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Polls: Who Will Be 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year?

   

The 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year shortlists just got a lot shorter, after voting by national team captains and coaches. The men’s award is now a proper shortlist of five, as opposed to the original list of 23 players (more a World Cup squad than a shortlist, no?), while the women’s shortlist has been cut in half from 10 to five.

Ladies first:

Nadine Angerer (Germany)
Cristiane (Brazil)
Marta (Brazil)
Birgit Prinz (Germany)
Kelly Smith (England)




And now the fellas:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Kaka (Brazil)
Xavi (Spain)
Fernando Torres (Spain)
Leo Messi (Argentina)

Shortlists will be reduced even further (to one) when winners are announced and then laden with trophies at the Zurich Opera House on January 12th, 2009. Will C-Ron get a World Player of the Year golden boot thingy to sit alongside his Ballon d’Or? The answer is: Yes, he probably will.

But let’s do a couple of polls anyway and then come January 12th we’ll look back and see if Offside readers are as smart as we think they are. Polls close January 11th, just to be sure:

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  • http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

    Interesting that the Olympic-winning US women’s team was completely snubbed. Brazil-Eurosnobbery at its best.

    And I notice that your question isn’t “Who should win?” but “Who will win?”

    I’d be curious to know if the answers to the two questions would be different.

  • http://epl.theoffside.com Rob

    I was just thinking that. Messi is winning the poll, but surely he isn’t actually going to win the boot?

  • http://www.theoffside.com daryl

    Funny you should mention that, because there were very nearly two different polls. “Who will win” and “who should win”. But in the end it was too many, with female Player of the Year poll as well. Will definitely do that for 2009 though.

    I’d still love to hear from people who are voting though. Are you voting for who you think will win, or who you think should win?

  • OhYes

    I voted for who I think should win (Messi) because I assumed that was the question but if it is based on who WILL win, I’d vote for Ronaldo.

  • gaston

    imo continental cups such as euro should have more weight than trophy like CL. club performance should come 2nd and if a player is lucky win a domestic and european trophy. as result, i voted torres, not only did he win euro, but had solid performance in EPL (scoring 30 goals), helping his team reach semi final of CL. in all those competition he was extremely vital to the success of his team or club. ronaldo 2nd because he won CL and EPL, and good run in at euro 2008 (average but not disaster like france). everyone is ignoring the russian player who won eufa cup andreached semi of euro as well

    everyone wins champions league at one point in their career or reach the finals, its nothing to brag about. i bet the top 100-200 players in europe have at least been in a final collected gold or silver medal

    messi started shining this summer at the olympics otherwise his season last was overshadowed by injuries

  • http://www.myspace.com Tommy Wong

    What the fuckkkk? Wheres the U.S.? Where’s Hope Solo?

    I tell you what, if the US coach didn’t bench Hope Solo ahead of the Brazil Semi-Final game things might have gone differently.

    And then like Laurie said, what about the Olympic winning team?

    Bollocks I say.

  • J

    Ronaldo: fantastic club season; dire performance in Euro 2008. looks good at presentation ceremonies.
    Kaka: doesn’t he have enough awards already?
    Xavi: brilliant but too subtle of a player for awards
    Torres: brilliant season and scored the winner at Euro 2008. More Photogenic than Xavi or Messi.
    Messi: great club season despite apparent meltdown at Barca and decent performance in Olympics.

    I expect Ronaldo to get it. Sigh.

  • RM

    why is kaka on the shortlist? he’s done almost nothing all year (except pick up the award for last year, that is)

  • http://bigfourblog.com CSD

    no hope solo… /cry

  • Weston

    i voted leo bec hes is the only one who is close enough to beat out cron if were REALLY lucky

  • http://usawomenssoccer.blogspot.com DC DC

    Perhaps they left the US WNT players out because they played as a team, not individuals. That’s why they won at the Olympics.

    Who should win: Solo (if she had been included), but Angerer is always solid and impressive (hope she can join the WPS). Prinz is still a great player, but past her prime. How did Kelly Smith make it? Just bc she plays for England? There are many other players out there better than her.

    Who will win: Marta. Good skills, but I hate her because she’s a Prima Donna and a diver. All the things FIFA rewards. (Hope she doesn’t join the WPS).

  • damilola akinkugbe

    ronaldo deserves the award, he was at his best all through last two seasons to last season and then this season again and he has something to show for it, he won the premier league and the champions league, i mean what more can this boy do to prove he’s the best in the whole universe. please give the award to cristiano ronaldo and let messi come second

  • Pops

    Why is Messi and Kaka on the list? They did nothing last season that should put them on this very prestigious short list.

    CR7 will and deserves to win this illustrious award.

  • yogi

    it will be him, yes, messi, lionel messi is the best player
    c. ronaldo depend on dewi fortuna

  • http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-football/polls-who-will-be-2008-fifa-world-player-of-the-year.html ummmmm

    when is it

  • http://www.jesuscomingbacksoon.com robert

    i respect FIFA

    but there are no way better than Messi

    how people don`t see this

    i have watched all players
    there are no player like Messi KAKA for the big games and important games

  • http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-football/polls-who-will-be-2008-fifa-world-player-of-the-year.html samih – slimshady

    Messi is the besthe perfomed really well in the last season, champions league & in Olmpics to win. So for sure L.Messi shud b the player of the year.
    c. ronaldo depend on dewi fortuna is 100% correct i agree.

  • aran

    i think diego should of been in the shortlist but this my vote to win it

    1.ronaldo
    2.messi
    3.kaka
    4.torres
    5.xavi

  • cabdirashiid

    i am sure that ronaldo will be the best player of the year because he scored 41 in last season and get uefa champions and premierleague and japan cup and player of europe

  • http://rashiid cabdirashiid

    my name is cabdrashid

  • http://rashiid cabdirashiid

    i am sure that ronaldo will be the best player of the year because he score many goals and win achampions league and premierleague and inter continent and super england and the best player in europe and that is why is say ronaldo is the best player of the year and ronaldo will be the best player in the world and messi is second and torres is thith loove ronald ana man utd

  • http://www.bbcsportnews.com Mathias

    I personaly reconmend C- Ronaldo for the fifa world pleayer 2008 aworl

  • desire

    don’t worry because i am very sure c.ronaldo will win this boot

  • rita

    Cristiano Ronaldo ALL THE WAY!
    - winning both Champions league and Premier league with Man Utd
    - Won the Ballon d’or award just last month
    - Being the top scorer in both Uefa champions league and Premier league (for a winger)
    - scoring 42 goals in one season!

    But 2nd place should go to Iker Casillas (winning both Euro 2008 cup and la liga with Real madrid) But it’s going to be hard for a goalie to win this award, but i hope it changes this year!

    3rd place should go to Fernando Torres (having a successful first season in England (Liverpool fc)) and also scoring the only goal that helped Spain win their 2nd euro cup after about 40 years!!!!!!!!

  • Vincent

    hope messi or kaka take it out. but ronaldo
    had a great season scoring 42 goals and winning
    the double. ronaldo will win. xavi is way not
    good enough. torres is an unlikely chance so go
    messi or kaka!!!!!

  • Marwan

    wat time is it gonna be?

  • http://goal.com Amelemah

    What else do u want from c ron.
    It is obvious that he is going to win.
    It is understanble that this season is for Messi but definetely not last
    season. C Ron will win

  • http://yahoo dienel misidor

    I am sure messi is best player of the year.The secon is cristiano the third is torres.

  • Waheed Cisse (Author of THE SOUL OF AN AFRICAN MAN)

    Well, all of the five finalist are doing great and all of them deserves it. We are all fans and we want our fan to win the world best, I’m talkiing about the men. But to me, I think we should consider individual football. When it comes to that they are all trying but left with me, the way Messi plays individually is very superb. Comparing C R with him is rather doubtful. But There is no big deal. let them give it ti C Rolando if they like, My Messi deserve the best and we all know it. We shouldn’t be sentimental.

    Waheed Cisse (Author of THE SOUL OF AN AFRICAN MAN)

  • hero

    king of the king,the best of the best,the champion,the hustler,the passer,the dribler oh my GOD i don’t no what to say.He is the best player of the year,the world best of the BEST.THANKS

    HERO.

  • jabary Michael

    Ronoldo desevered it and will win it for sure.

  • jabary Michael

    faster
    stronger
    skillful
    good in head
    good shot on goal
    good free kicks
    great passes………….Men is all RONALDO

  • http://lolo alex

    leo mesi es el mejor de tos kristiano ronaldo es un mierda…

  • http://btinternet TAG

    1. Ronaldo
    2. Messi
    3. Torres

  • Unyime

    Ronaldo,messi,torres,kaka

  • Zia

    1.Messi
    2.Messi
    3.Messi
    4.Messi
    5. ….

    99.Messi
    100.Ron-all-do( all u can do is run)

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