Ballon D’Or 2013 Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo
Instead of writing a sycophantic poem about why Cristiano Ronaldo is a combination of deserved 2013 Ballon D’Or Player of the Year, Dad of the Year and Human Being of the Century… I will leave that to the less biased pros and instead have a little nosy at the voting list that got him the trophy.
I am perusing the full list of Ballon D’Or results – as published on FIFA – and it is so interesting to see who voted for whom! So thought I would note a few of the voters and the choices that caught my eye… It’s such a political balancing act, trying to select the correct ‘top three’. (Votes come from national Captains, Coaches and the Media).
It seems to be a blend of – amongst the common sense answers that include Ronaldo and Messi without question – selections based on friendships, loyalties, club and national biases – but also omitted rivals.
Namely, they seem to be choices that players can happily honour on their return to club training.
The fact that neither Ronaldo or Messi voted for each other is one favourite observation. Naturally, they didn’t.
Messi’s were predictable – his Barca team-of-the-year comrades: Iniesta, Xavi and then Neymar in third-place.
Ronaldo went a little left field (and tactical) in selecting former Pichichi and Madrid-based competitor, Radamel Falcao, in top place; then current teammate Gareth Bale in second, and the person the Welshman replaced – former Real teammate and numerous goal-assistor, Mesut Ozil, in third!
Steven Gerrard rightly selected Ronaldo and Messi in the top two, but left third spot for early-2014-contender and Liverpool teammate, Luis Suarez.
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris predictably selected Ribery in first place – but interestingly omitted his rivals, Ronaldo and Messi, in favour of fellow ‘keeper, Manuel Neuer, and former Spurs mate Gareth Bale.
Vincent Kompany selected Ribery, Yaya Toure then Eden Hazard – ergo, a team and national colleague.
Casillas kept Spanish politics alive, in omitting Messi from his top three. (Ronaldo, naturally, first choice – then Ribery and Robben. No Messi.)
Poland’s Jakub Blaszczykowski used his third vote for national teammate, Lewandowski.
Our Tomas Rosicky voted for the reverse order of results (Franck, Messi, Ron).
Arda Turan is a man after my heart – not only does he have a splendid beard, but he picked Ozil as his player of the year! (Ronaldo second, Messi third).
Exactly like Turkey coach Fatih Terim.
Ashley Williams tried to keep a Welshman in the running by letting Bale top his ballot card. (Then Xavi, Ronaldo).
Same for Chris Coleman, only substituting Xavi for Messi.
Argentina coach, Sabella, voted for the top three – with Messi naturally top (then Ribery, Ronaldo).
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots thought Zlatan, Lewandowski and Hazard all did a better job than Cristiano Ronaldo last year…
Italy also not impressed enough with Ronaldo, in choosing: Pirlo, Lahm and Lewandowski.
And Spain’s Del Bosque, who picked Spaniards Xavi and Iniesta in first and second place, neglected to select any other La Liga players like… Ronaldo and Messi! to complete his three, favouring Ribery in their place.
Our Roy went for Ronaldo, Zlatan then RVP!
Here are all the Captains who didn’t select Ronaldo or Messi in their Top 3:
- Messi, Argentina
- Fuchs, Austria
- Kompany, Belgium
- Debebe Gebreyes, Ethiopia
- Lloris, France
- Pandev, FYR Macedonia
- Kankava, Georgia
- Nurse, Guyana
- Nurdauletov, Kazakhstan
- Briffa, Malta
- Solorzano Sanchez, Nicaragua
- Ronaldo, Portugal
National Team Coaches who didn’t select Ronaldo or Messi in their Top 3 (!?)
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Guyana
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Korea Republic
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- San Marino
- Spain
- USA
I’m pretty sure there is something to say for ‘regional’ voting – that is, that Europe seems to favour Ribery, while South America leans towards Messi.
And the Media vote actually went in favour of Ribery, too.
Pursuit of Nattiness 