Sorry, I thought you're better rounded on this topic, Remember the 98/99 season? What took place in 98? The WC in which Beckham made an impressive debut, was originally a sub but played every game. I didn't say I haven't seen a better right winger, he was the best right winger I've seen in some time, just take a look at his crosses and set pieces from that year, He had a 90%+ accuracy rate. Oh yea, by the way, Ginola didn't win the League, the cup, the domestic cup, or the CL. Again, you're pointing out that skill determines the award, it doesn't and it shouldn't Beckham obviously wasn't nominated for his skill right, so he must have done something right eh!?
I agree, Ballack was more overall better than Kahn that year, in my and many other German fans' opinions, he was also more instrumental than Kahn in the WC. And what he did for Leverkusen that year was also absolutely phenomenal, he didn't have one bad CL game. I don't know if Ballack can repeat that performance.
1999 belonged to Bechkam 2003 did not belong to Zidane ... I think they should of gave it to Maldini for all his career achievments ... plus he won the champions league that year All the other years are pretty much fair and ofcourse this year it belong to Ronaldinho again ... hes the best player of his generation , he could easily win this the next 5 years
First of all, the award for 1999 should not take into account 1998 performances. Moreover, how the hell was Beckham better than Rivaldo in WC 1998? Counting WC 1998 makes Beckham even less worthy of the award in 1999. So what determines the award? Relentless crossing and Free Kick taking? Rivaldo was amazing from Free Kicks as well. And his crosses were more than 90% accurate either. In 1999, he won the Copa America being the best player and highest scorer (5 goals) for his country. He scored an amazing Free Kick goal against Argentina in the Quarter Final, FYI. Moreover, Rivaldo scored a brilliant hattrick against Argentina later in the year. He was also a one-man attacking force for Barcelona in 1999 scoring several hattricks against the highest level of opposition. He won the La Liga scoring 24 goals. He even smashed 10 goals in the Champions League in 1999. Can Beckham ever dream of doing those things? Rivaldo swept all the awards that year including FIFA and World Soccer magazine's World Player of the Year awards and the European Footballer of the Year by France Football magazine. Suggesting anyone could come close to that Rivaldo is daft. Suggesting Beckham could come close to that Rivaldo is utter insanity. And it does not matter if Ginola did not win anything in 1999. The players in England voted Ginola ahead of Yorke as the best player. Beckham wasn't even in the picture. Get your facts straight before posting and commenting about others.
If Ballack would've played in the final, he would have probably been in the top two. It's a shame he missed it.
NO, no, no, and no I didn't even say Beckham was better than Rivaldo at 98, if you're going to keep misinterpretting everything I say, then I cannot continue this discussion with you. Rovaldo didn't win the treble, Beckham did and he was crucial to every trophy United picked up that year. Beckham has just the same brilliant individual performances that year, as did Rivaldo, he was fantastic in nearly every game, every game! ontop of that he had the medals to show for it. I guess it all comes down to you actually having seen United and Becks that year.
That's such an objective reasoning! Rivaldo won Copa America and La Liga performing 10 times better than Beckham ever dreamed of doing his whole life. I guess no one apart from you watched ManU and Beckham. Otherwise they would not have voted for Rivaldo in every major award that year. England's World Soccer magazine subscribers did not watch Beckham that year. Those voting for FIFA and European PTY did not do so either. The EPL players also chose to shut their eyes when Beckham played, and therefore voted for Ginola and Yorke. Wake up!!! Beckham wasn't even the best player for that treble-winning ManU side! Beckham compared to 1999 Rivaldo is such a joke! Even Zidane from any of the three years he won the award can't match 1999 Rivaldo.
Objective? you're criticizing me for being objective? as opposed to being biased and subjective like you! Hah, you're a living, breathing contradiction. By the way, not every player that deserves these awards always wins, I hope you know that. And I'm sorry but the treble that United won is a bigger deal than Rivaldo's copa america and la liga title. ..."performing ten times better than Beckham ever dreamed of doing"....I can only shake my head at your reasoning, let's consider this argument closed, it doesn't look like we'll bre progressing.
You are dumber than even Teso Dos Bichos! Learn the meaning of "objective" first. For a start try Dictionary.com! Then try learning "subjective". Then try to formulate your thoughts.
Lampard deserves it, over the past three seasons he has been the most consistent player in Europe, its time he gets the award he deserves.
The award is not about the past three seasons, its about this year. Ronaldinho is much better than Frank Lampard. I like Frank Lampard more, but the truth is Ronaldinho is the best player in the world right now.
I do. The best player usually wins it. It has happened every time except once (the last time iirc) when Zidane won.
You can LOL as much as you want! There is no denying that every player: Lothar, Basten, Baggio, Romario, Weah, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Figo, Zidane and Ronaldinho rightfully deserved their awards. Maybe the award discriminates a little against defenders. However, Roberto Carlos made it to top three. I think Maldini did it too. No matter what, the displays of these legendary winners could not be surpassed by others who did not win.
Ronaldinho. It is not even a contest between him and the rest of the players playing now. He is on a completely different level compared to others, much like Maradona was in his time. There were great defenders then too, but no one has an iota of doubt that Maradona was the best player of his generation. Ditto Ronaldinho.
This award is always just a popularity contest, I thought. NT Managers that don't pay much attention to week in week out football all around the world are the ones voting, right?