Who is your pick for player of the finals?

[SB]

No - 1 short of all time

I was pleased about it, nothing against Klose, like - credit where credit is due, he has done well - but I am pleased that Ronaldo (the real one) still holds that record of 15 goals - he was a genuine class act and world superstar, i'd feel somewhat gutted if klose equalled or beat that record.

Look at the names

Ronaldo 15
Klose 14
gert Muller 14
Just Fontaine 13
Pele 12


One name stands out on that list, Klose

Klose for Germany is a class act. Klose for club football just isn't the same & I'll grant you that. I hope he equals the record tonight though .

[The_weatherman]

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1270753/index.html#adidas+golden+ball+nominees+announced

The FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke and adidas Group CEO Herbert Hainer today officially announced the 10 nominees for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ adidas Golden Ball. The adidas Golden Ball is the official FIFA trophy for the “Best Player of the Tournament”. The ten nominated players were selected by the FIFA Technical Study Group and includes football experts such as Kalusha Bwalya, Christian Karembeu, Jomo Sono and Gérard Houllier.

Nominees for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ adidas Golden Ball trophy are: Diego Forlan (URU, shirt #10), Asamoah Gyan (GHA, 3), Andres Iniesta (ESP, 6), Lionel Messi (ARG, 10), Mesut Oezil (GER, 8), Arjen Robben (NED, 11), Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER, 7), Wesley Sneijder (NED, 10), David Villa (ESP, 7), Xavi (ESP, 8)

Accredited media representatives will vote to determine the winners of the adidas Golden, Silver and Bronze ball awards on FIFA.com. The winners will be announced after the final on 11 July.

The characteristics of the ten best players for the adidas Golden Ball as identified by the FIFA Technical Study Group (in alphabetical order):

Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Architect of the team’s attack, very influential, great impact for his team, provider of quality final passes, goal scorer, set pieces/shots from long range

Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
Huge work rate, efficient, good dribbler, creates problems to each defence, good goal scorer

Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Very fine ball-playing attacking midfielder, a star for the team, impressive dribbling ability

Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Outstanding in his pace and creativity for his team, dribbling, shooting, passing – spectacular and efficient

Mesut Oezil (Germany)
A real talent for the present and the future, quick feet and great vision, good final and decisive passes

Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
Very good pace and dribbling skills, wonderful ability to cut inside from the right, effective to his team

Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Impressive by his first pass (forward and accurate), very good passer, has moments of individual brilliance, ball-winner

Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)
A maestro in midfield, exceptional work rate, the engine of Netherland’s attacks, excellent passer and scorer

David Villa (Spain)
Top scorer; quick, two footed, very good on one-on-one situations, provides good final passes, excellent finisher

Xavi (Spain)
The metronome and the engine of the Spanish team, very influential in the passing style of the game, one of the finest midfielders in the tournament

No Klose

[Pablo]

He scored goals for good sides, he clearly is good enough to equal that record, 3 wc's 5 - 5 - 4 goals so far. He is a very good finisher and he scoring record for Germany in general is stunning with 52 in 101 games. I don't see why with those records and that history that he doesn't belong. He is there on merit as an excellent finisher.

Yeah but he's still BY FAR the worst player on that illustrious list, only an idiot would disagree with that. I think that's all PTP is saying.

[Fosterbloke]

He scored goals for good sides, he clearly is good enough to equal that record, 3 wc's 5 - 5 - 4 goals so far. He is a very good finisher and he scoring record for Germany in general is stunning with 52 in 101 games. I don't see why with those records and that history that he doesn't belong. He is there on merit as an excellent finisher.

Didn't he score 5 against Saudi Arabia?

[PTP]

He scored goals for good sides, he clearly is good enough to equal that record, 3 wc's 5 - 5 - 4 goals so far. He is a very good finisher and he scoring record for Germany in general is stunning with 52 in 101 games. I don't see why with those records and that history that he doesn't belong. He is there on merit as an excellent finisher.

Ronaldo

From Wiki - 333 club games, 242 goals
Brazil - 97 caps 62 Goals

Honours


Cruzeiro

Campeonato Mineiro: 1994
Copa do Brasil: 1993
PSV

KNVB Cup: 1996
Barcelona

Copa del Rey: 1997
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1997
Supercopa de España: 1996
Internazionale

UEFA Cup: 1998
Real Madrid

La Liga: 2003, 2007
Intercontinental Cup: 2002
UEFA Super Cup: 2002
Supercopa de España: 2003
Corinthians

Campeonato Paulista: 2009
Copa do Brasil: 2009
National team
FIFA World Cup: 1994, 2002
Copa América: 1997, 1999
FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997


Individual
Supercopa Libertadores Top Scorer: 1993-94
Campeonato Mineiro Top Scorer: 1993-94
Campeonato Mineiro Team of The Year: 1994
Eredivisie Top Scorer: 1994-95
La Liga Top Scorer: 1996-97,2003–2004
European Golden Boot: 1996-97
Don Balón Award La Liga Foreign Player of the Year: 1996-97
Copa América Final Most Valuable Player: 1997
Copa América Most Valuable Player: 1997
Confederations Cup All-Star Team: 1997
Cup Winners Cup Final Most Valuable Player: 1997
Cup Winners Cup Top Goal Scorer: 1996-1997
IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer of the Year: 1997
UEFA Most Valuable Player: 1997-98
Serie A Footballer of the Year: 1997-98
Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year: 1997-98
UEFA Best Forward: 1997-98
Bravo Award : 1995, 1997, 1998
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1998
UEFA Cup Final Most Valuable Player: 1998
Copa América Top Scorer: 1999
Copa América All-Star Team: 1997, 1999
FIFA World Player of the Year: 1996, 1997, 2002
Ballon D'or: 1997, 2002
World Soccer Magazine World Player of The Year: 1996,1997.2002
Onze d'Or: 1997, 2002
FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 2002
FIFA 100
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998, 2002
FIFA World Cup Final Most Valuable Player: 2002
FIFA World Cup Top Scorer: 2002
Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player: 2002
UEFA Team of The Year: 2002
Laureus Comeback of the Year: 2002
Strogaldo De Legendary Award 2002
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality: 2002
La Liga South American Player of the Year: 1996-97, 2002–03
Golden Foot: 2006
Brazilian National Hall of Fame inducated: Class of 2006
Serie A Player of the Decade: 1997-2007
France Football Magazine: Starting eleven of all-time: 2007
FIFA World Cup All-Time Scoring Leader
Campeonato Paulista Best Player: 2009
Goal.com : Player of a decade: Winner 2000-2010[32]





nothing against Klose - i said fair play to him, he's a decent player had a good career, but imo I'd much rather the record was held by a genuine world class superstar, one of the greatest of all time

[PTP]

Yeah but he's still BY FAR the worst player on that illustrious list, only an idiot would disagree with that. I think that's all PTP is saying.

exactly that - i'm not doubting Klose's ability, or the fact he's done well - but he's hardly 'klose' to in terms of ability, impact on the game etc etc to anyone on that list.

[Mattshark]

Didn't he score 5 against Saudi Arabia?

3

[Mattshark]

nothing against Klose - i said fair play to him, he's a decent player had a good career, but imo I'd much rather the record was held by a genuine world class superstar, one of the greatest of all time

Who ever has it deserves it, if Klose gets it, the position is his on merit. Totally different type of striker to Ronaldo and certainly doesn't have his flair, but he is an excellent finisher and that what Klose has done to get on that list, scored, consistently and plenty of big name strikers have failed to do that at world cups, that is not Klose's fault.

[PTP]

yeah fair enough - i just said imo, i'd prefer ronaldo to keep it because he for me is one of the greatest players to ever play the game, certainly one of the best in my lifetime, - and if in say 30 years time and i have kids or whatever and where watching the world cup and they say -

"dad - who's this ronaldo fella who scored 15 goals at world cups" - i'll be like, he was ****ing class, as superstar

where as - "dad, who's this klose fella who scored 16 goals at world cups" - i'll be a bit....meh

[dww]

nothing against Klose - i said fair play to him, he's a decent player had a good career, but imo I'd much rather the record was held by a genuine world class superstar, one of the greatest of all time

The thing is that what is outstanding is that Müller is anywhere near the top of that list - he played so many fewer games than his rivals. I'm not sure he was that great in the rest of the field but in the box his record is completely unarguable - I think his WC record is better than a goal a game.

I actually quite like the fact that some random players get to the top of these lists. A bit like Inzaghi being the top CL goal scorer. Given that they tend to cross eras and compare players in **** teams against those in good ones they are always inherently flawed. I guess it is a pure 'under dog' thing but I love the fact that someone of limited ability can achieve so much in the game.

On another note - Müller in the current German side, as noted by others, did have a really good World Cup and was much missed by them against Spain.

[The_weatherman]

The thing is that what is outstanding is that Müller is anywhere near the top of that list - he played so many fewer games than his rivals. I'm not sure he was that great in the rest of the field but in the box his record is completely unarguable - I think his WC record is better than a goal a game.

I actually quite like the fact that some random players get to the top of these lists. A bit like Inzaghi being the top CL goal scorer. Given that they tend to cross eras and compare players in **** teams against those in good ones they are always inherently flawed. I guess it is a pure 'under dog' thing but I love the fact that someone of limited ability can achieve so much in the game.

On another note - Müller in the current German side, as noted by others, did have a really good World Cup and was much missed by them against Spain.

I reckon he was sacrifced for Gyan, should have been there really, Gyan scored two penalities, otherwise he'd be on one goal. Muller is so important to the Germans I'd put him above Özil even.

[Mike]

Best player of the world cup has to be Schweinsteiger.

Against Argentina he has Mascherano in his back pocket, and he has been consistently brilliant throughout.

[Mostar]

In no particular order: Villa, Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Pique, Sneijder, Robben, Kuyt, Schweinstieger, Mueller, Ozil, Mertesacker, Forlan, Suarez.

I think it's between Schweinsteiger, Villa and Sneijder for me out of those.

To me Basten has been outstanding and he would get my vote hands down.

Both Villa and Sneijder also could easily be chosen. I would throw Furlan into the mix as he had a great tournament but I cannot see him being named the player of the WC.

[Mostar]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/11/world-cup-2010-diego-forlan

World Cup 2010: Diego Forlán voted best player

Uruguay's Diego Forlán won the best player of the World Cup award after lighting up the tournament with some wonderful goals that helped his team become South America's only semi-finalist.

The striker won praise for his performance on the pitch and friendly attitude off it where he always made time to sign autographs and talk with fans or journalists.

Forlán took 23.4% in the Golden Ball poll organised by Fifa and voted for by journalists. Holland's Wesley Sneijder was second with 21.8% and Spain's David Villa third on 16.9%.

All three got five goals, making them joint top scorers along with Germany's Thomas Müller. Müller took the Golden Boot award given to the top scorer under new Fifa rules, using assists and number of minutes played as a tie-breaker. The German was also named best young player

[SB]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...0-diego-forlan

World Cup 2010: Diego Forlán voted best player

Uruguay's Diego Forlán won the best player of the World Cup award after lighting up the tournament with some wonderful goals that helped his team become South America's only semi-finalist.

The striker won praise for his performance on the pitch and friendly attitude off it where he always made time to sign autographs and talk with fans or journalists.

Forlán took 23.4% in the Golden Ball poll organised by Fifa and voted for by journalists. Holland's Wesley Sneijder was second with 21.8% and Spain's David Villa third on 16.9%.

All three got five goals, making them joint top scorers along with Germany's Thomas Müller. Müller took the Golden Boot award given to the top scorer under new Fifa rules, using assists and number of minutes played as a tie-breaker. The German was also named best young player

I'll go along with that He plays the game with the right attitude. Never gets stuck into Refs or other players just enjoys the game.

Cheers