Golden Ball Nominees

[Haribo]

Zinedine Zidane is among the nominees for Fifa's prestigious Golden Ball award, given to the most valuable player at the 2006 World Cup.
The France playmaker ends his career in Sunday's World Cup final against Italy.

The 10 nominees include four Italians, Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluca Zambrotta and Gianluigi Buffon.

Zidane's compatriots Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira are on the list as are Germany's Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose and Portugal's Maniche.

Germany goalkeeper Oliver Khan won the award at the 2002 World Cup, while Brazil's Ronaldo was the winner in 1998.

Fifa will announce its final decision on Monday at around 0900 BST.


Full list of nominations:

Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Maniche (Portugal), Michael Ballack (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Thierry Henry (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Patrick Vieira (France), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Zinedine Zidane (France)

Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5154248.stm)


Tough to call really, but out of those I think Cannavaro has played the best.

[ads]

Cannavaro for me too.

[Bish]

1st Cannavaro (easily)
2nd Klose
3rd Vieria

[Huw]

Cannavaro for me too - but how come Ballack is on that list ? I think he has consistently underperformed

[Rangers_Fureva]

I'd say Cannavaro deserves it. He has been solid at the back for Italy, and hasn't really showed bad sportsmanship. Miroslav Klose a close 2nd.

[Barry]

I rather see midfielders and attackers play, although Cannavaro has been excellent. Pirlo otherwise.

Vieira? Henry? :huh: Played below their level.

[Haribo]

Strange to me how they've included Zambrotta, but not the other outstanding fullback in the World Cup, Lahm.

[Gun_Runner]

dunno why Zambrotta or Henry are there? fair enough they've been alright - nothing special though. I think Gattuso instead of Zambrotta would have been just and Lahm instead of Henry.

1. Cannavaro
2. Zidane(hes carried France and won them the game last night)
3. Klose

[Cali]

1. Cannavaro
2. Zidane
3. Zambrotta

[Nedy]

Cannavaro for me. If not, Zambrotta and Vieira did an excellent WC too.

[Paul B]

Lahm is far more deserving of a place in there than Ballack, hell he'd be in my top 3 which funnily enough would probably contain the other 2 defensive players in the list.

Not convinced by Vieira's inclusion either, but I just think the French team has got progressively better as a whole, with the exception of last night perhaps.

[Singh]

Zinedine Zidane Or Cannavaro.

[Yi-Long]

Ridiculous that henry and Zidane are on that list. Zidane has played 1,5 good match in this whole tournament, and Henry has been way under his potential. Ridiculous nominees...

And where is Lahm indeed?

Fifa just wants to select big-name players so they wont have to admit that this world cup has been a failure for the bigger teams, when you look at how they've played.

Maniche has been very good indeed. Also didnt seem to participate in all the playacting alot of his teammates were guilty of.

For me, players like Dwight Yorke and a bunch of players from Ghana and Ivory Coast stood out. Van Persie and Vd Sar were the best Dutch players.

Anyway, it's a ridiculous list, so for me whoever wins it doesnt matter to me anymore. Zidane and Henry are clear examples of just being nominated because of their reputation, instead of on how they've actually played this tournament. Which is ridiculous.

What a fucking joke.

[Glavisted]

I think it's too close and depends very much to the final yet, definitely. I think should be between Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Miroslav Klose.

[Lorenzinho]

Don't think Zidane deserves it to be honest.

[Glavisted]

Don't think Zidane deserves it to be honest.
I think he's one of the favorites and with merit. :mellow:

[Barry]

I think he's one of the favorites and with merit. :mellow:

Below par in the group stages, then slightly better, then versus Brazil great and last night back to slightly better than below par.

If you catch the drift. I don't/

[Freestyle27]

Dont know what Henry's done to deserve this, maybe their expecting a show in the final.

Cannavaro has by far been the best player at this tournament.

[Dragonfly]

It has to be Cannavaro, but I think the final is going to decide it.

If France win, Zidane will probably get it.

I can't believe they've overlooked Lahm. FIFA always seem to go for the usual suspects.

1. Cannavaro
2. Riquelme
3. C. Ronaldo

[Jake Small]

Ridiculous that henry and Zidane are on that list. Zidane has played 1,5 good match in this whole tournament, and Henry has been way under his potential. Ridiculous nominees...


Completely disagree. Every game Zidane has been good IMO, and when France were not clicking, Zidane was the only one on the pitch making one touch passes and speeding up and creating plays while every other player would sit on the ball until the attack stagnated. He didn't start dribbling around players until the Brazil game and he hasn't been taking any shots, but he's been very solid IMO. I wouldn't say he's Golden Ball yet but if he has a great game in the final then he's right up there.


Fifa just wants to select big-name players so they wont have to admit that this world cup has been a failure for the bigger teams, when you look at how they've played.


One team fails only insofar as its opponent's defense succeeds, and this WC has been all about incredible defending, IMO.

Henry is not a good nomination but the rest are ok I think.

[Ryαп]

1. Cannavaro
2. Klose
3. Lahm

[Singh]

Riquelmes been poor only had a 2 good games vs ivory coast and serbia an M'. He was dominated in the big games by better players i.e. Frings did a good job on him.

[Ryαп]

Riquelmes been poor only had a 2 good games vs ivory coast and serbia an M'. He was dominated in the big games by better players i.e. Frings did a good job on him.

Couldn't resist as he's my favourite player:tongue: Now changed it to Lahm though

[gabtom6288]

Cannavaro should and will win it. They forgot about Lahm and should i say it C. Ronaldo :)

[Singh]

Couldn't resist as he's my favourite player:tongue: Now changed it to Lahm though

Na im not really critiscing your choice but i was pissed off with Riquelme he had all the build up before the tournament and has done fuck all!. Lahms a great little player.

[nikos24]

Zidane.
Cannavaro.
Klose.

[Scarface]

1) Fabio Cannavaro
2) Miroslav Klose
3) Patrick Vieira

[Paulinho13]

If will win Italy then Cannavaro
If will win France then Henry, or Vieira, or Zidane