FIFA 2015 Ballon d'Or

The 2015 winner of the Ballon d’Or will be announced on Monday January 11th.  While many think Lionel Messi will take the prize this year, he has tough competition to reclaim the prize from Cristiano Ronaldo, who has held the title for the past two seasons.  Messi’s fellow Barcelona teammate, Neymar is also in the running for this years prize.

Both Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or winners list for the past seven seasons. Kaka was the last player outside of the pair to claim the award in 2007, and since Ronaldo won the award in 2008 it has remained with either Messi or Ronaldo ever since. Messi famously won four in a row from 2009 – 2012 during his impressive Barcelona days under Pep Guardiola.  

Ronaldo claimed the prize for the past two seasons as Real Madrid were crowned Champions League winners in 2013 for a remarkable tenth time.  This time around, Neymar of Barcelona is the man who will try to take the prize from the world’s best players.  While many think it will not be this year, he will continue to improve and will probably run them close for next years title too.

The Contenders:  Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to win the prize for an impressive fourth time, but the former Manchester United legend has already conceded defeat to Lionel Messi for this years prize, saying

‘To be honest I think Messi is going to win this year because this kind of trophy, it depends on votes.’

Basically, he claims that because Messi won the Champions League with Barcelona last May, he will get the votes required on this basis.  While this point is hard to argue with and he may well be proven right, Cristiano Ronaldo can be proud of the season he produced at Real Madrid- scoring 48 La Liga goals last season and finishing the season as top goalscorer.  

Madrid finished second in the league and were knocked out of the Champions League at the Semi final stage by eventual runners-up Juventus, scoring ten goals in the competition.  Ronaldo continued to achieve some personal goals throughout 2015 by eclipsing both Alfredo Di Stefano and Raul to become Real Madrid’s all time leading goal scorer.  Ronaldo also captained Portugal to qualify for the European Championship finals in France 2016.  

While Ronaldo continues to break records at Real Madrid and has continually been linked with a move back to his beloved Manchester United, it remains to be seen if he will continue to impress. He can’t continue at this pace forever, and as every quality player knows, the time comes when you have to adapt your game to suit your ageing body.  

He will turn 31 next month, and while he keeps himself extremely fit, pressure will be on him to continue the impressive form that sees him shortlisted for these awards each season.

The Contenders: Lionel Messi

Regarded by many as the worlds greatest player, Lionel Messi is widely tipped for the award by footballing experts to win this years award.  Having won the treble with Barcelona in 2015, it is hard to ask why.  Barcelona claimed La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League in 2015.  

They also, only last month, went on to claim the Super Cup. He scored an imposing 43 goals in La Liga ,while also claiming 10 goals and 6 assists as Barcelona claimed the Champions League 2015. This win earned Messi a fourth winners medal in the Champions League.  Having suffered disappointment in the World Cup Final in 2014 with Argentina, his country also lost the Copa America final to Chile in 2015.  

While his International success may be frustrating his form, success with Barcelona continues to blossom and he and his club are on courses for another treble in 2016.  Time will tell if Messi will ever require a new challenge and seek a move elsewhere. Having achieved all he can at Barcelona and off the field tax issues, he might think a new challenge is needed.  

The impending arrival of Pep Guardiola next summer to the Premier League will no doubt link the two together again in the media. The one hold in the “who is the best player in the world” debate that Ronaldo holds over Messi is that he has proven himself in both in England and Spain.  Messi should take on the challenge of doing likewise, and if he were to decide to take this step he would be have plenty of offers on the table.  Next summer might prove very interesting.

The Contenders: Neymar

Having beat Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez to the shortlist for the 2015 Ballon d’Or award, Neymar remains the outside favourite for the 2015 title.  However, he is believed by many to be the man who eventually will break up the Messi and Ronaldo dominance of the award.  

Neymar has been in irresistible form alongside Messi and Suarez as Barcelona dominated both La Liga and the Champions League in 2015 scoring 39 goals in 51 games.  

While Neymar continues to be linked with moves away from Barcelona and out of the shadow of Messi, it is hard to believe that Barcelona would be willing to sell such an asset. Alongside Messi and Suarez, Neymar has grown in his role in what can be described as the worlds best front three attack. With Guardiola coming to the Premier League, he too will  be linked with a move.  He has youth on his side however, and when the time is right, he will leave for pastures new.  

Now, as he is tipped to be the man to claim the title of the World’s Best Player from Messi and Ronaldo and follow in the footsteps of his idol and fellow country man, Pele, one would think the best place to achieve these goals are at the world’s most dominant club, Barcelona.