With last years award going to world cup stalwart Fabio Cannavaro, who at 33 was the oldest player to receive the award, we now enter a new era where the world will be ruled by any one of three players all under 25. The Fifa world player of the year gala takes place on the 17th of December and with the Official shortlist down to three very promising attacking players lets take a closer look at each nominee.
Lionel Messi
Age 20
FC Barcelona
When the Spanish Primera División kicked off this year, all eyes were on the “fantastic four” the world waited in anticipation to see the four superstars wreak havoc on all of Europe. Few expected the youngest and probably least known of the four to outshine his fellow players quite so emphatically
The boy wonder has shown that age is nothing but a number on numerous occasions this year. Lionel Messi brings a complete attacking game to any match and has consistently proven his worth. Scoring 19 goals in all competitions in 2006 and with 12 goals in only 17 starts this year Barcelona will be very happy that the young prodigy has pledged his future to the Catalan club.
The amazing thing about the 20 year old is that he has been able to establish himself so quickly. Messi has blinding pace which he uses with brilliant effect. Few sights in football are as encouraging (or discouraging) as seeing the Argentine pick up the ball on his flank and proceed to skip through world class defenders time and again. Coupled with the fact that the youngster has the ability to pick the right option so much of the time is why his name is being repeated all over the world.
“Leo” Messi might not be the most outspoken player in world football but there is so much to talk about when observing the youngsters general play. With Maradonna tipping the young magician as his “successor” I am convinced that if the youngster keeps his nose clean, he can aspire to heights Maradonna himself fell short of achieving.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Age 22
Manchester United FC
Few gave the youngster any chance of reaching this point so soon after a stormy world cup fall out with club team mate Wayne Rooney last year. The young Portuguese winger however resumed his place in the Manchester United squad, put his head down and worked ever so hard to get the recognition he so rightly deserves.
The thing that sets Ronaldo apart from his fellow nominees is his mental strength. Few people acknowledge or even see it, but he has it, in bucket loads. Villainised by the English press, there were few grounds Ronaldo could tread without a cacophony of wolf whistles greeting his every touch of the ball. It seems that the situation made an ideal setting for the wonder boy to become a finely polished potential match winner, envied by any side in world football.
Whilst Ronaldo was top scorer in a very successful 2006 Manchester United side the young winger impressed even more in the way he raced to his 17 premiership goals, on more than one occasion stepping up when United needed a match winner. The young international has come a long way in proving all his doubters wrong and in him Sir Alex Ferguson has ever maturing young world beater, prone to the odd dive or controversy but a world beater none the less.
There are now very few experts that can doubt the youngster’s pedigree but whether that results in his name being read out at the awards gala is debatable.
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
Age 25
AC Milan
Better known as “Kaka” a player with a seemingly endless supply of elegance. Kaka has long been touted in his native Brazil as “The next big star” and has now seemingly gone on to exceed that title. Consistency was the key to a personal campaign which saw Kaka unanimously walk away with multiple awards including:
With a list that prestigious he is definite front runner for the top award come December 17th.
Many people waited in anticipation last year when Milan came up against Manchester United in last years UEFA champion’s league semi final, knowing that 2 of the worlds top players would finally square up. After the dust settled and Milan claimed an emphatic victory there was really only ever one winner in the battle for supremacy. The Brazilian outshone his counter part that day and in doing so increased his stock in the race to be crowned player of the year.
Kaka has been nothing short of brilliant and although his club has suffered a serious dip in form you cannot take away from the outstanding performances Kaka comes up with for club and country alike. Kaka scores and creates goals from absolutely nothing, he is unbelievably fast and seems to have been born for the big stage. He may shy from the spotlight of the field but time and again can be seen demonstrating the skills, maturity and grace that make him the complete offensive package and certain front runner for the coveted world player of the year award.
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