Best Young Player Nominees Announced – Who’s Going to Win it?

May 18th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

Now that the complete rosters have been released, FIFA has announced the 40 players born on or after the 1 January 1985 who are eligible to win the Best Young Player Award. This is a new prize this year and I think it is pretty cool, especially since there are a lot of talented young players scattered across the World Cup squads. Until his metatarsal snapped, my choice was going to be Wayne Rooney, but unless his recovery is quicker than expected, I just don’t see him winning the award.

I also think it will be tough for a defender to win the award. People always seem to be biased towards goal scorers when it comes to this type of thing. With all that taken into consideration, I’m going to go with Argentina’s Lionel Messi edging out Portugal’s, Cristiano Ronaldo and Spain’s Cesc Fabregas. Even though Messi has been battling his own injury problems I think he is poised to have a big World Cup.

Here’s the list of eligible players. Who do you think is going to win it?

Mario (ANG), Lionel Messi (ARG), Oscar Ustari (ARG), Mark Milligan (AUS), Luka Modric (CRO), Christian Benitez (ECU), Luis Valencia (ECU), Aaron Lennon (ENG), Wayne Rooney (ENG), Theo Walcott (ENG), Marcell Jansen (GER), Lukas Podolski (GER), Haminu Dramani (GHA), Asamoah Gyan (GHA), Hossein Kaabi (IRN), Ji Hoon Baek (KOR), Jin Kyu Kim (KOR), Chu Young Park (KOR), Andres Guardado (MEX), Guillermo Ochoa (MEX), Ryan Babel (NED), Hedwidges Maduro (NED), Jose Montiel (PAR), Lukasz Fabianski (POL), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), Mohammed Al Anbar (KSA), Cesc Fabregas (ESP), Sergio Ramos (ESP), Tranquillo Barnetta (SUI), Valon Behrami (SUI), Johan Djourou (SUI), Blerim Dzemaili (SUI), Philippe Senderos (SUI), Johan Vonlanthen (SUI), Toure Assimiou (TOG), Karim Guede (TOG), Yassine Chikhaoui (TUN), Dmytro Chiggrynskiy (UKR), Artem Milevskiy (UKR), Bogdan Shust (UKR)

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David Porter

It is going to be Lukas Podolski. Germany is going to crap out in the quarterfinals but he’ll win the award and give them hope for 2010.
James

Keep an eye out for Jose Montiel from Paraguay. If he gets a chance to play he is going to shine.
http://ecuador.worldcupblog.org/ Trent

Messi is the best bet.

It’s funny to think of C. Ronaldo as a Best Young Player candidate–seems like he’s been around forever.
Ania

I really think Rooney is going to take it. He’s very young but he’s energetic and excited. He’s going to have fun out there and he is the Best Young Player.
Maxi

ronaldo will be the best young player. he’s going to be able to do whatever he wants against iran and angola and probably will end up with a bunch of goals.
Ace

Senderos for the Swiss. He is a very skilled player on a team that is going to do better than a lot of people predict.

Messi will also be fun to watch, but Argentina isn’t going to do well. He will be the golden boot in 2010.
http://www.bensefels.de Bense

If Messi will be playing, he’ll have a chance. If Senderos can score as a defender on corners, it might be him, even if Switzerland does not go far. If Germany reaches the Semis, it’ll be Podolski.
http://incadenza.typepad.com/soccer_thoughts/ Evan

Probably Podolski or Messi, but I think Maduro or Babel have a chance, depending on how far Holland goes.
Stephen

I must say my money would be on fabregas if he gets a free role he has great vision and can read the game. he also fits in well to the spanish team, he could well be the reason the dont underacheive this year is they use him properly
fab

rooney is injured it wont be him

even if he does get back to health he wont be fit in time to make that much of an impact

id say messi
http://netherlands.worldcupblog.org Mike

Look at all the Swiss players! I would like to think that Maduro and Babel have a chance but I lean towards Messi or Ronaldo.
http://portugal.worldcupblog.org Luis Paulo

It’s going to be between Podolsky, Fabregas and Ronaldo
http://www.worldcup2006news.net/2006/05/19/whos-gonna-be-the-best-old-player/ World Cup 2006 News- World Cup 2006 Germany Soccer Blog

[...] Yesterday, Bob over at WCB was wondering who´s gonna be the best young player at next month´s World Cup. I would take this a step further asking who´s gonna be the best “old” player. My definition of “old” would fit a player that has left the magic 30th birthday behind. If you think about it there are some decent players playing their last World Cup. Who´s gonna be the cream of the crop? These are my suggestions. I´d be happy to include yours as well. Every player will get a personal profile in the next couple of days. [...]
kaiserace

MONTIEL. I hope he gets to play, the most underrated by far!
Royal Flyness

If he gets enough playing time, it’s going to be Ryan Babel for me. He is so far ahead of his time it’s unbelievable.

If Ryan doesn’t get enough playing, then it will most likely by C. Ronaldo
DT

Christiano Ronaldo or Hedwiges Maduro.

With Riquelme, Aimar, Tevez and Crespo in the team, Messi probably won’t be a starter.

Fabregas may not be a starter either. Spain won’t go very far anyway.
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/big-question-which-current-coach-was-the-best-player.html#comments Pedro P

I think the decision will depend more on how far each team actually goes, than the player qualities alone. I mean, “the chosen one” is likely to come out of a semi-finalist, at least.

Must also admit my ignorance in most of these cases. However, C Ronaldo has the qualities the public usually likes: he’s already a full grown player (essential requirement), scores already +/- half as many goals as Portugal’s main striker, plus has a ton of talent and a handfull of eye catching high skill tricks.

If Portugal goes far, he’ll be one of the best, or the best. If Portugal drops off early, people will call him a “fast footed clown”.
http://germany.worldcupblog.org/1/more-on-odonkor.html More on Odonkor – FIFA World Cup 2006 – Germany World Cup Team Blog

[...] You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Leave aReply [...]
Martin

My money will be on Messi with C. Ronaldo a close 2nd and Cesc Fabregas third.

Look at how many U-21 players are on the Swiss team! This World Cup is probably too early for them but watch out for this team as it matures for Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010.
http://trinidadtobago.worldcupblog.org/1/birchall-jones-and-whiteley-ones-to-watch.html Birchall, Jones and Whiteley – Ones to watch – FIFA World Cup 2006 – Trinidad and Tobago World Cup Team Blog

[...] Chris Birchall is just slightly too old (at 22) to qualify for the World Cup’s Best Young Player award. So is Kenwyne Jones, 21. Aurtis Whitely is definitely over the hill at the ripe old age of 30. No matter – these young (and young-at-heart) Warriors, are ones to watch anyway. [...]
Evi

Cesc Fabregas of course!!! He went to the CL final with Arsenal and he is very experienced playng more than 100 games with Arsenal!!! Mwssi is a starlet that will also shine!!! Maybe there will be surprises in WC!! Who knows!!!
Jorge

I think Messi from Argentina has the best chance with Rooney injured I think Messi will shine even if Argentina have Crespo, Aimar, Tevez and Riquelme I still think he will be played alot!
Federico

its definetly messi, rooney,
c.ronaldo,montiel, Ryan babel or Cesc Fabregas
Tash

it’s definately gonna be messi he’s just too hot 4 words!!!cris ronaldo is too selfish with the ball and its a bit too obvious-GO MESSI!!!
Mark

I am almost certain Cristiano Ronaldo is going to win it. No one can do what he does. He makes your money worth while.

Its always amazing watching him play. Hats off to whoever wins buy my vote is with Ronaldo.
thegame

fabregas or ronaldo to win the young player of the year 2k6!!
DarkD3m0n

Lionel Messi should win the title no doubt about it ! He is the best (Look at his goal scored against Getafe)… Soon (I think in 2008) he is going to be the best player of the year.
http://bthytrjhyhju brendan price1

ryan babel has a good chance obviously so does rooney and messi mayby fabregas or podolski but i think that gago and higuain who play for real madrid are qaulity