ballon d'or 2012
Lionel Messi has made history with his fourth Ballon d'Or victory.
The Ballon D'Or winners have been announced with Lionel Messi as the heavy favorite to win the top prize after his massive 91 goal season.
Many think that Lionel Messi will win his record fourth Ballon d'Or on Jan. 7, but there is one major candidate that can shock the world and take it away from him.
For the last three years, one man has been honored as the best player in the world. In 2012, he has an opportunity to make it four straight years as the greatest player in the world. That man is Lionel Messi and a Ballon d'Or victory on Jan. 7 would be another historic milestone for Barcelona's franchise star.
In just five days the 2012 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced. The three contestants are Cristiano Ronaldo, Andres Iniesta, and Lionel Messi have reasons to deserving to win the award. Here are some reasons why Ronaldo deserves the award.
Lionel Messi had a tremendous 2012 as he set the record for most goals scored in a single year with 91 and accumulated a number of other feats.
Lionel Messi's historic 90-goal year has likely secured his record fourth straight Ballon d'Or, but he does not seem to have the consensus vote among a number of major players.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are currently the front runners to win the Ballon d'Or. One could make an argument that the race is no longer in contention after Messi's historic goal scoring pace. However, neither of those two are garnering as much attention regarding the coveted prize.
Let us look at what the two superstars accomplished during the fourteenth week of La Liga.
As expected, FIFA announced today that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were among the top three finalists for the coveted Ballon d'Or.
Xavi Hernandez is the longest tenured player in Barcelona history and despite being 32 years old, continues to prove why he is one of the greatest ever.
Robin Van Persie has had an interesting 'up and down' year.
Yaya Touré joins countryman Didier Drogba as the only Africans on the Ballon d'Or 2012 list of nominees.
Last year, Englishman Wayne Rooney finished fifth in voting for the 2011 Ballon d'Or and this year he will look for a higher ranking.
Who is better? Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? The two greatest living soccer players not only compete in the same league but for rival squads.
