I know a lot of people will crucify me if i say that Ryan Giggs is the best footballer in Europe. But on a serious note, he has to be. He has scored in every premier league season since inception of the world’s most exciting league, can you beat that.
For Giggs to make the short list for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, shows that the world appreciates his contribution to the game of football.
A host of other premier league players also made it to the short list. The full list is below for your delight.
Full list of nominees:
Andrei Arshavin (Russia) Arsenal
Karim Benzema (France) Olympique Lyon then Real Madrid
Iker Casillas (Spain) Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Manchester United then Real Madrid
Diego (Brazil) Werder Bremen then Juventus
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) Chelsea
Edin Dzeko (Bosnia) VfL Wolfsburg
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) Barcelona then Inter Milan
Cesc Fabregas (Spain) Arsenal
Fernando Torres (Spain) Liverpool
Diego Forlan (Uruguay) Atletico Madrid
Steven Gerrard (England) Liverpool
Ryan Giggs (Wales) Manchester United
Yoann Gourcuff (France) Bordeaux
Thierry Henry (France) Barcelona
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) Inter Milan then Barcelona
Andres Iniesta (Spain) Barcelona
Julio Cesar (Brazil) Inter Milan
Kaka (Brazil) AC Milan then Real Madrid
Frank Lampard (England) Chelsea
Maicon (Brazil) Inter Milan
Lionel Messi (Argentina) Barcelona
Luis Fabiano (Brazil) Sevilla
Franck Ribery (France) Bayern Munich
Wayne Rooney (England) Manchester United
John Terry (England) Chelsea
Nemanja Vidic (Serbia) Manchester United
David Villa (Spain) Valencia
Xavi (Spain) Barcelona
Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) Barcelona
As an African, it pleases me to see a couple of Africans in the short-list as well. But worth mentioning is the fact that no Italian has merited a listing,that is really surprising.
Related links
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8313058.stm
http://sports.rediff.com/report/2009/oct/18/ronaldo-messi-nominated-for-ballon-dor.htm
http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/united-veteran-still-up-there-with-the-best
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