IFFHS PRIZES FC BARCELONA | MESSI | INIESTA | BEST IN 2012

The FIFA backed International Federation of Football Statistics & History (IFFHS) has added more trophies for the collection for Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona & its players with the following prizes:

• FC Barcelona was awarded "Best Football Club 2012"
• Lionel Messi the "Best Goalscorer 2012", second year running
• Andres Iniesta the "Best Player maker in World Football", taking over from team-mate Xavi Hernandez who won last year.

However, we all knew this beforehand, right :O)

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FC BARCELONA 2012 | JAVIER MASCHERANO

The Argentine International JAVIER MASCHERANO came over from Liverpool FC to FC BARCELONA as a midfielder way back 2010. Since then the player has matured, vastly improved & has consolidated himself as a central defender, one of the Best in Europe. The decision by ex-Barça Coach Guardiola to give defensive responsibilities to the Argentine has changed the whole Football career of the player, giving Mascherano playing time, important titles, prestige & soon a 100th games mark for Barcelona.

Tonight under the impressive back drop of the "Santiago Bernabeu Stadium", against REAL MADRID & in the 2º leg of the Spanish Super Cup, Javier Mascherano could reach ( if he plays, which is an almost certainty ) his 100th game with Barça. Plus, if his team can manage the victory, the opportunity to celebrate the personal  milestone with another title to his name. 

Courtesy Sport: Marc Creus/Carles Javierre/Bwokaa

Spanish Sports paper "Sport" gives space today to Javier Mascherano for his achievement & has elaborated the above infograph.  Impressive list of titles already & what is still to come.

Congratulations to Mascherano!
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UEFA BEST PLAYER 2011- 2012 CANDIDATES | NINE SPANISH PLAYERS

UEFA has revealed its list of 32 players elegible to be prized the "Best European - based - Player" for season 2011-2012. Seven players on the candidate list are from REAL MADRID & four are from FC BARCELONA. Apart from Clubs their are nine Spanish born Football Players, including the now veteran Raul Gonzalez.

On the 14th of August UEFA will announce the three finalists after 53 associations of Football Sports journalists have handed in their votes. On the 30th of August the winner will be named. 

casillas - xavi 

Here is the full list of candidates:


Sergio Aguero (ARG) - Manchester City FC
Xabi Alonso (SP) - Real Madrid CF
Mario Balotelli (ITA) - Manchester City FC
Jakub Blaszczykowski (POL) - Borussia Dortmund
Gianluigi Buffon (ITA) - Juventus
Iker Casillas (SP) - Real Madrid CF
Petr Cech (CZE) - Chelsea FC
Fábio Coentrão (POR) - Real Madrid CF
Leslie Davies (WAL) - Bangor City FC
Didier Drogba (IVC) - Chelsea FC (now at Shanghai Shenhua FC)
Cesc Fabregas (SP) - FC Barcelona
Falcao (COL) - Club Atlético de Madrid
Joe Hart (ENG) - Manchester City FC
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE) - AC Milan
Andres Iniesta (SP) - FC Barcelona
Shinji Kagawa (JPN) - Borussia Dortmund (now at Manchester United FC)
Vincent Kompany (BEL) - Manchester City FC
Frank Lampard (ENG) - Chelsea FC
Lionel Messi (ARG) - FC Barcelona
Luka Modric (CRO) - Tottenham Hotspur FC
Mesut Özil (GER) - Real Madrid CF
Pepe (POR) - Real Madrid CF
Andrea Pirlo (ITA) - Juventus
Sergio Ramos (SP) - Real Madrid CF
Raúl González (SP) - FC Schalke 04 (now at Al-Sadd Sports Club)
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) - Real Madrid CF
Wayne Rooney (ENG) - Manchester United FC
David Silva (SP) - Manchester City FC
Fernando Torres (SP) - Chelsea FC
Yaya Touré (IVC) - Manchester City FC
Robin van Persie (NED) - Arsenal FC
Xavi Hernandez (SP) - FC Barcelona


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SPANISH TENNIS | RAFAEL NADAL NAMED SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR BY "L´EQUIPE"

Spanish Sports has had an incredible 2010 & now the individual Spanish Sportsman involved in the various disciplines are being recognized for their efforts. French media network "L´Equipe" ( web, magazine & TV ) has named 24 year old Spanish Tennis player RAFAEL NADAL "Champion of Champions" - "Best Sportsman of the Year" - for 2010. This is in recognition for his three Tennis Grand Slam victories - French, Wimbledon & US Open - in a marvellous year for the Spaniard. 

Nadal wins Wimbledon 2010

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XAVI HERNANDEZ - JOSE MOURINHO - SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM PRIZED BY "WORLD SOCCER" BEST OF 2010

Spanish Interenational & FC BARCELONA midfielder XAVI HERNANDEZ has been chosen by Soccer online Magazine "World Soccer" as the "World Player of the Year". He is joined by REAL MADRID Coach JOSE MOURINHO as the "Manager of The Year" & the SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM  as the "Team of the Year"

Xavi Hernandez

Here are the final standings:

World Player of the Year
% of votes
1 Xavi (Barcelona & Spain) 25.8
2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina) 24.1
3 Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale & Holland) 17.3
4 Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid & Uruguay) 15.8
5 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona & Spain) 10.8
6 Diego Milito (Internazionale & Argentina) 1.2
7 David Villa (Valencia/Barcelona & Spain) 1.1
8 Iker Casillas (Real Madrid & Spain) 0.9
9 Samuel Eto'o (Internazionale & Cameroon) 0.5
10 Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich & Holland) 0.4
Others 2.1


Manager of the Year
1 Jose Mourinho (Internazionale/Real Madrid) 48.3
2 Vicente Del Bosque (Spain) 26.6
3 Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay) 5.2
4 Joachim Low (Germany) 3.3
5 Pep Guardiola (Barcelona) 2.5
6 Harry Redknapp (Tottenham Hotspur) 2.4
7 Bert Van Marwijk (Holland) 2.3
8 Louis Van Gaal (Bayern Munich) 2.2
9 Ricki Herbert (New Zealand) 2.1
10 Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea) 1.9
Others 3.2


Team of the Year
1 Spain 63.3
2 Internazionale 16.5
3 Barcelona 5.3
4 Uruguay 3.5
5 Germany 2.4
6 Holland 2.3
7 Atletico Madrid 1.6
8 Ghana 1.2
9 Bayern Munich 1.1
10 Santos 0.9
Others 1.9 Tweet

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IKER CASILLAS - DIEGO FORLAN RECEIVE THEIR WORLD CUP 2010 AWARDS WITH MULLER

Spanish National Football Team International & Goalkeeper IKER CASILLAS was today awarded the “Golden Glove Award” as the “Best Goalkeeper in the World” after his impressive & decisive 2010 World Cup performance. At the same ceremony Uruguayian International Forward DIEGO FORLAN received his “Best Player of the World Cup 2010 Tournament” & German International THOMAS MULLER received his “Golden Boot Award” as the World Cup 2010 Top Goal scorer.

Muller, Forlan & Casillas . photo from "AS"

What is interesting to observe is that none of the three mentioned are candidates for the soon to be held FIFA Golden Ball Award next month. In this case the three opting for the prized title are all FC Barcelona players of which two are Spanish National Team members: Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez & the other Argentine Lionel Messi.

Forlan chats to Casillas: photo from "AS"

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FC BARCELONA DOMINATE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AWARD NOMINATIONS

UEFA has nominated its candidates for the Champions League
2008-2009 Awards, a prize given to the Best player in each
given position according to the Coaches who’s team reached
the last 16 teams of the competition. The winners will be
known on the 27th of August coinciding with the Champions
League 2009-2010 Groups draw in Monaco.

(photo: sport.es)

FC BARCELONA dominate the list with 6 players, guaranteeing the
Club with winners.

The nominations:
Goalkeeper of The Year:Petr Cech (Chelsea FC)Víctor Valdés (FC
Barcelona) Edwin Van der Sar (Manchester United FC)

Defender of The Year:Gerad Piqué (FC Barcelona) John Terry
(Chelsea FC) Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United FC)

Midfielder of The Year:Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC) Xavi Hernández
(FC Barcelona) Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona)

Forward of the Year:Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona) Lionel Messi
(FC Barcelona) Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC)

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