Over this period a lot of footballers have won the balon d or and the FIFA World player of the year award before it became FIFA Balon d or. I think it only makes sense if the top three finalists for the past ten years slug it out. While some have been unfortunate not to get any recognition on the award front i have decided to use it as my only criteria.
Belonging to this select of football legends are the likes of Shevchenko, Ronaldinho, Kaka, C.Ronaldo, Messi, Henry, Iniesta, Xavi, F.Torres, Eto'o, Gerrard, Lampard and Cannavaro.
Now to the real list. Let's see who makes it and who s left out.
10. Cannavaro
Well when you win the Balon d or, it is special. But to win it as a defender makes it all the more special. After leading Italy to World cup glory in 2006 in a tournament in which he led a defence that only conceded an own goal from open play through out the tournament, it shows how good he was on the biggest stage while his career as whole might not be as stellar as others on this list, just the fact that he won the Balon d or as a defender is enough for him to merit a spot.
9. Iker Cassilas
Three international tournaments wins with Spain in which he played very crucial roles: from that penalty save at Euro 2008 to those saves at the World Cup 2010 especially against Netherlands in the final in which he denied Robben twice one-on-one when the score was still goalless. His imprints on the big stage are there for all to see. While Real Madrid s 2014 UEFA Champions League tirumph might be attributed to Cristiano Ronaldo s goal scoring exploits. It was Casilas who took them to the semi final stage with a string of saves away at Dortmund.
He may not be as imperious as before his achievements over the last decade sees him take a spot on this list.
8. Thierry Henry
The greatest striker ever to play in the EPL. He was embodiment of electric at his best. The only real rival to Ronaldinho at his pump. After leading Arsenal to an unbeaten premier league title, he finally got the champions league title he badly craved as a part of Pep Guardiola s all conquering Barcelona side.
7. Samuel Eto'o
Three UEFA champions league titles while scoring two of those finals, league titles in Spain and Italy. A record four African footballer of the year and third place in the World player of the year award in 2006. He has been the best striker of the past ten years. While he is not as appreciated as he should be. His achievements tell the whole story. Not every one can say they won the treble with two different teams and in consecutive years for that matter. Only him and Gerrard Pique can lay claim to that honour. The greatest African ever to kick a football.
6. Frank Lampard
Evergreen English midfielder and Chelsea legend belongs to the unique breed of goal scoring midfielders. The all time top scorer of Chelsea Fc and one of the top scoring midfielders of all time. This is a man who s known for his ability to always be in the right position at the right time to score countless important goals.
Over 200 goals from midfield for Chelsea and almost 300 career goals. He is simply the best of his kind over the past ten years and ever.
Won Chelsea their only champions league title with key performances in both legs of the champions league semi final against Barcelona.
Three premier league titles, a Europa league title and several others. An English football legend.
5. Andreas Iniesta
The last member of the three musketeers from that all conquering barcelona team. The man who loves to score important goals. Scorer of the winning goal in the world cup final and the winning goal in the semi final of the champions league in 2009. The man who made memorable moments. But it doesn't just stop there. Watching him monopolise the ball is just an art. Sometimes it seems like he doesn't have bones in his hips. He has contributed in a lot of big games over the years. He will go down as one of the most unlucky players never to win the Balon d or. This is the man for the big occassions.
4. Xavi Hernandez
Mr tiki taka himself. The man who led the Spanish national team to its most successful period ever. Three consecutive international titles (a record) tells the whole story. He is also one of the three musketeers of the great barcelona team of the past decade winning three champions league titles. It s not just the silverwares that placed him so high on this list. Its the fact that he defined a style of play that was pleasing to watch, dominant, unique and very successful. He was the metronome on both teams. The one that determined how everything went by. One of the greatest central midfielders of all time.
3. Ronanldinho
The man who played football not as a job but for what it really is - fun! He is the only footballer who always played with a smile on his face. While the joy about him wasn't just what got him into third position in this list, it is the joy he simply gave when you watch him on a ball. If was as driven and as proffesional as someone like C. Ronaldo he probably would have won 10 Balon d or s. That's how good he was. Still he won two Balon d ors. He can be credited as the man responsible for Fc Barcelona s success over the past decade starting their era of dominance by leading them to a UEFA champions league title and two la ligas.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
This man would have probably won the last six Balon d or s if not for the little guy on the no 1 spot. His consistency and excellence would have seen him claim the title of the greatest player of his generation if not for the Argentine genius. Ronaldo is the model football. The type you will come up with if you are to designed one in a lab. Able with both feet, pace, power. He has won the Balon d or and the Golden Boot with two different clubs. Two Champions League titles. He has won it all in club football.
1. Lionel Messi
Well I don't think that was too difficult. The only footballer with four Balon d or s, Most goal ever in a calendar year and a season. The talisman of arguablly the best footballing team ever and definately the best ever club football team. Already regarded by some as the greatest ever. Over 23 titles in the last ten years. He has not only defined an era, he has defined football. The football witnessed in that time span of his Balon d or dominance will probably never be seen again!
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