Eurosport - Sun, 29 Nov 10:37:00 2009
Premier League trio Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard and Cesc Fabregas have been dropped from the shortlist for the 2009 Ballon d'Or.
The list of candidates to win the award has been reduced from 30 to 10, with Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi the overwhelming favourite.
Last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved to Real Madrid from Manchester United in the summer, also features prominently, while his club team-mate Kaka remains in the new list.
Chelsea midfielder Lampard misses out but team-mate Didier Drogba is among the top 10, while Torres's Liverpool colleague Steven Gerrard is still in contention.
There is no place for Arsenal playmaker Fabregas, but Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney - who hit a hat-trick against Portsmouth on Saturday - is included.
Samuel Eto'o, who scored the opening goal before Messi's header in Barca's Champions League final victory over the Red Devils last season, can also still win it.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - who was involved in the swap deal that took Eto'o to Internazionale - is another in the list, along with Barca team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
There were no Italian or German players on the original 30-man list. Now there is no French player either with Karim Benzema, Yoann Gourcuff and Franck Ribery all dropped.
The result of the vote by journalists to name the winner of the award formerly known as the European Footballer of the Year will be announced on Tuesday.
Final 10 candidates
Didier Drogba
Samuel Eto'o
Steven Gerrard
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Andres Iniesta
Kaka
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Wayne Rooney
Xavi
Jonathan Symcox / EurosportThere are currently no live events taking place.
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| Fulham 3 - 0 Burnley |
| Portsmouth 1 - 1 Sunderland |
| Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 Stoke City |
| Manchester City 2 - 0 Bolton Wanderers |
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| Bristol Rovers 0 - 1 Walsall |
| Swindon Town 4 - 2 Oldham Athletic |
| Gillingham 0 - 1 Tranmere Rovers |
| Brighton & Hove Albion 0 - 0 Huddersfield Town |
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| Angers SCO 0 - 1 FC Metz |
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| Vesoul 0 - 1 Paris Saint-Germain |
| Quevilly 1 - 0 Rennes |
| AS Beauvais-Oise 1 - 4 FC Sochaux |
| Boulogne-sur-Mer 1 - 0 En Avant Guingamp |
| Match |
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| Werder Bremen 2 - 1 Hoffenheim |
| Time | Match |
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| 19:45 | Arsenal v Liverpool |
| 19:45 | West Ham United v Birmingham City |
| 19:45 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa v Manchester United |
| 20:00 | Blackburn Rovers v Hull City |
| 20:00 | Everton v Chelsea |
| Time | Match |
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| 19:45 | Celtic v Heart of Midlothian |
| 19:45 | Dundee United v Hamilton Academical |
| 19:45 | Falkirk v Kilmarnock |
| 19:45 | Hibernian v Aberdeen |
| 19:45 | St. Mirren v St. Johnstone |
| 19:45 | Motherwell v Rangers |
| Time | Match |
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| 19:45 | Parma v Internazionale |
| Time | Match |
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| 19:30 | Charleroi v Lokeren |
| Time | Match |
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| 17:00 | Toulouse FC v Stade Brest |
| 19:45 | RC Lens v Olympique Marseille |
| 18:00 | AJ Auxerre v Plabennec |
| 19:00 | Saint-Etienne v Vannes OC |
| 19:45 | Girondins Bordeaux v AS Monaco |
| Time | Match |
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| 18:00 | Bayern München v Greuther Fürth |
| 18:00 | FC Augsburg v 1. FC Köln |
| 19:30 | VfL Osnabrück v Schalke 04 |
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Comment 7 - 26 of 26
If I was to choose one player, one man to play for my team, for my country, for our lives, then it would be DAVID BECKHAM! My brother, and England's son.
We are, all of us, David Beckham. When we see him play, we see ourselves. The only man that can single-handedly turnaround a game that is being lost. A man that plays with honour, is a great role-model and is an inspiration to us all.......
And buy
I bet you if Benitez sees this he will go and by C. Carmellucci for next season...you will see; it will be Aquilani and Carmellucci "The Italian connection of Liverpool".Forca Everton!!!
I changed my mind just give it to C. Camillucci; he is always amoung the subs. for Ancona in Serie B- Italy... The man is good trust me , the manager does not like him but he is good...Camillucce is the Best in the World; he should win it and Veroni second
Give it to Veroni c`mon the man deserves it...Him, Lucas and Babel should all be up there but for me Veroni is the one that deserves to win it.Just give it to him the man is the best in the world and promise Lucas that he will win it next. There is no decency in footbal if Veroni Lucas and Babel are not 1-2-3 and by the way where is Marlon King??? he should be at least mentioned on the top ten list...
These shortlists are becoming more stereotyped than ever, more @#$% than ever.Apparently, they are including the same players every year regardless of their actual performances.The list is including kaka for god's sake, who didn't do anything worth mentioning in 2009 (neither 2008 though he was also included).Football is becoming a total mess managed by brainless, greedy sponsors.
I thinnnk the Messi was the right choice. He has been consistent on the field and a good role model as well. Well done Messi. I still think Ronaldo is overrated!
I think Jonathan Symcox is the man.
I reckon any of the Barcelona three would deserve to win this trophy - Messi, Iniesta and Xavi have all been on fire over the last year.
We can argue a lot about players ranked second to tenth but it is unarguable (unless you are totally biased suporter ) about the winer and I would put it as eurosport said it MESSI is truly a worthy winer…congratulation little man you earned it and deserved it
WHO THE HELL COMPILES THIS LIST
how the hell has gerrard made it in there with his off the field antics ! he didnt do much on it either
Drogba is nightmare for every defender. Drogba Has pace & agile like Rooney, team ethic like Messi. Free kicks like Juninho, clinical finishes like Ronaldo de Lima. Heads the ball like Shearer. Drogba should get the award. Messi time is yet, he is good but this year is Drogba year.
Did anybody outside the british isles think these guys had any realistic chance of winning it? Its no surprise they were dropped, as the REAL candidates are head and shoulders above these guys.
Stevie G has done more stuff o the field than just play football.He keeps the fans and his fellow players motivated.GO GERRARD GO.YNWA
Ronnie, comment 6, although I agree with you regarding Drogba and how a disgrace to football and fairplay he is, you messed it up when you said Gerrard deserves it. He has not done particularly well in this season and last season he was not the best in Europe. To suggest Gerrard in front of Messi shows you are a Liverpool fan. Sorry mate, Gerrard is there to make up the numbers, just like Liverpool in the EPL. 1-Messi (no doubt). 2-Ronaldo (no doubt). 3-Eto (I think)
oooh jonathon symcox from eurosport is there!!! he gets my vote
rooney should win
this is tight but we can compensate Gerald, but Liverpool is sinking at the moment
grogba the best ans for ur haters is more goal and more goal
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