The FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012 took place in Switzerland on Monday evening and there was only one surprise result.
Lionel Messi took home the Ballon d’Or for player of the year:
During the year of 2012, Lionel Messi Gerd Müller’s 40-year-old record last month for the most goals in a calendar year, with 91 in all competitions. But he believes the form of his team-mate Iniesta, who finished behind him in 2010, warrants the award.
Gerd Muller led the long line of tributes to the mercurial talent after his brace against Real Betis broke his record.
“My record stood for 40 years – 85 goals in 60 games,” he said. “And now the best player in the world has broken it. He is an incredible player, gigantic.”
Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola also praised the 25-year-old. “Like Michael Jordan in basketball, Messi is dominating his sport,” Guardiola said. “Very few people in history have managed to dominate their sport the way Jordan and Messi have.
“I feel sorry for those who want to compete for Messi’s throne – it’s impossible, this kid is unique.”
Ballon d’Or team of the year: This amazingly had ten players from either Real Madird or Barcelona with Falcao the only outsider : Casillas, Alves, Pique, Ramos, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Falcao, Ronaldo.
Ballon d’Or coach of the year: There was no surprise that Spainish coach Vicente del Bosque won this award after guiding Spain to their third throphy in a row
Ballon d’Or goal of the year This went to Fenerbahce player Miroslav Stoch. We are not saying that it was not a great goal but surly there were better goals than below scored across the world in 2012.
