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Ballon d’Or: Did the right men win?

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FIFA Puskas award (Best goal): Miroslav Stoch

The FIFA Puskas award went to Miroslav Stoch’s volley earlier last season. The ball was swung in from a corner on the right and Stoch who was placed at the edge of the opposition box turned his body and curled the shot into the top left hand corner. It was the technique and calmness in which he put the ball into the net that won it over the other goals for me. Neymar’s long, technical and mazy run against Internacional was one of the other contenders, along with Radamel Falcao’s bicycle kick from a corner.

Honestly I think that Falcao’s over head kick in La Liga was a more deserved winner, because the skill and power that he had to use to convert the chance into the net was unbelievable. Yet again, like Stoch’s, it was a corner and the ball was kicked long, but Falcao changed his position and struck the ball into the once place that the keeper couldn’t reach it.

There were other awards on offer at the prestigious event, including Sepp Blatter’s FIFA Presidential Award, the FIFA Fair Play Award and FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Award:

FIFA Presidential Award: Franz Beckenbauer

FIFA Fair Play Award: Uzbekistan football federation

FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Award: Abby Wambach (USA)

But the most anticipated award was announced at the end of the even and the result was not a surprise to the majority of the people in attendance and the millions watching at home.

Ballon d’Or winner: Lionel Messi

It couldn’t have been anyone else. Picking up the award for the fourth time and becoming the only player ever to get four Ballon d’Or awards. Lionel Messi broke a number of records last year and begins 2013 by doing the same. He overtook Zidane and Ronaldo who also had three Ballon d’Or awards each.

The Argentina captain was speechless when he first went on stage to pick up the award, but gave a heart warming speech thanking his team mates and fellow Ballon d’Or candidate Andreas Iniesta for his hard work and support at Barcelona. The mini maestro also dedicated the award to his family and especially his wife and young son.

His record breaking year last year was mentioned numerous times with the goal scoring record of 91 goals in a calendar year was applauded by everyone in attendance. It’s hard to believe that he is only 25 years of age and is already, arguably, the best player of all time.

Messi, who also picked up an award for being part of the FIFA world team, received a standing ovation when his name was read out by Italian legend, Favio Cannavaro. The Barcelona ace is always quick to thank his team mates for their hard work and the manager and coaching staff for their work rate as well. But even if Messi won’t talk about how he good he is, it is obvious that everyone on the voting panel wanted to show this too him by giving him the award again.

Finally there is no doubt that Messi will continue to dominate the world of football for a number of years to come and I’m sure this wont be the last time that we see him picking up this award. The Argentina and Barcelona legend will keep breaking records and he may have to dedicate another room in his house to trophies that he is guaranteed to win in the coming years.

Bien hecho Lionel Messi el rey del futbol europeo!!

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