Most would agree that the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year awards are the two biggest individual honours a footballer can win. Bigger even than my Netherton Colts East U-14 Manager's Player of the Year Runner-Up trophy (pictured?). But which award is really the one to win? The Ballon d'Or has the [. Click to continue reading...

The candidates were announced last week for the Fifa World Player of the Year award. Am I the only one out there who's not too interested?
The point is proved by a brief look at the performances this year of one of the favourites. Based on what he has done for Barcelona, Lionel Messi would be a worthy winner - but that would certainly not be the case if the criteria was restricted to his form with Argentina. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has hailed the World Player of the Year nominations received by silky striker Fernando Torres and talismanic attacker Steven Gerrard; indicating that it bodes well for the club that two of their influential stars have won external commendation.
The Spanish gaffer also noted the increased form of Argentine battler Javier Mascherano insisting that he believes the midfield anchor is returning to his best form. Click to continue reading...

The 23 member shortlist for the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year award has been announced. The winner will be announced on December 21, 2009. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres, who finished first, second and third respectively last year, are also in the running for this year's award. Click to continue reading...

Argentine ace and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has had quite a year.� After leading Barcelona to an unprecedented treble in the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Ray he is now up for both the Ballon d'Or (European footballer of the year) and the equally prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year.

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Imagine a world cup without Lionel Messi. Impossible!. Well this was almost becoming a reality on Wednesday when Argentina took on bitter rivals Uruguay in the sentenario stadium in Montevideo.

Argentina emerged victorious but only just. They needed an 84th minute goal from substitute Mario Bolatti to send them through as one of the automatic qualifiers in the South American region.

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In 1991, some 30 years after the Ballon d'Or was first awarded to Sir Stanley Matthews, FIFA commenced the awarding of their own award. The FIFA World Player of the Year.

The award uses a Borda Count system to tally votes. Simply put a Borda count involves voters ranking their candidates in order of preference.

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Barcelona may be the treble winners last season. In addition, they may also be the side with arguably the most potent attack in Europe, comprising of the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, Bojan Krkic, and FIFA World Player of the Year hopeful Lionel Messi. On top of that, they also possess one of the most powerful midfield combinations in the continent in the form of Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.

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The Beauty:

Sylvie van der Vaart is a Dutch model, TV personality, and award show host and presenter.� She is famously hot in the Netherlands for her modeling career and jewelry line Pure By Sylvie.� In 2008 the gorgeous lady hosted the FIFA World Player of the Year award ceremony.

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Arsene Wenger's rapidly increasing dependence on youngsters within his squad reached new heights this midweek� when he chose to start off the Champions League group stages with rookie Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone between the sticks.

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Europe's finest clubs will take to the pitch on Tuesday in what is considered one of the most extravagant football competitions – the Uefa Champions League. European action is back after a lengthy summer break and champions Barcelona will look to add another title in their trophy cabinet as they start their campaign against Inter Milan at the San Siro on Wednesday.

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If it wasn't for Florentino Perez and his early transfer window ‘shock and awe' superstar shopping spree, a shopping spree which has seen the triple trophy winning exploits of Joan Laporta's men at the Camp Nou quickly forgotten by anyone not from Catalunya, then what must be regarded as the summer's most ludicrous deal to date would surely never have come to fruition.

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50,000 people attended� Kaká's presentation last Tuesday. 9,000 attended� Raúl Albiol's on Friday. However, today over 70,000 showed up at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain for a glance at Real Madrid's biggest signing of the year Portugese international and current FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo. Click to continue reading...

It's funny, I remember back to middle of January, when Manchester City made that astonishing £107 million bid for Kaka. It seemed as though everyone in the football world had something negative to say about City's audacious bid to sign the former FIFA World Player of the Year.
Michel Platini was threatening to ban City from entering any European competitions if they were just going to spend ridiculous sums of money on players. Click to continue reading...

The Blues are worried that their top target will become the latest Galactico. Frenchman Franck Ribery was a team-mate of Zinedine Zidane at the last World Cup in Germany 2006, and the pair could be reunited once more at Real Madrid. It is no secret that the former FIFA World Player of the Year is hell-bent on [. Click to continue reading...

After a few days away in Spain and then a day in Slane Castle watching Oasis, I am finally ready to resume writing on Football Corner and I have to say I can't wait.
A lot has happened since I've been away, most notably, Cristiano Ronaldo has moved (well basically moved) to Real Madrid after spending five years with Manchester United. Click to continue reading...

High demand dictates decision to make more tickets available With the lower seating bowl being virtually sold out, D.C. United have announced that seats in the FedExField upper bowl to the match against Real Madrid C.F. are now available for sale. The match will be played August 9 at 3 p.m. ET and will feature United facing recently announced acquisitions Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year and 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year, respectively.

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Football fans across the world are, for the first time, being offered the chance to become part of the first ever 100% fans' owned football league club in the UK -� Scottish Second Division side Stirling Albion.

And Soccerade and FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo, have pledged their support to the campaign.

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According to a story on SI, Real Madrid has agreed on a $93 million fee with AC Milan for Brazilian star Kaka, according to Spanish radio station Cadena SER.

The 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year has been linked with a move to the Spanish giants for years, but with former president Florentino Perez once again taking control this week, speculation has reached fever pitch.

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After a disappointing 0-2 loss to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Final, speculation around Cristiano Ronaldo's future remains. He's been linked with a move to Real Madrid after winning all the major trophies at Manchester United. For Ronaldo, a move to Real Madrid would be a new challenge and a different style of play in La Liga.

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In my opinion, yes.
In Cristiano Ronaldo's opinion, "I don't know."
Yes, after weeks and months and maybe even years at this stage, of will he, won't he, it would appear we have got out biggest indication yet that Cristiano Ronaldo may well be about to become a Real Madrid player after all. Click to continue reading...

Barcelona were crowned European champions for the third time – and the second in four seasons – as a vibrant display of pass and move, capped by goals in either half from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi, defeated Manchester United in Rome.

It was a convincing win for Barca. Outside the first ten minutes they dominated a poor Man United team.

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And now it's time for all good little football writers to predict the winner of today's final. No dodging the question. No avoiding the responsibilities of punditry. Well, Clyde, I think it's too close to call. I mean, if we don't pick a side, we're being wishy-washy, right? Readers want deliberate statements.

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Ronaldo will not leave United for Madrid in the summer, according to the Portuguese Winger.

With Florentino Perez most likely to win the Madrid presidential election, he has made it clear his number one priority would be to sign the current FIFA World Player of the Year.

But United have made it clear Ronaldo is not for sale, and now Ronaldo has expressed his current thoughts on the matter.

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With the opening of the summer transfer window looming, the Cristiano Ronaldo shananagance is already in full swing. Every second weeks it seems that a different story is coming out from the Spanish press.
Real Madrid have £70 million agreement in place to sign Ronaldo. Click to continue reading...

Let's face it, Richard Dunne is right. Cristiano Ronaldo is a diver.
Yes, the Manchester City captain has today added even more spice to Sunday's eagerly anticipated Manchester Derby by claiming the FIFA World Player of the Year is, in fact, a diver.
Speaking about the Portuguese winger, Dunne had this to say : "Ronaldo is the best player in the world, but he plays the game to his advantage. Click to continue reading...

Hands up if you wanted to see a Barcelona v. Manchester United final.
Sorry Chelsea fans but it really is the final everyone wanted to see.
As the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge last night I couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice for Chelsea, however that feeling of injustice was quickly replaced by a feeling of anticipation. Click to continue reading...

Football FanCast columnist� ‘The New Voice of Football'� fully expects Cesc Fabregas returns to his beloved Barca, but doesn't feel that now is the right time.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will not leave the Emirates Stadium for the Nou Camp this summer.

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The FIFA World Player of the Year is the greatest individual honor a footballer can win in the sport. As it is well known, the '08 award was won by Manchester United's Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. After the award presentation, attention shifted to who could win the 2009 FIFA POY Award.

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OK, both were outstanding goals in their own right, but what we at Football Corner want to know is, who's was better?
Tuesday night saw Chelsea defender Alex score an unbelievable 30-yard free-kick which helped Guus Hiddink's men earn a place in the last four of the Champions League. FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of the goals of the season on Wednesday night against Porto. Click to continue reading...

Every time Cristiano Ronaldo hits the news there's a mix of fangirl gushing and spiteful groaning which would have George W. Bush feeling loved by comparison. For this generation - and this is good, because he's just getting started - he is the ultimate love him or hate him player. There's not a whole lot [. Click to continue reading...

New Kicks On The Block New Kicks On The Block, Boyzonal Marking, Take That (I'll Take The Next One). I could go on (OK, I couldn't - I got bored). Anyhow, here is FIFA's Famous Five in their civilian gear looking like the latest boyband revival. Spotted on Dirty Tackle Click to continue reading...

C-Ron is taking Spanish lessons Hardly a surprising outcome, but a deserved one I am sure most people would agree. Cristiano Ronaldo has picked up the FIFA World Player of the Year award, becoming the first Premier League player to take the title. He said: "It's an overwhelming moment in my career and I'd like to [. Click to continue reading...

While most of us are anxious about Sunday's Big Four matchup between Manchester United and Chelsea, the entirety of the footballing world is awaiting FIFA's big announcement. This upcoming Monday, January 12th, FIFA is set to announce who the best footballer on the planet is; the World Player of the Year award will be handed out. Click to continue reading...

Nope, it's not Leo Messi or Fernando Torres. It's Mohamed Aboutrika, the Al-Ahly and Egypt playmaker. In an excellent article on the Guardian's sports blog yesterday, Paul Doyle suggests Aboutrika is a more worthy winner. Here's why: Aboutrika has not only matched C-Ron's achievement of winning the Egyptian league and the African Champions League with Al-Ahly, [. Click to continue reading...