Ballon d’Or 2013…

The FIFA Ballon d'Or is an association football award given annually to the player who is considered to have performed the best in the previous year. It is awarded based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams, as well as journalists from around the world…blah blah blah blah…..We all know the importance of ballon d’Or in the footballing world. The one who wins it, surely would be considered the No.1 for this coming year. It is and will always be every footballers dream.

This year’s Boost of an impressive finalist with the likes of Christiano Ronaldo, Frank Ribery and Lionel Messi. Who will win it??? With everyone tipping the ex-United and the Real Madrid star Christiano Ronaldo to beat Messi and Ribery. And why not I would say, the stats don’t lie.

	Messi	Ronaldo	Ribery
Appearances	45	56	52
Minutes on the Pitch	3346	4542	4018
Won	26	40	52
Drawn	14	10	4
Lost	5	6	3
Trophies	1	0	5
Goals	42	66	22
Shots on target	87	160	56
Shots off target	59	136	36
Assists	15	15	18
Pass completion	84.50%	79.20%	85.70%
Tackles won	76.90%	84.80%	89.90%
Clearances	1	38	6
Interceptions	20	12	45

Let’s not forget Ronaldo’s exceptionally stunning performance to steer Portugal to qualify for this year’s World Cup. He has already come second twice before and has won the ballon d'Or only once in 2008, so he would definately be itching to get his hands on this coveted achievement. I guess this would be his ideal way to put to rest all the speculation about being better than Messi or being world’s No.1 

The Bayern Munich and France star is the third favourite behind the bookies’ overwhelming market leader Christiano Ronaldo and the winner of the prize in the last three years, Lionel Messi. But Ribery, who starred for his club en route to their domestic Double and Champions League triumphs last season, believes it is he who should be honored in Zurich.

Now lets not leave Messi behind. Arguably named the world’s best by some of the footballing greats. Recently, legendary Pele said, Messi is like him. Ufff….we don’t need to say anymore. His recent injury has kept him on the sidelines for some time now. But the winner of the last three years Ballon d’Or is a strong strong contender to retain it for the fourth consecutive year.

This Debate can go on and on and on and on, but we are just few hours away from the ballon d’Or to be named winner. What do you guys think of the winner this year? I place my bet on the ever so arrogant, stylish, hard worker, talented Christiano Ronaldo.