The final shortlist of 10 players for European Footballer of the Year award

[javier_monsterano]

Torres to be fair has been injured for too long a periods.

actually hold on,PERIODS?

[Joe King]

Drogba has been a better striker for the past twelve months - he's played far more games.

Iniesta or Messi for me.

[Shaggy]

Drogba has been a better striker for the past twelve months - he's played far more games.

Has he scored as many goals though? Cos while Nando's been injured a lot, his goalscoring record has remained sensational whenever he's played. 10 in the league this season from how many games? 10? And 17 or so last season having spent ages out?

[The Erectile Banana]

It'll be Messi hands down.

[Shaggy]

It'll be Messi hands down.

Aye, so it should be.

[The Erectile Banana]

Has he scored as many goals though? Cos while Nando's been injured a lot, his goalscoring record has remained sensational whenever he's played. 10 in the league this season from how many games? 10? And 17 or so last season having spent ages out?

I agree. Out of the final ten I don't think Drogba or Kaka had outstanding years compared to how they have played in previous seasons. I'm not sure Rooney deserves a place in the top ten either. If it's based on United's league victory last season then Vidic should be there, but then defenders never get the same level of recognition for these things.

[Joe King]

Has he scored as many goals though? Cos while Nando's been injured a lot, his goalscoring record has remained sensational whenever he's played. 10 in the league this season from how many games? 10? And 17 or so last season having spent ages out?

Does Torres contribute to a game in the same manner Drogba does? Torres is the better finisher in the box but when it comes to bullying defences using sheer brute force and traditional number nine power, Drogba is the striker.

[Charly]

I have never ever seen Zlatan Ibrahimovic have a game where he wasn't ****. What is it he is meant to be good at?

[Darkon]

Well it is journalists that hand out this award - so you can't take it that seriously really!

But that said I think the only player Torres could/should have replaced on that list would be Kaka. Can't really remember him having a particular good season...

Regarding ibrahimovic, he did score 29 goals for Inter last season, so that in itself gives some credit considering it to be the Italian league and all. But the people stating he always plays **** is perhaps because Inter seems to be **** everytime they play in europe. So far he has done well for Barca in Europe this season.

But Messi will take it without a doubt, although I would prefer to see Iniesta getting it as he is by far the best midfielder in the world currently.

[Darkon]

And just read Messi one by distance to no. 2 which Ronaldo got...

[Bender]

Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi has been named European Footballer of the Year to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award.

French magazine France Football said that Messi beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place by a massive margin - 473 points to 233.

Messi, 22, won the treble of Champions League, the Spanish championship and Spanish cup with Barcelona last season.

Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard came in eight and 10th respectively.

Third and fourth place in the voting were Messi's Barcelona team-mates, the midfielders Xavi (170 points) and Iniesta (149).

606: DEBATE
Do you agree with the decision? Where does Messi rank among the all-time greats?

David O, BBC Sport

Striker Samuel Eto'o, who left Barcelona for Inter Milan during the close-season, was fifth.

The highest-placed English player was Manchester United striker Rooney, while Chelsea forward Didier Drogba came ninth. BBC

[Baracus]

Seriously a Joke, wtf did Ronaldo do, 2nd and 3rd should have at least gone to Xavi and Iniesta, I thought Xavi should have won it IMO.