USWNT coach Jill Ellis, who guided her team to the 2015 World Cup title, is up for women’s coach of the year, along with England’s Mark Sampson and Japan’s Norio Sasaki.
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Turan played alongside Messi for only the second time this season as the Catalans hammered Granada 4-0 on Saturday.
Messi’s mazy effort against Athletic Bilbao is included as is Alessandro Florenzi’s spectacular effort for AS Roma against Barcelona, with Brazil striker Wendell Lira’s acrobatic overhead kick for club side Goianesia rounding off the list. The former Liverpool man’s low ball across the box was ignored by Messi – who knew he was offside – allowing Neymar to grab his 15th La Liga goal of the season. Luis Suarez is third (10/1).
Messi certainly is a one in a generation player and absolutely deserves all the praise he is receiving, the little magician keeps on surpassing people’s expectations and will yet again be crowned the greatest player on the planet come Monday night.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Liverpool, Wenger said: “I am a big enemy of the Ballon d’Or”. Before that, Messi won the honour four years in a row.
Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted rival Lionel Messi has a better left foot than him and accepted that the Barcelona star is favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.
“It is more hard to beat four or five players in a cup final”. Not only did his Real Madrid team not win any honors, but Cristiano Ronaldo was repeatedly linked with transfers away from the Bernabeu and for getting into a dispute with the new manager of Real Madrid, Rafael Benitez.
All three players have been shortlisted for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or as the world player of year.
Barcelona’s new signings Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal had made debuts in the Copa del Rey during the week, but the Turkish global made an immediate impact in his first La Liga outing for the Blaugrana. Ronaldo is no stranger to the award as the Portuguese forward lifted the trophy previous year and twice before then, giving him a total of 3 Ballon d’Or.
“Florenzi is a player with a spectacular shot, but for me Messi’s has more merit”.
“I do feel Neymar is more influential these days”, Balague said.
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At the moment, there is probably only one player in the Premier League who could develop in to a Ballon d’Or victor: Anthony Martial. “He will need time, but I am happy”.
