The most prestigious football award for individual achievement? Without a doubt. Golden Ball in its present form was established in 2010 from the merger plebiscites “France Football Golden Ball” and the FIFA World Player.
The prize was awarded earlier but up since 1956. Until 1995, voters elected the best player of the year only among Europeans, from this moment, however, the fight can stand each competitor in the world.
The big emotions and big controversy – a company sign this award since its inception. Considering the whole story, 4 players managed to win this award three times – that Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Michel Platini and Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined the group last year. From them better is only Leo Messi, who has won four titles.
In the history was, however, a lot of players who throughout his career had overcome the taste, because choosing the winner never been enough to agree on their achievements. Big names, great achievements and great career – present players whose absence on the list of winners of the Golden Ball can still raise big surprise.
Paolo Maldini
The great defender, an icon of Italian football and AC Milan. In his generation, a true giant, and this living example of the fact that throughout his career, you can be faithful to one club. He assumed his colors for nearly a quarter century, winning seven Italian league titles and five European Cups. Since 2002 a decade created an amazing duet with Alessandro Nesta.
On the representation he won two silver medals – world championships and European championships, which can make it slightly unfulfilled career, for sure, however, he was one of the greatest central defenders in the history of football. Changed to trainers, selectors, Maldini, however, continued on a bench and over the years was someone from whom started with determining the starting composition of the team from Milan.
The highest place in the standings is just the lowest step of the podium.
The years before a similar fate befell Franco Baresi.
Raul Gonzalez
Another icon in the statement, this time the legend of Real Madrid. Pupil, having a proven track record of 550 appearances for the first team, for the fans ‘Royal’ which is synonymous with the word “goal”. He began his career in the youth teams local rivals Atletico Madrid, but in connection with the termination of his team, he moved to the Bernabeu.
ranked among the ranks on the way to the first team, which made its debut at the age of 17 years and 4 months old, becoming the youngest player in the history of Real Madrid. Quickly broke to the composition, has been hailed as one of the most promising players in all of Spain, the media was a real revelation.
The six Spanish league titles, three Champions League titles and an astronomical number of 228 goals scored – the largest of its achievements with the club. Farewell, however, it aroused much controversy. Raul, who had been at the Santiago Bernabeu, adored by fans was in 2010 forced out of the club. Schalke played yet and then in Qatar and the US.
The closest the Golden Ball was in 2001, but the award went to Michael Owen. To this day, it is one of the most controversial decisions in history.
Thierry Henry
His football career ended at the end of 2014. and you can probably tell you about the Frenchman that he has acquired during its duration practically everything there was to win. Champion of England with Arsenal, four-time top scorer of Premier League, Champions League winner with Barcelona, which also prevailed in the domestic backyard.
The national team in 1998 won the title of best team in the world, and two years later he was also European champion.
On each team, where he played he left its its toll. He was extremely spectacular player, scored a lot of great goals and was able to delight fans wherever he appeared.
Sensational winger, who also played as a striker and gained goals as if on cue. It was not enough, however, to be the best player in the world. FIFA and France Football in their most polls have placed him in second place. He lost, among others, with Pavel Nedved and Ronaldinho.
Dennis Bergkamp
Thierry Henry admitted that he was the best footballer, with whom he had a chance to play in one team, which in itself is a great honor.
Big Dutchman, which technically remains unsurpassed for many players. The biggest career at Arsenal he did previously played in Ajax Amsterdam and FC Internazionale Milano.
One of the most emblematic players who ever ran around the fields, his trademark was amazing receiving the ball, which could outmaneuver any rival.
Bergkamp in its heyday was a player ocierającym about magic. He read the game in an extraordinary way, providing boiskowe events on a few moves ahead. In 1993 France Football journalists placed him second in its list, behind his back, Roberto Baggio.
Xavi Hernandez
For many years, the brain and the leader of the second line of Barcelona. He reached its peak during the reign of Pep Guardiola at the Camp Nou. It’s hard to find another player who could thus conduct the game of his team, dictate the pace and change their style of play depending on boiskowych events. A real general who on their shoulders held “Pride of Catalonia”.
He combined a successful club with a great game in the national team, which he led to the World Cup and two European Championships. Titles and awards nearly impossible to count, but the only “problem” this player still in the fact that his titanic work performed in the shadow of more prominent players, stars shining on the offensive. Those without it could not but shine.
In the fight with Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who raised themselves to the heights of his skills, he was no chance in the eyes of experts. The Spaniard had to settle for the lowest level of the podium in 2009.
The quarterback slowly moving toward the end of a career in Qatar’s Al-Sadd, now will be able to also check out the other, much more demanding role.
A similar case can be Paul Scholes, who in the colors of Manchester United also won the status of legend, but his re “discovery” was actually the end of his career – that’s when it was all too apparent that the “Red Devils” have never been his successor middle.
Gianluigi Buffon
Goalkeepers and defenders do not have luck with gold balls. It’s a thankless role on the court, which must constantly be vigilant. One mistake can compromise the effort of the whole team, and seemingly trivial interventions that do not cause enthusiasm, they are often crucial to the final outcome of the match.
Capital interventions goalkeepers are not stored as long as their spectacular mistakes. Throughout the history of the prize keeper managed to win only once, when in 1963 the Golden Ball went to Lev Yashin from the Soviet Union.
A lot of discussion wywowała Award nomination for 2014 years Manuel Neuer. In 2014 years, but he was hardly in any way to start a fight with Messi and Ronaldo.
In recent decades, supporters viewed the many great goalkeepers Buffon was undoubtedly the best of them. In 2006, when the Italians won the world championship, he and Fabio Cannavaro were among the players who made it possible. Eventually he won by center-back, and Buffon had to settle for second place. Although still plays with success at Juventus, it is unlikely broke this achievement.
Of course, there will always be arguments for or against, and accurate, objective assessment often is simply impossible. Players who could get this prestigious award, it was more. Just to mention players such as the pair of side defenders for Brazil, Cafu and Roberto Carlos, a great central midfielder, what was Patrick Vieira. If more getting into the story, there is also the Ferenc Puskas, Johan Neeskens and Sandro Mazzola.
All the indications are that in 2015 won Leo Messi. In recent times, however, you can at least get by without major disputes – that the Argentine and Cristiano Ronaldo definitely jumped all competition.
Paul Słójkowski, PolskieRadio.pl
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