Golden Ball Predicted Top 10

By: Martha | November 29th, 2007

Probably the most prestigious individual award in world football, the Ballon d’Or will be awarded on Sunday in Paris. Barring an upset of epic proportions, Milan’s Ricky Kaka will take home the trophy, but the runners-up had to this point been unknown, letting the biased among us say things about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Andrea Pirlo, who yesterday confessed that he wants a little Golden Ball of his own. Today, though, a “predicted top 10” has been leaked, purporting to reflect the actual voting of the journalists who determine the winner.

According to the Leaked List, Ronaldo was second in the journalistic hearts, not surprising given that his has been the non-Brazilian name most often mentioned when the award is discussed. Behind him, allegedly, are Lionel Messi and Didier Drogba, following by Kaka’s teammate Andrea Pirlo, who seems to have been noticed despite his professed lack of charisma.

Serie A is the most-represented league with four names on the list, followed by La Liga and the EPL, with three each, but what really stands out is the youth of the names: Messi and Fabregas are both 20, Ronaldo is 22, and Robinho is only 23. In this crowd, the 25-year-old Kaka is practically a senior statesman.

1. Kaka (Milan)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
4. Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
5. Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
6. Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)
8. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
9. Robinho (Real Madrid)
10. Francesco Totti (Roma)

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Category: World Football

Tags: World Football, Golden Ball, Ballon d’Or, Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi, Tag Index

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Comments  

• tito |  November 29th, 2007 at 7:22 am

  
  
  

  Pirlo is the creative core of teams that win the world cup and the champions league in the same year and he’s fifth?? And behind one of his team mates who doesn’t matter nearly as much to the franchise. What crap. :-/

  Posted from United States

  

• Francis |  November 29th, 2007 at 8:47 am

  
  
  

  Its a fairly accurate list, but Totti is a little low. Golden boot winner, lets not forget!

  Posted from Canada

  

• Spoonie |  November 29th, 2007 at 9:10 am

  
  
  

  Whats Zlatan Ibrahimovic doing in the top 10 list. At best he should be top 30 all he has is touches and the occasional great finish, these things dont constitute a great player. He plays in a team with a great midfield so the fact he gets goals isnt that conclusive, any striker would be provided with good ammunition.

  Cant argue with the top 5 though apart from the order. Ronaldo is the winner for me, Kaka was only performing in the CL last season and was off colour sometimes in the league. Kaka 2nd, Messi 3rd, Pirlo 4th with Drogba(My favourite of the bunch) 5th.

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Louise |  November 29th, 2007 at 9:16 am

  
  
  

  Kaka may win it, but it looks better with Canna.

  Posted from United States

  

• chris |  November 29th, 2007 at 9:41 am

  
  
  

  Forget Canna. Forget Kaka. It looks best with Monica Bellucci.

  Totti tenth means this list is crap.

  And Zlatan was better in Serie A than Kaka last year. More than deserving of a top spot.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ian |  November 29th, 2007 at 1:29 pm

  
  
  

  To me, Pirlo has to be top three, and Totti has to be top five. Other than the order being a bit screwy, I think this is a pretty good list of top ten players. I wish it was a little less attack-centered … but journalists are never going to vote a reliable center back over an occasionally brilliant scorer. Oh well.

  Posted from United States

  

• Hana |  November 29th, 2007 at 2:11 pm

  
  
  

  as if i didn’t love pirlo enough already. im quite happy with kaka winning. it’s a milan victory and he really was brilliant during CL, but i do wish that pirlo got more recognition. pirlo consistently kicks ass, when he plays badly, the entire team plays like crap. he really is a shy guy too, resulting in gems like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ZWAt2WsoA

  Posted from United States

  

• Marco |  November 29th, 2007 at 7:23 pm

  
  
  

  Actually according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, number 10 is Thierry Henry, not Totti. Then again, Totti probably deserves it more (I know Chris won’t disagree) so it might make more sense…

  Posted from United States

  

• lgarzone |  December 1st, 2007 at 10:49 am

  
  
  

  didier drogba? ahead of totti?
  cesc fabregas? ahead of totti?
  robinho?

  please

  Posted from United States

  

• srikanth kotagiri |  December 7th, 2007 at 9:41 am

  
  
  

  kaka definitily deserves it,he is the player who completely out playrd MU defence

  Posted from India

  

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