CRISTIAN RONALDO WINS FIFA GOLDEN BALL 2014

Real Madrid CF & Portuguese International Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted & proclaimed the "FIFA France Football Golden Ball 2014" winner (37,66%  of the votes), ahead of FC Barcelona player Lionel Messi (15,76%) & Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (15,72%). The full voting list can be examined in this link, after FIFA has made it publicly available.

The Real Madrid player was the hot favourite & was Awarded for an exceptional year with titles that included Champions League, Spanish Cup, European Golden Boot, Champions League goalscoring record in a season, apart from UEFA Supercup & FIFA World Clubs. It the third Golden Ball for Cristiano Ronaldo, who said in his acceptance speech that this motivates him further to attempt to equalise Messi for a 4th Golden Ball. The player ended with his "war-cry" - UHHHHH - which surprised the audience & perhaps blemished his up to that point educated decorum & composure. 

The FIFPro World XI was:

Neuer; Ramos, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Lahm; Kroos, Iniesta; Di Maria; Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi & Robben

Two Spanish Nationals - Ramos & Iniesta - with Spanish Club representation.

Real Madrid & Colombian International James Rodriguez won the "Puskas Award" for Goal of the Year, while Spanish Club Coaches Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid) & Diego Simeone (At.Madrid) were tipped by "Coach of the Year" wiinner the German Low.

The battle for next years Golden Ball is already underway.

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FIFA FRANCE FOOTBALL GOLDEN BALL 2014 FINAL THREE CANDIDATES

FIFA - France Football has announced the final three candidates for the 2014 Golden Ball Award. No surprises to most Football observers & followers:

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina)
• Manuel Neuer (Germany)

I personally would not have included Lionel Messi, but his last few performances has put him back into the frontline.

In fact, the winner will be assured to be hammered with debate & controversy. FIFA President Blatter & UEFA President have already publicly said that they feel a German (a World Cup Winner) should be given the prize this year, obviously citing Neuer. But if the criteria is the "Best Player" for a whole session - 2014 - then Cristiano Ronaldo is on another level to both Neuer & Messi. Let me remind you that back in 2010 Spain won the World Cup, & with the current arguments of Blatter & Platini, the winner then should have been Andres Iniesta (or Iker Casillas). It was Messi which was indeed very surprising to everyone at that time & caused plenty of debate. 

As Franck Ribery said recently, the Golden Ball Award has become more political award full of economic interests which sways the vote & points to the eventual winner. 

In any case, the official winning name will be handed in & announced the 12th of January 2015.

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VERONICA BOQUETE MAKES SPANISH FEMALE FOOTBALL HISTORY

FIFA has made public the list of 10 female names up for the 2014 Golden Ball.

The full list of 10 female candidates for the FIFA Golden Ball 2014 is:

Nadine Angerer (GER), Veronica Boquete (SP), Nilla Fischer (SWE), Nahomi Kawasumi (JAP), Nadine Kessler (GER), Marta (BRA), Aya Miyama (JAP), Louisa Necib (FRA), Lotta Schelin (SWE) & Abby Wambach (USA).

For Spanish Female Football it is a historical & proud moment as within this list is VERONICA BOQUETE, the Spanish National Female Team Captain & FFC Frankfurt player. It is the first time a Spanish Female Footballer has made the FIFA Golden Ball candidates list. 

Congratulations to Veronica & we wish her luck as the list of 10 names will be reduced to just 3 on the 1st of December.

FIFA also named another Spaniard in the list of candidates for Best Coach for a Female team for 2014. Jorge Vilda was named & is the Coach of the sub-17 & sub-19 National squads. 

The male candidates for the 2014 Golden Ball are expected to be announced by FIFA next week. No doubt names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar etc will be included.  Stay tuned!

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