him collided, Thierry made a huge fuss.

Cannavaro's win hasn't got anything to do with him being at Real. If it was, he wouldn't be the winner. His performances for Juve and Italy alone were good enough for the award.

[rangers00]

Oh, you must mean the penalty kick Zidane scored which was a result of dive from the French forward.

"Dive" is part of the game. If we factor out the "dive" element, Cannavaro is no better than Ricardo Carvalho because both of their defense gave up a "dive" penalty. The only difference is that Italy managed to equalize while Portugal didn't. The ability to equalize is not due to the play of Carvalho nor Cannavaro.