23 Players Nominee Ballon D'Or of the Year

Ballon D'Or will be held again at the end of this year. This prestigious annual award is the most prestigious awards dedicated to the best player in the world by choice coach, captain, and football reporters. Last year, the Ballon D'Or disabet Lionel Messi for the third consecutive time. With a consistent appearance, Messi is still one potential winner of this year together, again, Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, the Ballon D'Or does not only involve two stars, there are some other names to be reckoned with. French football magazine, France Football, has launched a list of 23 players who will be reduced to three names as collecting the most votes were announced at a news conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 29 November. Three names will be on the podium and announced as one of the best on the night awarding FIFA in Zurich Kongresshaus, January 7, 2013.

Here is a list of 23 nominees for the Ballon D'Or this year:

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina / FC Barcelona)
2. Andrés Iniesta (Spain / FC Barcelona)
3. Gerard Piqué (Spain / FC Barcelona)
4. Xavi Hernandez (Spain / FC Barcelona)
5. Mesut Özil (Germany / Real Madrid)
6. Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid)
7. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Real Madrid)
8. Xabi Alonso (Spain / Real Madrid)
9. Iker Casillas (Spain / Real Madrid)
10. Sergio Agüero (Argentina / Manchester City)

11. Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast / Manchester City)
12. Mario Balotelli (Italy / Manchester City)
13. Karim Benzema (France / Real Madrid)
14. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy / Juventus Turin)
15. Sergio Busquets (Spain / FC Barcelona)
16. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast / Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua)
17. Radamel Falcao (Colombia / Atlético Madrid)
18. Of Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden / AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain)
19. Manuel Neuer (Germany / Bayern Munich)
20. Andrea Pirlo (Italy / Juventus)

21. Wayne Rooney (England / Manchester United)
22. Robin van Persie (Netherlands / Arsenal, Manchester United)
23. Neymar (Brazil / Santos)

Posted in: FOOTBALL - SIIP