FIFA World Player of the Year Shortlist

[Lord Nibbler]

SkySports

Adriano (Inter, Brazil)

Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich, Germany)

David Beckham (Real Madrid, England)

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy)

Cafu (Milan, Brazil)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd, Portugal)

Deco (Barcelona, Portugal)

Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast)

Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana)

Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon)

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England)

Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus, Sweden)

Kaka (Milan, Brazil)

Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England)

Paolo Maldini (Milan, Italy)

Pavel Nedved (Juventus, Czech Republic)

Alessandro Nesta (Milan, Italy)

Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton, Nigeria)

Raul (Real Madrid, Spain)

Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina)

Arjen Robben (Chelsea, Holland)

Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid, Brazil)

Robinho (Real Madrid, Brazil)

Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil) [2004 winner]

Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Brazil)

Wayne Rooney (Man Utd, England)

Andrei Shevchenko (Milan, Ukraine)

Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd, Holland)

Zidane Zinedine (Real Madrid, France)

a) I find the lack of John Terry disturbing.

b) I find the lack of Gabriel Heinze disturbing.

c) Didier Drogba has no business being on that list.

[King Ellis]

How did Jay Jay Okacha make the list? I mean he's a good player and all but :blink:

[Summers]

Jay Jay Scotchedegg has nothing this season.

[Liam]

Just to fill in most of this topic,

for most: "ZOMG DAVID BEKHAM WTF?!!?"

for TRB: "ZOMG DIDIER DROGBA WTF?!!?"

But seriously, it's a pretty conclusive list, and I don't see fault with anyone on that list really.

[Guest sahyder2k5]

Not really, I could name 7 players who don't belong on that list and 7 players who would be better fit to replace them. But I doubt any of those would win anyways so meh.

[Summers]

Just to fill in most of this topic,

for most: "ZOMG DAVID BEKHAM WTF?!!?"

for TRB: "ZOMG DIDIER DROGBA WTF?!!?"

But seriously, it's a pretty conclusive list, and I don't see fault with anyone on that list really.

Jay Jay fucking Scotchedegg.

[Liam]

Just to fill in most of this topic,

for most: "ZOMG DAVID BEKHAM WTF?!!?"

for TRB: "ZOMG DIDIER DROGBA WTF?!!?"

But seriously, it's a pretty conclusive list, and I don't see fault with anyone on that list really.

Jay Jay fucking Scotchedegg.

He took a small team, who are one of the only Prem teams who have progressed yet are actually in the black when it comes to money spent vs money earnt through transfer fees, and pretty much single handedly took them into Europe.

Plus he still plays quality football, although he hasn't done overly much at the start of this season.

Edited October 13, 2005 by Big Hairy Man Face

[Summers]

Just to fill in most of this topic,

for most: "ZOMG DAVID BEKHAM WTF?!!?"

for TRB: "ZOMG DIDIER DROGBA WTF?!!?"

But seriously, it's a pretty conclusive list, and I don't see fault with anyone on that list really.

Jay Jay fucking Scotchedegg.

He took a small team, who are one of the only Prem teams who have progressed yet made more money from transfer fees than from buying players, and pretty much single handedly took them into Europe.

Plus he still plays quality football, although he hasn't done overly much at the start of this season.

Right, it was all a one man effort.

[Guest sahyder2k5]

Okocha warrants his place on the list as he was one of the driving forces in the Bolton team. I'd say he certainly belongs there if players who didn't have that good of a season or didn't particularly shine like Beckham, Drogba, Zidane, Raul, Nedved, RVN and Ronaldo do.

[Summers]

Peter Crouch was the driving force in Southampton.

CROUCH FOR WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

Maybe Earnshaw, he did wonders for the Baggies, EARNSHAW FOR WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

[Guest sahyder2k5]

Next time use driving forces in team that aren't currently in the Championship or scrapping in the relegation zone. FIFA likes to toss in one or two players every year that aren't in big teams, guess its Okocha's turn.

[Liam]

Just to fill in most of this topic,

for most: "ZOMG DAVID BEKHAM WTF?!!?"

for TRB: "ZOMG DIDIER DROGBA WTF?!!?"

But seriously, it's a pretty conclusive list, and I don't see fault with anyone on that list really.

Jay Jay fucking Scotchedegg.

He took a small team, who are one of the only Prem teams who have progressed yet made more money from transfer fees than from buying players, and pretty much single handedly took them into Europe.

Plus he still plays quality football, although he hasn't done overly much at the start of this season.

Right, it was all a one man effort.

As RM said, he was the main driving force, and Bolton wouldn't have been half the team they are without him.

And Southampton and WBA finished in the bottom 4....Bolton finished in the European places, so thats why Okocha would warrant the place above someone like Crouch or Earnshaw.

[Malenko]

Okocha warrants his place on the list as he was one of the driving forces in the Bolton team. I'd say he certainly belongs there if players who didn't have that good of a season or didn't particularly shine like Beckham, Drogba, Zidane, Raul, Nedved, RVN and Ronaldo do.

[therockbox]

for TRB: "ZOMG DIDIER DROGBA WTF?!!?"

[Liam]

for TRB: "ZOMG DIDIER DROGBA WTF?!!?"

If he didn't play for Chelsea he wouldn't be on the list.

Second, how they play in the national team is also evaluated and not only how they play in their clubs. With that said, Cote D'Ivoire/Ivory Coast/However you call it, are going to their first world cup ever and Drogba is one of the main reasons why they are going.

Simple as, really, and I agree with it.

[Visionary]

No John Terry is ridiculous and it's obvious most players are on that list for namesake alone.

[therockbox]

for TRB: "ZOMG DIDIER DROGBA WTF?!!?"

If he didn't play for Chelsea he wouldn't be on the list.

Edited October 13, 2005 by rock a box

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Zlatan has his deserving place.

Nedved has been outstanding this year actually if you look at it. No way does he deserve to win, because he's missed so much due to injuries and stuff, but when fit he without a doubt played a major part in everything Juventus did throughout the season.

[9 to 5]

So, who would you actually give it to?

Call me English biased if you want, but I would be tempted to give the nod to Lampard.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Ronaldinho or Gerrard will get it IMO.