International Football - Premier League Ballon d'Or trio dropped

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.

FOOTBALL Fabregas Arsenal - 0

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 / Eurosport

Comment 7 - 26 of 26

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  1. 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.......

    From OsmanK, on Tue 1 Dec 12:03PM
  2. And buy

    From VICTOR V, on Tue 1 Dec 5:31AM
  3. 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!!!

    From VICTOR V, on Tue 1 Dec 4:25AM
  4. 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

    From VICTOR V, on Tue 1 Dec 4:19AM
  5. 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...

    From VICTOR V, on Tue 1 Dec 4:04AM
  6. 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.

    From 3.14, on Tue 1 Dec 3:57AM
  7. 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!

    From Randy, on Tue 1 Dec 3:00AM
  8. I think Jonathan Symcox is the man.

    From STOPH, on Tue 1 Dec 2:44AM
  9. 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.

    From Tom, on Tue 1 Dec 12:37AM
  10. 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

    From raed i, on Tue 1 Dec 12:16AM
  11. WHO THE HELL COMPILES THIS LIST

    From Paul, on Tue 1 Dec 12:02AM
  12. how the hell has gerrard made it in there with his off­ the field antics ! he didnt do much on it either

    From handyandyisalways, on Mon 30 Nov 11:59PM
  13. 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.

    From Jean-Claude Van Damage, on Mon 30 Nov 10:19AM
  14. 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.

    From Hotshot, on Mon 30 Nov 9:23AM
  15. 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

    From Sriram, on Mon 30 Nov 6:43AM
  16. 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)

    From Half A Brain, on Mon 30 Nov 6:28AM
  17. oooh jonathon symcox from eurosport is there!!! he gets­ my vote

    From ANDREA R, on Mon 30 Nov 1:23AM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    rooney should win

    From ANDREA R, on Mon 30 Nov 1:23AM
  19. this is tight but we can compensate Gerald, but­ Liverpool is sinking at the moment

    From nwaebiem, on Sun 29 Nov 8:58PM
  20. grogba the best ans for ur haters is more goal and more­ goal

    From nwaebiem, on Sun 29 Nov 8:56PM
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