European Footballer of the Year

[CFC1]

Fabio Cannavaro....can this be right? ....And Buffon as runner up! OK, they won the World Cup, but what did they do the rest of the year? Poor Terry Henry only third? What a fiasco....fix, fix.....


1. Fabio Cannavaro
2. Gianluigi Buffon
3. Thierry Henry

Fabio Cannavaro has been voted European Footballer of the Year, with Gianluigi Buffon second and Thierry Henry third.

Experienced centre half Cannavaro has claimed the coveted Ballon d'Or award after captaining Italy to World Cup success.
He also led Juventus to the Serie A title before the Italian giants were stripped of the honour for their role in the match-fixing scandal.
After the World Cup finals, Cannavaro followed his former Juve coach Fabio Capello to Real Madrid and he had been widely tipped to win the prize.
Cannavaro was delighted to be voted the 2006 winner and he becomes just the third defender to be named European Footballer of the Year after German duo Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer.
"Of course I will bring this trophy back to Madrid, but I would also love to bring it to Turin," said Cannavaro.
"My season at Juventus was just outstanding. I played 37 matches and scored four goals, all decisive."
He also offered his gratitude to his team-mates, adding: "It is thanks to them that I have been able to show my qualities on the pitch.
"So I want to thank my Juve team-mates and all my colleagues from the Nazionale."

Second spot in the voting went to Buffon, who was Italy's keeper at the World Cup and opted to stay at Juventus after the club's demotion to Serie B.

Arsenal captain Henry took third place after inspiring The Gunners to the UEFA Champions League final, and also helping France reach the World Cup final.

[scrapbook]

Originally Posted by CFC1

Fabio Cannavaro....can this be right? ....And Buffon as runner up! OK, they won the World Cup, but what did they do the rest of the year? Poor Terry Henry only third? What a fiasco....fix, fix.....

Your kidding right??

[gosties]

Sends a good message out about the Juventus scandals. Two players who played for the team are named in the top three of the above named award. I find it hard to believe that these players had no knowledge of the indiscretions of their club.

[thfccambs]

What no fat Frank?Now there's a surprice.

[CFC1]

Originally Posted by hunts1uk

What no fat Frank?Now there's a surprice.

Mate, he's done it and got the T-Shirt....he was runner up last year wasn't he?...And also the 2nd best footballer in the world...not bad for a fat lad eh?

I'm more surprised that your world beaters at Spurs didn't have a single representative....



Mate, we've got bigger fish to fry...surely one of our lads must win the big one...
World Player of the year

Complete shortlist:

Adriano (Inter), Michael Ballack (Chelsea), David Beckham (Real Madrid), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Cafu (AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Deco (Barcelona), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus), Kaka (AC Milan), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Pavel Nedved (Juventus), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton), Raul (Real Madrid), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid), Robinho (Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid).


You have to wonder about the legitimacy of the award however, if JT, Peter Cech and Maka don't even get shortlisted!

Ah well, I suppose they have to spread it around a bit!

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by CFC1

I'm more surprised that your world beaters at Spurs didn't have a single representative....

Berbs next year mate. Or Robbo.

Oh yeah....

"Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea)"

[thfccambs]

If only Scholes would come back for England,wouldn't have to put up with Fat Frank at all.

CFC, was with a couple of Chelski supporters (that acually go unlike yourself) and they are saying they hope Frank gets sold as he form has dropped so much this season they might as well cash in now.As for Shevchenko they still think he'll come good.

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by scrapbook

Your kidding right??

It's those Chelski blinkers. He doesn't even think theres football played out side stamford bridge.

Cannavaro for me is spot on as by far the best player in the WC and has ben outstanding for Madrid.

[rio1981]

Originally Posted by hunts1uk

Cannavaro for me is spot on as by far the best player in the WC and has ben outstanding for Madrid.

Couldn't agree more - good to see the award not won by a forward for a change and he was head and shoulders above anyone else at the World Cup.

Quick question though, how the hell is Jay-Jay Okocha nominated for world player of the year?!

[DJT75]

And the rest, none of these have done anything amazing in the last 12 months, some have done nothing & some haven't even played.

Adriano (Inter) - started last season well, done nothing since
Michael Ballack - reasonably World Cup only
David Beckham - (Real Madrid) - lost international captaincy, lost international team place, lost international squad place, lost club place.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus) - hasn't performed for as long as I can remember
Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) - retired from international side & rarely features for club
Pavel Nedved (Juventus) - one bright spark at Juve, played well once in world cup, nothing since
Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton) - can only assume he's in here to add a 2nd african to keep this PC
Raul (Real Madrid) - dropped from both club & country during the last 12 months for the 1st time in his entire career
Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid) - only selected through reputation
Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - years past his best
Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea) - see Ronaldo
Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) - International disgrace

[LFC_SL]

Re Sheva

I stake my "good" name on it that put him back into a Serie A side, he will look like the 30 goal a season striker that he is - and was only in May. He merely can't handle the nature of the Premiership; pace, power and strength. *Shrugs*

My biggest complaint is that Becks in Pro Evo plays like Maradona!

P.S. Where is buck teeth? Scored a brill overhead goal at the weekend

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Re Sheva

I stake my "good" name on it that put him back into a Serie A side, he will look like the 30 goal a season striker that he is - and was only in May. He merely can't handle the nature of the Premiership; pace, power and strength.

True. Still shouldn't be on this list though

[po_man]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

P.S. Where is buck teeth? Scored a brill overhead goal at the weekend

Absolutley - the list makes no sense whatsoever! He also won the CL with Barca. How on earth JJ Okocha can be in the list ahead of Ronaldinho, i don't know?

Great goal at w/end tho!

[RMCF]

Lets be honest, these lists are all rubbish.

But I am glad to see a defender get rewarded at last - forwards are usually the automatic choice.

Cannavaro is a class act, end of story.

[dc007]

I think Henry lost a lot of votes after his face-clutching dive during the World Cup against Spain.

You can't expect to be voted in as Player of the Year if you are caught on camera blatantly cheating, in my opinion.

If it wasn't for this incident, I think he would have won it and deservedly so... this coming from a Spurs supporter, mind...