Sergio Busquets obtained his first Ballon d'Or nomination after providing numerous years of solid play for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
He is not a flashy player and rarely scores goals, but what he does do is provide stability in the defensive half of the midfield and has even shown that he can occupy a defensive role when called upon to do so. At just age 24, he still has a great deal of potential and his ability to read plays and make the smart decisions with the ball are assets that should continue to improve as he grows.
His year was highlighted by a win at the Euro 2012 in which he played a major role in Spain's midfield.
Best Moment of the Year: Busquets may play in the midfield, but he was a vital part of shutting down some of the offensive threats that Spain faced in its Euro 2012 campaign. They only allowed one goal in the entire tournament and even if it was not completely to the credit of Busquets, he was a major part of their defensive prowess on their way to making history at the Euro 2012.
Chances of Filling the Final Spot in the Top Three: With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo locked, Busquets has a rather small chance of getting anywhere near the top three. He won the Euro Cup, but so did seven other Spanish teammates. Of those seven, three also won the Spanish League Championship with Real Madrid. Statistically, he only scored twice in 2011-12 and has started the 2012-13 season without a single goal or assist. Other players nominated on the list have had better seasons from a statistical standpoint.