Will Lionel Messi retain his crown? Will Xavi be recognised as the world's best for his midfield exploits? Or will the quiet genius Andres Iniesta be rewarded for his World Cup-winning strike? We'll find out on Monday 10 January (today)
Andres INIESTA
Club: FC Barcelona
Country: Spain
Position: Midfielder
Defining moment of 2010: Scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final on July 11
Club: FC Barcelona
Country: Spain
Position: Midfielder
Defining moment of 2010: Scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final on July 11
Ballon d'Or Last Year: Fourth place with 149 points - a personal best.
FIFA Award Last Year: Fifth place with 190 points, behind Kaka, Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
2010 Lowdown: World Cup winner, La Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner; FIFA World Cup All-Star Team placement.
2010 Story: A player who grows more consistent year on year, Iniesta defied fitness worries to once again wow the world in 2010. His World Cup-winning goal was just a small part of a superb tournament, and his play in the blue and red of Barcelona was, while punctuated by rest periods, a joy to watch. The fact that he so often came off the bench to make a difference is testament to how much his teammates need him.
FIFA Award Last Year: Fifth place with 190 points, behind Kaka, Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
2010 Lowdown: World Cup winner, La Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner; FIFA World Cup All-Star Team placement.
2010 Story: A player who grows more consistent year on year, Iniesta defied fitness worries to once again wow the world in 2010. His World Cup-winning goal was just a small part of a superb tournament, and his play in the blue and red of Barcelona was, while punctuated by rest periods, a joy to watch. The fact that he so often came off the bench to make a difference is testament to how much his teammates need him.
Lionel MESSI
Club: FC Barcelona
Country: Argentina
Position: Forward
Defining moment of 2010: Scoring all four as the Blaugrana battered Arsenal 4-1 on April 6
Country: Argentina
Position: Forward
Defining moment of 2010: Scoring all four as the Blaugrana battered Arsenal 4-1 on April 6
Ballon d'Or Last Year: Won the award for the first time with 473 points, over double that of second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo.
FIFA Award Last Year: First place with 1073 points, a record total for any player and over three times the total of second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo on 352.
2010 Lowdown: La Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner; La Liga Player of the Year; La Liga top goalscorer; European Golden Shoe winner; Champions League top goalscorer; Argentine Footballer of the Year.
2010 Story: In La Liga, Messi has spent the last twelve months scoring a goal a game, and setting up a goodly amount, too: in the 5-0 rout at the Clasico he showed that even when he's not hitting the net he's helping others to do so. At 23 his natural genius is becoming more tempered by maturity, and the results are there for all to see. Certainly the most exciting of goalscorers...
FIFA Award Last Year: First place with 1073 points, a record total for any player and over three times the total of second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo on 352.
2010 Lowdown: La Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner; La Liga Player of the Year; La Liga top goalscorer; European Golden Shoe winner; Champions League top goalscorer; Argentine Footballer of the Year.
2010 Story: In La Liga, Messi has spent the last twelve months scoring a goal a game, and setting up a goodly amount, too: in the 5-0 rout at the Clasico he showed that even when he's not hitting the net he's helping others to do so. At 23 his natural genius is becoming more tempered by maturity, and the results are there for all to see. Certainly the most exciting of goalscorers...
XAVI
Club: FC Barcelona
Country: Spain
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 25 January 1980 (age 30)
Defining moment of 2010: Setting up both goals in the decisive 2-0 win at the Bernabeu on April 10
Country: Spain
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 25 January 1980 (age 30)
Defining moment of 2010: Setting up both goals in the decisive 2-0 win at the Bernabeu on April 10
Ballon d'Or Last Year: Third place with 170 points for Xavi's best-ever finish.
FIFA Award Last Year: Third place with a total of 196 points, up from 155 the previous year.
2010 Lowdown: World Cup winner, La Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner; FIFA World Cup All-Star Team placement, Premi Catalunya de l'Esport award.
2010 Story: Last year's third-ranked player enjoyed an awesome but exhausting 2010 in which his passing was once again marked out as the world's most accurate and most likely to result in goals for his club side. At international level he was the heart of Spain, playing more vital a supporting role than even Iniesta, completing over 500 passes in South Africa.
FIFA Award Last Year: Third place with a total of 196 points, up from 155 the previous year.
2010 Lowdown: World Cup winner, La Liga winner, Spanish Super Cup winner; FIFA World Cup All-Star Team placement, Premi Catalunya de l'Esport award.
2010 Story: Last year's third-ranked player enjoyed an awesome but exhausting 2010 in which his passing was once again marked out as the world's most accurate and most likely to result in goals for his club side. At international level he was the heart of Spain, playing more vital a supporting role than even Iniesta, completing over 500 passes in South Africa.
source: goal.com
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