Messi is the best player in the world, but argentina as a team are far behind brazil and i would hazard even england who have a more well rounded team albeit not as good as most english think they are.

The big winner of 2009 is easily barce they have won everything they have entered. Sure they got lucky against chelsea but sometimes luck is as good as skill.

Personally i think veron had an excellent 2009 and considering his age has really shone and even in the barce – estudeniantes match up he caused all sorts of problems for barce and if he had better players around him could have punished barce quite badly, for his age he is playing at a very high level.

No. If it was the other way around I’d be saying the same thing about Barca, and I guess I’d enjoy it more.

> Why Utd for winning the PL….and not all the other teams around the world who won their leagues?

Because the Premier League is the Premier League. The only other comparable league in 09 (and 08) is the spanish one, and it’s represented in the list.

> But at the end of the day it’s just a bit of fun…with some ‘tongue in cheek’ involved….definitely not to be taken too seriously!

Of course.

Hiddink did well but sorry, FA Cup win and failing to get Russia to SA just doesn’t cut-it! Are you a Chelsea fan by any chance?

Why Utd for winning the PL….and not all the other teams around the world who won their leagues?

Wolfsburg and Rubin were chosen because they did it against the odds (and Real Salt Lake).

But at the end of the day it’s just a bit of fun…with some ‘tongue in cheek’ involved….definitely not to be taken too seriously!

1. Chelsea
2. Messi. I still think he was the best individual player in 2009, even if Barca didn’t deserve the Champs League. I’m probably charmed by him – but then I’m not the only one.
3. Barcelona, for obvious reasons
4. Manchester United, for winning the Premier League
5. Hiddink and Pep, tied on the same spot
7. Ronaldo, for being transferred to Real for that insane amount of money; besides, he did his part in bringing ManU the title and getting them to the UCL final
8. Ibra, for being considered worth Eto’o plus another player I can’t remember now plus some extra money. Barca don’t seem to regret the deal so far.
9. Wolfsburg
10. Giggs

Unfortunately, Blanc will have to go. Or, if you want, you can keep him at no. 11.

First, let’s not forget how Barca won the Champs League, their tie against Chelsea that is. In my opinion, Chelsea were probably the best team in Europe in 2009. Therefore, they and Hiddink have a place in this list. (If Hiddink had got Russia to the World Cup I’d put him at no. 1, as it was he’ll have to settle for a more modest place, but still in the top 10.)

You seem to be forgetting that United, though outclassed by Barca in the UCL final, still managed to win a minor thing, that is the Premier League. As much as we’ve got accustomed with them being there, I think this still deserves a place on the list.

Rubin Kazan – well, they fought well in the Champs League, for a minnow, but in the end didn’t make it, and that’s what matters.

So, my own list:

1. Chelsea
2. Messi. I still think he was the best individual player in 2009, even if Barca didn’t deserve the Champs League. I’m probably charmed by him – but then I’m not the only one.
3. Manchester United, for winning the Premier League
4. Hiddink and Pep, tied on the same spot
6. Ronaldo, for being transferred to Real for that insane amount of money; besides, he did his part in bringing ManU the title and getting them to the UCL final
7. Ibra, for being considered worth Eto’o plus another player I can’t remember now plus some extra money. Barca don’t seem to regret the deal so far.

Well, for the other 3 positions I’m out of ideas so I’ll choose from your list:

8. Wolfsburg
9. Giggs
10. Blanc

(I’ll be more conservative and end my own list at no. 10.)