FIFA World Player of the Year 2007: Kaka, Ronaldo or Messi?
Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Lionel Messi are all up for the FIFA World Player of the year. The three players have been shortlisted for the award which is announced at FIFA’s world player gala in Zurich on December 17. It’s the first time any of the three have been up for the honour.
Kaka, who pretty much carried AC Milan to the Champions League victory last season is the favourite to win but faces very tough competition from 22 year-old Ronaldo and 20 year-old Messi who have both had exceptional years.
Last year saw world cup winning Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro win the award. Previous years have seen Ronaldo (the Brazilian) and Zinedine Zidane win three times each, whilst Ronaldinho has won twice. If Cristiano Ronaldo wins it will be a first for a player from an English club.
The award is decided by votes made from managers and captains of the national teams in FIFA’s member countries.
Kaka has picked up an award this season already, named as the FIFPro world player of the year. The reward was given in October after been voted for by 45,000 of his fellow professionals. Cristiano Ronaldo last season won both Player of the Season accolades after aiding Manchester United to the Premier League title. He has since continued his fine form into the current season.
Lionel Messi is the outsider of the three having enjoyed a brilliant 12 months for both club and country. He is regarded as one of the most gifted young players in the world so should he not win it this year be sure to expect him collecting the prize in future years.
Who do you think will win the award this year out of the three players?
Ronaldo deserves it, Kaka will probably get it…
true say
there is no doubt ronaldo deserves it, for his performances over 12-18 months and not just 8 games in the champions league.
If henry at his peak was unabe to win it, you wonder if anyone from epl has got a chance
Its a tough draw and all derserves to win.Looking at the scenario right now its Ronaldo who should be awarded.Not just that i am a United maniac or supporter but its true.Kaka lead AC Milan to UFEA cup but didnt perform for Brazil whole year.With Messi, i think Barca did nothing last season and as with Argentina we didnt see him making major contribution.
With Ronaldo on the other hand, United won premier league with such high rates of goals and assist.May be +50%goals involved Ronaldo.With PORTUGAL too he had massive contribution for Euro’s and WC.I think he deserves to be the winner.Henry had a hell lot of competition during his times.Its hard for a striker to go on and win this competition. L.Ronaldo was something different.I used to consider him even more great than Pele before he fractured his leg.
Times is changing.Right now we have top3 players and all playing midfield.
Ronaldo should be the winner
Mancs cherish this moment, because as a die-hard scouser…I’m going to have to give it to Cristiano Ronaldo. He is just the dogs bollocks
Ronaldo all the way. Its probs not going to happen tho but if it does, I will a newfound respect for this award.
I wonder what MunU would have done without ronaldo, others are replacible in their clubs. Countrywise, kaka is okay, Ronaldo is okay, but messi is replacible, most watched is ronaldo-premiership being the most watched league. Take the dicision.
IF FIFA WERENT BIASED RONALDO WOULD WIN IT HANDS DOWN, BUT AS THEY ARE BIASED KAKA WILL WIN THIS YEAR, MESSI WONT EVEN COME CLOSE TO RONALDO AND KAKA
messi.he is just too good not to
Um… Felix, Man Utd have options to replace Ronaldo. Barcelona have the people to replace Messi. Kaka is the key man for his team. Fro their national teams Ronaldo and Messi are brilliant and Kaka is shit. In terms of sheer ability, complexity and skill I would have to give it to Ronaldo. Kaka will get it but he by no means deserves it
Kaka, definitely! Neither of the other 2 have achieved much and can only play good against s*** teams (well, Messi can play good against good teams usually, but quite inconsistent). Ronaldo can’t play in Europe, he can only play against the likes of Wigan, Sheff UTD, Fulham, etc.
The only people that will say Ronaldo should get it are UTD fans, delusional UTD fans, people that know nothing about football and have been told by UTD fans to say he’s the best, and idiots.
[long whistle] Nerazzurim Ronaldo has now scored in FIVE CONSECUTIVE matches in the Champions League. The only reason that he does not shine as much as Kaka is because he is surrounded by several world class players who take some of the shine themselves. Rooney and Tevez are amazing, Giggs still has it for the CL, Scholes is the same old ginger genius and Milan hardly have anyone.
Seedorf is magnificent at times, Pirlo is awesome on free kicks and passing but does little else and as good as Gatusso or Nesta are – because they are good – neitehr is about to take stardust off of Kaka.
The Brazilian has the spotlight with only Seedorf to share; Ronaldo has at least another three world class players in his team. And yet he shines as bright as a star. So does Kaka mind you, but neither shines brighter than the other and for the simple reason that talent-wise one team is better than the other, the one that manages to stand out from a bunch of players is better that the one who is head and shoulders above (nearly) everyone else in the team.
kaka lead his team to the most prestigious trophy in europe simply by outplaying c.ronaldo and man utd in the semi final beatdown, why didn’t c.ronaldo show up on the big stage.
I think it is clear from all the comments above that it is between Kaka and Ronaldo. I love Messi and his time will come, I just think it is a bit early for him this year.
Separating Kaka and Ronaldo is tough. Both are incredible! Personally (even as a Gooner) I would like to see Ronaldo win it. Henry should have won it at least once and it will be great for a player from an English team to win it. Henry maybe was not picked because he did not pick up a European Trophy and the results from previous years have gone with players that won either the World Cup or Champions League – on this basis Kaka will win.
what time period does the award cover. ronaldo for sure this year but that may go towards next years award…
I hope that Cristiano Ronaldo will win. Allthough I am a huge fan of Kaka (Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite) I still think that Cristiano is a better player!
P.S. Did you know that Kaka comes from Caca, that’s what his younger brother called him cause he couldn’t pronounce it!
this is nothing but the truth.
KAKA:”world” player of the year
C.RONALDO:”most watched” player of the year
MESSI:”future” player of the year
GIVE IT UP FOR KAKA….. RONALDO IS GOOD BUT KAKA IS THE BEST.
FOOTBALL IS NOT ABOUT PLAYING FANCY STYLES,ITS ABOUT DELIVERING THE GOALS TO WIN MATCHES AND”"IMPORTANT MATCHES.SO I THINK KAKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ROCKS 4 LIFE
I’d say Kaká, for a few reasons;
1. AC Milan are declining, the Player of the Year award is usually given to someone who has won something and this may be the last time AC Milan win anything therefore, seeing as Kaká seems to be staying, the last time the Brazilian ever wins anything.
2. Kaká is older and possibly at his peak, Ronaldo is not, therefore he will have many more chances to win.
3. Kaká is more likeable.
I, personally, hope C[dot] will win [Ronaldo} and, watching both leagues, think he should. However, top goalscorer in the Champions League is not easy to overlook.
Ok Ronaldo scores for his country at a ratio of 1 in 2. He is the current top goal scorer in Europe. Without him Man Utd wouldn’t have won the Premiership. He scored 23 goals last season and had the highest amount of assists as a winger. He dominated the world cup with Portugal amidst all the controversy and came back to dominate the premier league being booed at every away game. What character that shows! I believe the premiership is more of an achievement than the champions league. It is an endurance of 38 games of football played week in week out. He was never rested and gave his all in every game. That is why he was jaded near the end of the season in the semi finals in Europe and in the FA cup final. Kaka only really shone in the Champions league which is around 15 games! come on now! If Ronaldo doesn’t win i will lose all respect for this award.
everybody knows who is the best …Messi and its doesnt matter
if his young or not no one can do what he do !
while not drogba upon all his performance in the English league that season as we see him to be the highest goal scorer in the English league. he also strugle to see that Chelsea made it true
i think drogba deserved it this year upon all his performance in the English league and his club side as he was given the title of the highest goal scorer that season and the highest cheseal player in the history of the club to get the higest goal ever.
According tome the best football player in the world have to be Kaka`.Because he did a lot of to get this award.He was the FIFPro player and he was the MVP of the champions league,and also he will be the best foriegn player in italy.I think that christiano is not as good as Kaka
It seems like a lot of people are giving the award to Kaka, which is stupid. He was fantastic in the Champions League last year but didn’t have the impact on his team in the league or national team. C. Ronaldo was outstanding throughout the entire season taking an underdog team past Chelsea. He has had outstanding form for Portugal and was very good in the champions league up until the game against Milan. His preformance in the second leg against Roma was incredible. Too many people are looking at one game to decide Kaka is the best. Messi will win it next year and possibly for many years after because he is unreal.
Ronaldo sooooooo obviously deserves it, if it was up to me though id give it it rooney but ronaldos the next best thing n hes fit too!!!!! Hi vish!! xxx
Gerrard rullzzzzz!!!!! hes da man 4 da award!!!!!1
Kaka deserves it and thats IT!
I think Kaka will and should win it… CL success and playing in the more ‘negative football’ serie A. EPL is more physical but there not as ‘negative’ as the serie A (who will drop every player except a lone striker on defense).
Also just to address Kaka’s “sh*t” performance for his country, he didnt play in the Copa AMerica (along side with many other brazilian stars). CR had the entire Euro qualifying and friendlies… If Kaka played in the Copa America im sure he would have dominated.
Either way, Messi next year
IMO, Ronaldo should have received it.
Kaka is one of my favourite players. But, I think that its not that difficult for him to stand out in an AC Milan team because he is surrounded by OLD players. He’s like a ray of sunshine breaking through a dark cloud.
kaka is the best player on the world
1. kaka
2. messi
3. c. ronaldo
kaka is the moust gratheful player , messi has future and c. ronaldo is only funny player
kaka is zidane and ronaldo is figo, everybody knows who is best
messi is a star but kaka did not play anything this season messi is going wild, he is unstopable.the ranking should be like this kaka first messi second ronald third
How does being kept in an incubator for a season and only being brought out of his monastery for the champions league warrant being named the best in the world?
He contributed to NOTHING else!
He will peter out and be replaced by Anderson in the Brasil team.
Conversely, I see a Brasil future central midfield core of Anderson of Man Utd, Lucas of Liverpool and Denilson of Arsenal. It’s looking likely if all three continue to realise their potential.
kaka without a doubt. on the biggest stage for a club… the champions league, kaka lead milan basically by himself.. in the process he single handly made man u and ronaldo look dumb, on the biggest stage kaka performed and ronaldo chocked… if ronaldo deserved the award he would of beating milan by him self…but he didnt! and kaka did! and for all u people saying its easy for kaka to shine cause he doesnt have as good players that ronaldo does in man u proves that kaka is better morons! how do u know ronaldo could of did it without those “world class players” exactly… ronaldo has more to work with than kaka but kaka still did better.
I see no reason why all this discussion because every body knows that C Ronaldo deserved to win the award more than kaka or messi.
@chris
Have you ever seen Ronaldo play?
From what I read in your post, I seriously doubt it.
To put things into perspective, during the Mailan/United encounter that you refered to, the entire United team suffered from fatigue, while Milan rested ALL their players. It was definitely not a matter of Ronaldo choking. I’m not making excuses because we lost fair and square, but I can promise you one thing…it will never happen again!
To be honest, I’m amazed as to why Kaka is ‘expected’ to be named the world player of 2007, apart from the champions league what else did he really do this year?
Seriously AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid get all the media attention in Europe because of the history and heritage of the clubs, more so than keeping an eye out on the teams that are truly performing at the best level. More so, anything that any of those players do for those teams can be overrated and greatly exaggerated in the press. I’m not saying they aren’t world class teams but it’s not like you never see some lesser known teams that have similar moments for real.
For me, only C.Ronaldo really deserves the award this year, he’s performed brilliantly but more importantly he has performed at a more consistent level than either Kaka or Messi and that’s what a lot of people fail to realise. If a player is influential enough to keep his club going for 3 different trophies, surely he’s got to be the best in the world. He has already scored at least 30 goals and plenty of assists for club and country this year, his record better than Kaka and Messi. And Man U did end up beating Mourinho’s Chelsea team to the Premier League, they reached the final of the FA Cup and the semi-finals of the Champions League. If people are saying Kaka deserves to win because of the semi-finals then that is ridiculous, 2 matches do not make up a whole year of football.
Kaka was definitely the best man in the CL, 10 goals for a midfielder is extraordinary. But if he can be that influential for his team, what on earth happened to them in Serie A? They only finished 4th, and in this current season they are down in 9th or 10th. The truly great players like Ronaldinho made a difference in the domestic leagues, and ended up winning them. C.Ronaldo did the same for Man United last season, but Kaka was almost non-existent in the Italian league. In fact, Ancelotti saved his best players including Kaka for the CL trophy only. So if you’re skiving off matches just to be fully fit for one competition, how is that worthy of being the best player in the world? Even if you reach the final of the CL, that’s only 13 matches, when you add the other competitions together a top-flight season is about 50-60 matches. So Kaka should win because he was exceptional in 13 matches? We should be more realistic.
As for Messi, he did very well but he only started to perform at the start of the current season and Barcelona ended up trophyless for 2007 so I don’t really see why he should win the award. His skill and talent are obvious but I think FIFA will vouch for him more simply because he is being called the ‘new Maradona’ and that he plays for Barcelona. Politics spoils this award so much and it can affect the results badly. FIFA seem to vote more for who plays for what team rather than who has played world class football.
Like I said C.Ronaldo should win, Kaka 2nd and Messi 3rd. But the voters will only focus on headlines without looking in greater detail, so I think Kaka will undeservedly win it with C.Ronaldo 2nd.
KAKA KAKA & KAKA
No body in the remaining two could even reach closer to KAKA. He is a born fotballar. Its not only by great players the team wons KAKA did it several times.
Ronaldo all the way. He deserves it more than anyone. People like drogba say Ronaldo will not keep the scoring up. Well he proved that he is consistant as he is the joint top scorer in both the Premier League and Champions League at the moment.
Top scorer in the Premier League and top scorer in the Champions League for a winger is fantastic,ever since he entered Portugal,they had reached semifinals in the WC and finals in the Euro Cup with him as the key player.For me as a brazilian it was embarassing to hear from Kaka that he wouldnt play the Copa America because he was to “tired”,but big deal he has never made much difference for the success of Brazil anyway,unlike Ronaldo who turned Portugal into something else.I admit he was the best in the last year Champions League,but seriously what are the other highlits of Kaka taking those 2 games against United out?I mean look at Serie A,Milan is in 10th place and basicly all his goals were converted by penalty.The only games United lost so far this season were games that C.Ronaldo was out(yeah you can take a look).I just think that the player of the year should be somoene who plays well in all levels(Champions League,domestic League,National team,domestic Cup).Whoever disagrees is either media hyped or C.Ronaldo hater.
Ribery is 10 times better than messi and he shud have been choosed instead of messi ,messi is dirt let him go hang himself
Riquelme it has to be. Riquelme clearly outperformed Messi in the Copa America (5 goals, Messi 2 goals), and singlehandedly carried Boca to Copa Libertadores victory (8 goals (3 in the two finals)), in a way which was so dominating that a Riquelme and Boca sceptic like myself just had to put down my defense. Seriously, in Libertadores cup, Riquelme was more dominating than any other player I have seen in a major competition. Giving it to Messi would just be stupid when Riquelme was way better in Copa America, and Messi didn’t win anything. Don’t believe the hype.
If you are still in doubt check out Riquelme’s two freekick goals against Chile in the World cup qualifiers, as well as his two goals in the last final of Copa Libertadores.
I won’t complain too much about Kaka or Ronaldo, although Kaka didn’t even care to play Copa America. If they gotta give it to a Brazilian, give it to Robinho which plays better and better for Real and had an amazing Copa America.
I personally feel that its gonna b a close contest between Kaka and Messi for the award. Ronaldo is just out of the scene. And what did ronaldo really do this season?? He just helped Man U to win the EPL but for God’s sake, he WASN’T THE HIGHEST SCORER OF THE EPL (Drogba frm Chelsea was)and half of the goals he scored were from penalties. And I feel that it should also b reminded to the Ronaldo fans that this kid has a knack of falling down inside the penalty box whenever he gets a chance. So there’s no way he’s gonna make the ppl fall for him by his false falls.
Now for Kaka, well some of you hvae written that what big deal did he do this year except to make Milan d Champs league winners?? Allright, I agree that he didn’t do a big deal but was Ronalo able to do that “TEENY WEENY BIT ALSO??”
(Right now I’m leaving Messi out of question bcoz he spent half of his previous season injured and couldn’t do much 4 Barca in the Champs League)And all you Ronaldo supporters, I support you when I say that Ronnie is undoubtedly and exceptionally Talented player but did u see how Kaka completely outplayed him in the semis of d Champs league?? This just proves who’s better.
Now about Messi, what I can just say is that this kid has got tremendous potential(Mind you, I’m one of the biggest fans of Messi in this world but my comments about the three are neutral)…..I mean how many players in this world could score a hat-trick against an immensely powerful team like Real Madrid and that too in the 2nd or 3rd match which he plays after recovering from a serious injury that made him sit out for 3 months. And then did you see the goal he scored against Getafe in the Copa Del rey?? dat goal could have only been scored by Maradona(which he had already done in 1986 nad god himself). But since he plays in a league which is not as much glamorous as the EPL in whih Ronaldo plays, he’ll probably get d 3rd position behind Ronnie.
So here’s my opinion
1st:Kaka, 2nd:Ronaldo, 3rd:Messi.
kaka or ronaldo gona win it. last season c ronaldo led united to win premier league and in semi-final of chleague .kaka led milan to win ch league .but what did messi with barcelona.noooooooooothing.he is just a kid.and for this season ronaldo for the moment is the best scorer in europe with 14 goals also and kaka .but what messi.again nooooothing.so ill say .so ill say kaka or ronaldo.messi the third .
cristiano ronaldo deserve it
Cristiano Ronaldo,deserver second position not messi.
KAKA!!! ronaldo didnt even come in second haha… this award is voted by coaches and captains so they obviously know more about us! so u ppl saying ronaldo deserved this ronaldo deserved that can all go eat s hit
@chris
Are you just ignorant, or do you truly believe that crap?
You seem less happy at Kaka receiving the award than you do for ronaldo not winning it?!? Strange.
the best playeer the must ronaldo .
what i think is that ,kaka suppose to be the best player of the year
c.Ronaldo since he can show in a match what he has an ability.
ronaldo is the best player in the world for surley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C.Ronaldo Aivero will win the best player for 2008/2009 season,Red Devils,bobbieslala@yahoo.com
if not christaina Ronaldo who will it be? no need to compete or ague cos God and Nature has made him great. so who is the man to let him down? It is his time so give it up for him, cos he deserve it his d chosen, gifted, destined to be the greatest. even the deads, the blinds and all the spirits can testify to that. his the golden boy.
C. R deserve the best this time he play to the last end and he got it through this is not about team or country they are playing the league. but what they played and the result of target he is. give it to him. C.ronaldo is the greatest.
I strongly agree that C.Ronaldo is the current world NO.1,nobody can dispute that fact.He has dominated the Eng league,Europe as a whole, he got speed,skills,scoring abilities name it.Ronaldo deserves to be called him what he is.
kaka deserve 1st … cuz he play well in his club and national team… soccer is not about SKILL … c.ronaldo deserve 2nd eventhough i don’t like c.ronaldo but i think c ronaldo good than messi.. as his hair very MESSY hahah… ok … kaka play his best for every club.. instead of c.ronaldo.. he only want to show off his stupid skill and messy is not pro as c,ronaldo.. and u all know why messy is 2nd instead of c.ronaldo cuz he is too act… he only show off or use his skill on noobs… but kaka did it for all those pro … so.. kaka the best! 2nd ronaldinho 3rd robinho =DD
iam only saying we see the action and the dripple and the talents that the players gave us as fans but we must put our eyes on the important thing that the player whatever he is he must win something important to his team and his country that will give his dripple and telant some meaning and i think ronaldo made that meaning to kaka he made that last season not this and to messi not for once in this season or the one before this season so think people and chose the right player and i think he is c.ronaldo and he will win if allah says…
the best footballer in this year 2008 messi socound c.ronaldo a third tores
2008 Ronaldo by a mile won both the EPL and CPL. Messi was in the Barcelona team that got knocked out by United. Messi would have never made a goal if he had played for a fortnight. Kaka is world class but has been left behind by Ronaldo who is a league of his own.
i think the best player will be c.ronaldo but messi and kaka i cant say they are not good players but i would like to say a nice players they are a famous players in the world we know kaka was best player in 2007 but now i think ronaldo coz ronaldo made agood season he was won champions league and epl so good luck all the players……..
Messi is the world Best Player
mess is the best fotballer in 2008 and 2009 now and the striker in the world ok my names nasri abdishakuur mahamed
i blieve messi in the best player in the world
i like KaKa better but i think Ronaldo deserves it more