When football fans discuss about their opinion concerning the world’s best player, it is most likely for the names of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi Hernandez to come out from their mouth. Since the past 3 or 4 years, awards have been mainly contested by Messi and Ronaldo.
The pair—composed of Argentine talent and Portuguese trickery—has taken world football’s stage by storm. Midfielder Xavi has also strengthened into a maestro.
Where Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi have ranked in recent FIFA Awards:
2007 Ballon d’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo 2nd, Lionel Messi 3rd
2008 Ballon d’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo 1st, Lionel Messi 2nd
2008 FIFA Player of the Year Award: Cristiano Ronaldo 1st, Lionel Messi 2nd
2009 FIFA Player of the Year Award: Lionel Messi 1st, Cristiano Ronaldo 2nd, Xavi 3rd
2009 FIFA Puskas Award: Cristiano Ronaldo 1st
2009 Ballon d’Or Award: Lionel Messi 1st, Cristiano Ronaldo 2nd, Xavi 3rd
2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or Award: Lionel Messi 1st, Xavi 3rd
2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 FIFA FIFPro World XI: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Xavi (at the exception of 2007) included
Wayne Rooney’s emergence as the world’s best player
But after the end of this current season, Wayne Rooney’s name could be printed in every major honor shortlist. After 4 match-days in the English Premier League, Rooney has already found the net 8 times. His incredible form, marked by 2 consecutive hat-tricks, has put him on top of the charts in England.
Patrice Evra is backing Wayne Rooney to reach the sky. He told reporters following Manchester United’s routing of Bolton Wanderers on Saturday:
“You can see his hunger. Last season, he had some problems but now he is back. He wants to show what a top player he is. We are very happy and glad for him. He plays so well for us.
“He is a great professional and a top player. He wants to be the best player in the world. He just has to keep doing what he is doing.”
The good thing for Wayne Rooney fans is that the striker is finding his form at the international level too. Rooney scored 2 vital goals against Bulgaria this month as England pushed closer towards qualification for Euro 2012. The tournament in Poland-Ukraine will help determine how Rooney deserves to be seen in the world of football.
In the meantime, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are yet to entirely come out from their shadows for Argentina’s Albiceleste and Portugal’s Seleçao respectively. Xavi Hernandez, meanwhile, is a rock for Spain’s La Roja.
However, the majority of football fans love to see goals—which explains why attacking minded players always end up being the people’s favorites. So could Wayne Rooney steal the public’s eyes and print his name in their mind for a long time to come starting from this season?
