For those who say FIFA just sit down somewhere and 'give' someone, maybe the people that voted from diverse parts of the world were goaded by FIFA to give one player.

[b]ANALYSIS
By Chris Myson

Lionel Messi has won his fourth Ballon d’Or title, scooping the prestigious individual award over runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo and third-place team-mate Andres Iniesta.

Radamel Falcao finished up in fifth, behind another Barcelona stalwart, Xavi, while Iker Casillas came in at sixth.

Andrea Pirlo, Didier Drogba, Robin van Persie and Zlatan Ibrahimovic made up a star-studded final top 10 for the calendar year of 2012.

After the awards ceremony, Fifa has released an intriguing list of the full votes for the award, which is decided based on decisions made by international coaches, captains and a selection of media representatives from each member nation.

The voting list reveals some decisions that would raise few eyebrows, but other ones that can be considered as particularly surprising.

In England’s votes, both manager Roy Hodgson and captain Steven Gerrard voted for the brilliant Messi as their winner, with Ronaldo in second.

They differed with their decisions for third-place, though, as the Three Lions boss went for Falcao, while the Liverpool captain opted for former team-mate Xabi Alonso.

For Spain, boss Vicente Del Bosque, who himself was recognised on the night with the Coach of the Year award, went for three of his own players; Casillas, Xavi and Iniesta in the top three positions.

Casillas himself had a vote and very surprisingly opted for club and international team-mate Sergio Ramos as his No.1 pick, with Ronaldo only second ahead of Iniesta, perhaps hinting at why the Portuguese ace felt his club were not fully supportive of his Ballon d’Or bid.

Messi had a vote as captain for Argentina and did not select Ronaldo in his top three at all, opting for Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Aguero. Alejandro Sabella voted for Messi, with Ronaldo also absent from his selections.

Portugal matched that tactic, as Bruno Alves, who was voting in place of Ronaldo, went for his team-mate as top pick with Messi not in the top three, although Paulo Bento did name the Argentine in third.

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli voted for his star player Pirlo over Gianluigi Buffon and then Messi, while Buffon himself also went for the Juventus midfielder as his top choice.

Philipp Lahm backed Iniesta over Messi and Ronaldo, while Germany coach Joachim Low voted Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neuer and Xavi as his top three.

France coach Didier Deschamps backed Messi over Ronaldo and Xavi, while Hugo Lloris stayed loyal to the goalkeepers’ union by voting Casillas as No.1 over Falcao and Drogba.

Brazil skipper Thiago Silva’s votes were unremarkable, with Messi beating Ronaldo to top spot and his PSG team-mate Ibrahimovic in third.

Louis van Gaal voted for Messi over Ronaldo and Falcao, while Netherlands captain Wesley Sneijder voted Van Persie over Messi (second) and Ronaldo (third).

Darren Fletcher, who was casting votes as Scotland captain, backed former team-mate Ronaldo at No.1, with Messi and club team-mate Robin van Persie as his other selections.

For a full breakdown of the Ballon d'Or votes, click here to see Fifa's full list from national captains, coaches and media representatives. [/b]

http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4055/main/2013/01/07/3656105/casillas-picks-ramos-over-ronaldo-gerrard-backs-messi-who

This thing could have gone either way ooo cos it seems some people voted based on sentiments.

afam4eva: This thing could have gone either way ooo cos it seems some people voted based on sentiments.

Yeah, there are sentiments. For example, I see Algerian captain voting for Karim Benzema as no 1. That's clearly sentiment-driven. No sane football watcher would say Benzema was best player in the world in 2012. Messi, Ronaldo, Falcao, Iniesta, Xavi, all debatable, but Benzema, clearly nah. But I can see teh connection - Benzema has Algerian origin like the voter.

Also, I think contrary to his vote, Messi himself believes Ronaldo is one of the top 3 players in the world. Same for the guy that voted for Portugal. He can't tell me he sincerely believed Messi wasnt among top 3 players in the world, but he left him out to reduce his chance.

But overall, I think the voting is diverse enough to reflect true best player. The few sentiments-driven couldn't have made much difference, especially since teh difference between winner and 1st runner up is so wide.

Full list of voting by countries captains and coaches is avaiable in that link, last paragraph. Tried to attach it, but couldnt, too large.


I can see Yobo voted for Messi, Ronaldo and Yaya Toure in that order. Keshi also voted for Yaya, Drogba and Van Persie in that order.

this post really doesnt matter because the 'bigots' wouldnt accept this even at gun point. you will still here them say 'fifa gave messi' the award like a bunch of stark illetrates. the way fifa does it remains the best, most credible and transparent option. imagine the fifa ballon d'or winner been selected by a panel of 10 fifa officials in a 5 star hotel in zurich. all hell will be let loose.

even casillas pick sergio ramos over ronaldo , i no fit laugh

The 1st Xi of fifalona ;DThe 1st Xi of fifalona

African coaches and captains should wise-up, next time they should nominate only African prayers

roy hodgson and gerrard voted the messiah

THANKS FOR THE UPDATE, WAITING FOR MOFONS TO COME AND TELL US HOW SEPP PLATTER AND FIFA CHOOSE MESSI WITH WAYO MESSI NSTILL WIN

how will this affect/change the price of garri @ ikotun market

@ jarus, argetina and messi didnt vote for CR7.............In summary,everybody voted for his friend......
i thought the voting was strictly between cr7 y messi y iniesta,how did the others like ramos , alonso, ibra etc get a vote,? my point is why tell us the final three wen its obvious that i can vote for chamakh as world best player.......oh i see, you vote for the final 23, is alright

well all done and dusted....... but the fifa XI

i Ve notin to comment sha but to say dat the award is alredi with d winner while sum people are here usin their ba3 whc dey charged in barbing saloon to comment.

It seems, the mode of counting of votes, looks strange to lots of people, Team captains, Coaches, and Sports journalist, are the only ones that are allowed to vote, and you're required to vote three players minimum, and the first on your voting list means five points, second means three points and third votes means one point respectively, and frm information, Messi had lots of Captains, Coaches and Sports Jou. Voting him as Number one on their list of voting, that means five points, and that perhaps makes him to carry the day!

Yeah,just like i thought. Popularity contest,tainted by voters sentiments.

Jarus:

But overall, I think the voting is diverse enough to reflect true best player. The few sentiments-driven couldn't have made much difference, especially since teh difference between winner and 1st runner up is so wide.

This is so on point.

And I think the best best player won at the end of the day.

Of The Mafia, 'Omerta' And Qualified Men! Messi Still Is The Best Man!

I think voting system should be reviewed.sentiment,nepotism and favourism are not good. There are caucus among international foothballers.people know the voters. lobbying is not an impossibility.

sheedy407: i Ve notin to comment sha but to say dat the award is alredi with d winner while sum people are here usin their ba3 whc dey charged in barbing saloon to comment.

Give us the overall details of the vote, y u say make we go brows again ?

Messi is an amazing and humble player. He deserved the trophy. My top 3..
1) messi
2) persie
3) Toure

Casillas sef dey very unserious. Ramos over Ronaldo.?

afam4eva: This thing could have gone either way ooo cos it seems some people voted based on sentiments.

If not for the selected journalist, it would have gone either way. Those directly involved in the game who are eligible to vote are voting with sentiment.

afam4eva: This thing could have gone either way ooo cos it seems some people voted based on sentiments.

If not for the selected journalists, it would have gone either way. Those directly involved in the game who are eligible to vote are voting with sentiment.

Troll: The Way This Voting Is Being Done Nowadays; An African Will Never Win The Fifa Ballon D'Or. No Matter How Spectacular He Is On The Pitch. The Europeans Will Always Vote For Their Own. The Public Should Be Given Voting Power Or Else This Is Just Plainly Sentimental Bulshit. Imagine!?

You're right, but if the members of the public are given the opportunity to vote, der will still be manipulatn, everybody will want to vote their own!

la furia: @ jarus, argetina and messi didnt vote for CR7.............In summary,everybody voted for his friend......
i thought the voting was strictly between cr7 y messi y iniesta,how did the others like ramos , alonso, ibra etc get a vote,? my point is why tell us the final three wen its obvious that i can vote for chamakh as world best player.......oh i see, you vote for the final 23, is alright

well all done and dusted....... but the fifa XI

Everybody that got nomination(by coaches, captains and journalists, even if one nomination) was among the initial long list released by FIFA way back November.

And getting the first 11 is also easy. Top ranked in each position. Messi (1st), Ronaldo (2nd), and Falcao (5th) were the top ranked forwards, so will automatically mean they are the forwards for FIFA 11. Drogba came 8th, and 4th ranked forward(after the trio). Except you want a strange formation of 4 strikers, Drogba couldn't have made First 11, despite coming 8th overall. Ditto for Pirlo. Yes, he did well, but other midfielders (Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi and who's the 4th again) ranked ahead of him, not because FIFA didn't his face but because the four guys appeared more in coaches and captains' nominations than Pirlo's.

It's that simple. I have never for once believed FIFA or CAF sit down and give someone award.

Joachim low must b high on alomo mesut ozil as 1st. They r voting with sentiment.

Cornel88: If not for the selected journalists, it would have gone either way. Those directly involved in the game who are eligible to vote are voting with sentiment.

There was nothing like sentiment der, u are free as a coach, Sport writer, captain of a national team, to vote any player of your choice, it must not be Messi, Cr7 of Ini ester!

Troll: The Way This Voting Is Being Done Nowadays; An African Will Never Win The Fifa Ballon D'Or. No Matter How Spectacular He Is On The Pitch. The Europeans Will Always Vote For Their Own. The Public Should Be Given Voting Power Or Else This Is Just Plainly Sentimental Bulshit. Imagine!?

Eto'o came 3rd as recently as 2004. He was an African. Stop the racist remark. Drogba came 8th and you wont tell me he did more than the 7 guys ranked ahead of him.