FIFA World Player Nominees and the Barça machine

By: Ade C. | October 30th, 2009

So, the list is out for the 23 male football players who are in the running to get the (second?) most prestigious footballing award, the 2009 FIFA World Player.

And guess what? That’s right! FC Barcelona is the club who has more players making the list. It’s almost not surprising anymore, isn’t it? Almost, I said. Though remember, Barça is also the club who has had more players picking up the award when playing for us!

Pretty, isn't it?

See the full list of nominees under the jump!

Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Diego (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain), Franck Ribéry (France), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

Six men currently playing for FC Barcelona, and one Samuel Eto’o. Of course, Leo Messi is everyone’s favourite (except CRon’s, I expect), but even if he doesn’t get the award (knock on wood! Now!), having so many of our players on the list is an achievement in and of itself.

Check out also the Castrol rankings, which not only have a not-so-surprising anymore number of barcelonistas, but also has arranged them in… odd fashion (Thierry, Rafa, I love you, but… what?!).

Category: Barcelona, Team News

Tags: Andres Iniesta, Barcelona, Carles Puyol, Lionel Messi, Team News, Thierry Henry, Xavi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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• Helge |  October 30th, 2009 at 7:42 am

  
  
  

  Damn, as a loyal follower of this blog, I had to knock on the keyboard of my laptop because there has been no wooden table or such around…will you compensate for the damage?:)
  Six men currently playing plus Eto’o. I would also discount Ibra because he didn’t get the nomination for his extraordinary performances in the blaugrana shirt but in nerazzurrri. So from my point of view there are still 6 Barca nominees, but only one from RM –> we even own them harder off the pitch than on the pitch
  I seriosuly wish that Xavi wins this award, not only because he is already 29 and might not get many more opportunities, not only because Messi will win it one year anyway, but because Xavi was the most influential player of our historic season. And he is the only one that cannot be replaced at all, Messi could be replaced by some players, but there is noone who compares to Xavi. I really wish the FIFA and/or the jury have the guts to give the trophy to Xavi, but I highly doubt it

  Posted from Germany

  

• Ade C. |  October 30th, 2009 at 12:43 pm

  
  
  

  Didn’t you read the disclaimer, Helge? No new laptopp for you, I’m afraid!
  Yes, Ibra doesn’t really count… but it’s still six! Five more than RM!
  I do wish that Xavi gets to win something this season too, because he has been so awesome and also because of his age, but I’m afraid he doesn’t have enough star-power to carry this off… he’s getting there, being on the covers of video-games and stuff, but I’m afraid he’ll be one of those great players who never gets the big awards… although I’m not so sure I agree with you as to how replaceable Messi is!
  Let’s wait and see, though!

  Posted from Spain

  

• barca96 |  October 30th, 2009 at 8:04 pm

  
  
  

  how in the world did ballack get into the top25?

  Posted from United States

  

• Ade C. |  October 31st, 2009 at 4:14 am

  
  
  

  That’s an… interesting question, barca96. Sometimes, I believe these rankings are calculated by drunken monkeys. I won’t if Messi wins, though!

  Posted from Spain

  

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