The Fifa ballon d’Or is the biggest award ceremony in world football calendar.
This years award comes under huge tensions in the world governing body Fifa as its president has being suspended together with other top executives of Fifa. There are going to be a lot of award on the day and the nominees of the Fifa ballon d’Or 2015 are;
Fifa Ballon d’Or.(Player of the year)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
After winning the third FIFA Ballon d’Or of his career at the start of 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo continued to perform at his very best, racking up the goals to end the league season as its highest scorer with 48 in all, his biggest haul in Spain to date. He very nearly ended the UEFA Champions League season as its leading marksmen as well, tying with Lionel Messi on ten goals but serving up fewer assists. Cristiano nevertheless etched his name in the Real Madrid history books by becoming the club’s leading all-time scorer, eclipsing fellow Blanco legends Alfredo Di Stefano and Raul. The Portuguese also enjoyed a productive year on the international front, skippering A Seleçao das Quinas to direct qualification for UEFA EURO 2016, a relief for him and his team-mates following three consecutive appearances in EURO and World Cup play-offs.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
The Argentinian star recaptured the form and sharpness that has brought him four FIFA Ballons d’Or to date. Barcelona’s leading marksman in the league with 43 goals, he fired his side to yet another title and also top-scored in their victorious UEFA Champions League campaign, contributing ten goals and six assists. One of the highlights of another hugely productive season came in the Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao, with Messi slaloming his way past several opponents on a long, mazy run before conjuring up a clinical finish inside the box. The elusive forward also played a decisive part in Argentina’s run to the final of the Copa America Chile 2015, serving up three assists, the joint-highest tally in the competition along with Chile’s Jorge Valdivia.
NEYMAR (Brazil)
Coming into his own in his second season with Barcelona, Neymar consolidated his position as one third of a lethal three-pronged attack. Following the shining example set by Lionel Messi, the Brazilian was his side’s second-highest scorer in their league, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League treble-winning campaign, contributing 39 goals in 51 matches. Troubled by injury in his debut year, Neymar was Barça’s third-most used player in the league last season. Now 23, he is keen to continue making history with his club, commenting after their UEFA Super Cup win that he has changed his game and his way of life. A devilish dribbler and deadly finisher, the gifted forward has for the last two years been the star act of a Brazil side that is now looking to rebuild after its FIFA World Cup™ woes on home soil in 2014.
FIFA Women’s Player of the Year.
Carli LLOYD (USA)
2015 has been a banner year for Carli Lloyd, highlighted by her inspired performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ during USA’s campaign that resulted in their third Women’s World Cup Trophy. The United States No10 earned the adidas Golden Ball at Canada 2015 and came in second in the Golden Boot race, finishing just behind Germany’s Celia Sasic. Lloyd’s hat-trick against Japan, including her remarkable finish from midfield will go down in history as one of the most memorable goals during a Women’s World Cup Final. With over 200 caps to her name, the New Jersey native has been a presence in the centre of midfield for USA since 2005. Lloyd made the shortlist for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year in 2012 after she led USA to Olympic Gold at London 2012.
Aya MIYAMA( JAPAN)
Slight in build and small in stature, Aya Miyama has used 2015 to confirm herself as a true giant of the women’s game. The latest FIFA Women’s World Cup was the little midfielder’s fourth, and it proved that she continues to improve with age. Now 30, Miyama was the captain and creative fulcrum of a Japan side that again reached the final only to lose on this occasion to the all-conquering USA. Her movement, intelligence, slick passing, superb set pieces and coolness from the penalty spot were all key elements in Japan’s impressive campaign, and were recognised with a place in the tournament’s All-Star Squad. With well over 150 caps already to her name, this three-time Asian player of the year continues to bring experience and excellence to the Nadeshiko ranks.
Celia SASIC (GERMANY)
Celia Sasic left her mark on the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ with her unmistakable blend of technical class and ruthlessness in front of goal. The Germany striker’s six goals and one assist earned her the adidas Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer ahead of American Carli Lloyd, who reached exactly the same tally but needed more playing time to do so. Sasic also won the 2015 UEFA Women’s Champions League with Frankfurt and scored more goals last season than any other player in the Bundesliga or Champions League. The Bonn native was named Germany and Europe’s player of the year for 2015 in honour of these remarkable achievements. Having reached the peak of her career, Sasic announced her retirement from the game in July this year at the age of 27 after winning 111 caps and scoring 63 times for her country.
World Coach of the Year.
Pep GUARDIOLA (SPAIN)
Pep Guardiola had to make do with just one trophy in his second season at Bayern Munich, though the Catalan coach’s stats at the helm of the Bavarian giants were once again highly impressive. At times controversial, the 44-year-old tactician’s rotation policy did bear fruit in the Bundesliga, where his team took hold of top spot on matchday five and remained there for the rest of the season. Bayern were thus crowned champions with the best goals for and against records, shipping just 18 strikes in 34 league encounters. An unfortunate run of injuries dented Bayern’s potency in the other competitions they challenged for, and they lost out in the semi-finals of the German Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Sinking them in the latter tournament were Barcelona, spearheaded by an inspired Lionel Messi who Guardiola was unable to find a way to stop, despite knowing him so well.
LUIS ENRIQUE (SPAIN)
The Asturias-born coach could barely have enjoyed a better first season on the bench of Barcelona, the 45-year-old supremo leading Los Culés to their second ever treble of La Liga, El Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League. What is more, the former midfielder did so with the best record in Azulgrana history, his team racking up 50 wins, four draws and just six defeats in 2014/15. Enrique’s team subsequently added the 2015 UEFA Super Cup to an already packed trophy cabinet. The stats backed up Enrique’s ability to successfully rotate and manage his squad, despite regularly coming under fire from sections of the press. The latter trend has intensified during the start of 2015/16, which has seen Barça’s results hampered by an unfortunate string of injuries.
Jorge SAMPAOLI (ARGENTINA)
At the age of 55, Jorge Sampaoli enjoyed the greatest achievement of his coaching career so far, by guiding Chile to a historic first-ever triumph in the Copa America. The title won at Chile 2015 is a worthy reward for the Argentinian strategist who, ever since taking charge of La Roja in late 2012, has not stopped evolving and improving his team. Impressive at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, Chile were under pressure to take their performances up a further notch, a feat they achieved at the Copa America. Not only did Chile end up champions, reversing the course of a history devoid of major trophy success, they were also the competition’s best all-round team. Voracious in attack, their 13-goal tally higher was than any other side. Opponents could not handle the intensity of their pressing nor a style of football based around control and swift passing. In other words, Chile did exactly what Sampaoli had intended.
FIFA/FIFPro world XI of the year.
Goalkeepers (5): Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain/FC Porto), David De Gea (Spain/Manchester United), Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/Real Madrid) and Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich).
Defenders (20): David Alaba (Austria/FC Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain/FC Barcelona), Jérôme Boateng (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Daniel Carvajal (Spain/Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy/Juventus), Dani Alves (Brazil/FC Barcelona), David Luiz (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain), Diego Godín (Uruguay/Atletico Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanović (Serbia/Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium/Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil/Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal/Real Madrid), Gerard Piqué (Spain/FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid), John Terry (England/Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain) and Raphaël Varane (France/Real Madrid).
Midfielders (15): Thiago Alcântara (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Xabi Alonso (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Sergio Busquets (Spain/FC Barcelona), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Andrés Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Luka Modrić (Croatia/Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy/New York City FC), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakitić (Croatia/FC Barcelona), James Rodríguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), David Silva (Spain/Manchester City), Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast/Manchester City), Marco Verratti (Italy/Paris Saint-Germain) and Arturo Vidal (Chile/FC Bayern Munich).
Strikers (15): Sergio Agüero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Douglas Costa (Brazil/FC Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Thomas Müller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (England/Manchester United), Alexis Sánchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suárez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona) and Carlos Tevez (Argentina/Boca Juniors).
Puskas Award
The puskas award is the best goal of the year and the nominees are;
Alessandro Florenzi (ITALY)
AS Roma–FC Barcelona / UEFA Champions League / 16 September 2015: Alessandro Florenzi sent the Stadio Olympico into uproar with an audacious 55-yard effort against the reigning European champions. The Roma full-back took a quick look up as he burst over the halfway line, noticed Marc-Andre ter Stegen off his line and delivered a magnificent long-range effort that the Barcelona No1 could only watch clip the post on its way into the net.
Wendell Lira (BRAZIL)
Atletico-GO–Goianesia / Brazilian Goiano / 11 March 2015: Wendell Lira made headlines in Brazil’s Goiano after scoring a sensational bicycle-kick in the driving rain to put his side 1-0 up. A slick, passing exchange at the edge of the area released the striker, but with the ball dropping behind him, he needed an amazing show of agility to twist, spin and send a magnificent volleyed finish low past the keeper.
Lionel Messi (ARGENTINA)
Athletic Bilbao–FC Barcelona / Spanish Copa del Rey / 30 May 2015: After receiving Dani Alves’ pass just a few yards inside Bilbao’s half, Lionel Messi went on a mesmerising 50-yard run down the right to open the scoring in the Copa del Rey final. Seemingly effortlessly slaloming past four defenders, the Barcelona No10 then cut inside the area to fire past Iago Herrerín at his near post.
Source: Eric Opoku – NewsGhana.com.gh
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