Ballon D'or

[Fernandinho]

Draw for this is pretty soon!

The Final Three players in the draw:

Cristiano Ronaldo

Lional Messi

Xavi Hernandez

The draw will take place from 6pm-7pm GMT.

Surely this has Messi written all over it?

[Fernandinho]

Also, is the FifproXI comign out too?

[Shaggy]

The draw? They're drawing the winner out of a hat?

Messi will win obviously and so he should.

[Daniel 7]

He'll get and extra "Top" against his name in the Redknapp supported Top index if he wins this again.

[Fernandinho]

The draw? They're drawing the winner out of a hat?

Messi will win obviously and so he should.

[Alex]

Is Phil Jones not in the 'Draw'?

[Gibbo]

I think Ronaldo might win it, and He should IMO, had a much better season than Messi.

And now we wait...

[RichC]

dear lord no, a much better season than Messi ! Bold statement.

Ronaldo turns it on against Oviedo and scores a glut of goals, goes missing though when it's the big games and always has done.

[Alex]

Question though.

Can either player be considered a great, if they cant do it with the International team?

[Fernandinho]

Question though.

Can either player be considered a great, if they cant do it with the International team?

This is where the debate really starts

I think they have to show that they can peform in the national sides especially if Messi was to be considered the best ever.

They are always going to be world class as long as they perform basically ever week in the toughest league in the world, especially with club games being far more prominant in comparison to internationals.

But its so easy to think to Maradonna and the way he performed for Argentina and for Napoli considering for both teams he was an essential player.

[RichC]

Yes. Football has changed massively in terms of fitness and the days of when a player could do it all on their own (Maradonna) don't really happen anymore, teams are better organised and fitter so there is more reliance on the players around you being good enough as well.

You wouldn't say Kenny or Best for example weren't greats because they never did anything with their respective national side would you?

[Gibbo]

dear lord no, a much better season than Messi ! Bold statement.

Ronaldo turns it on against Oviedo and scores a glut of goals, goes missing though when it's the big games and always has done.

White text

Didn't think I'd get anyone, especially one of the "super mods"

However, I don't think it's as black as white as some people say with Messi being so much better than Ronaldo.

I think both are better in some departments than the other. And Messi only just shades it, simply because of the big game effect that he has.

I may be in a minority but I think a player can e great without being great at international level. And Messi is one of the greats. I think Ronaldo would be too if it wasn't for his personality. Both are absolutely outstanding though.

[Alex]

Messi is great at Barca because the team is pretty much built around him, Xavi and Iniesta. But Argentina he seems to be another player they try and fit in.

I don't know, but it might be a case of him being made to look fantastic by the system around him. That's my theory on why he cant do it for Argentina. But its a debate that will never be answered.

[Pablo]

White text

Didn't think I'd get anyone, especially one of the "super mods"

However, I don't think it's as black as white as some people say with Messi being so much better than Ronaldo.

I think both are better in some departments than the other. And Messi only just shades it, simply because of the big game effect that he has.

I may be in a minority but I think a player can e great without being great at international level. And Messi is one of the greats. I think Ronaldo would be too if it wasn't for his personality. Both are absolutely outstanding though.

Duncan Jenkinsism alert

[Gibbo]

I suppose it's similar Debate as if you put a prime Maradonna in the Barca team now would he perform as well as Messi?

For me that is an interesting one