Tuesday, January 17, 2012

How did the Malaysian trio vote in FIFA Ballon d'Or?


In the recent poll among captains, coaches and journalists to name the winner of football's most coveted individual prize - the FIFA Ballon d'Or, national skipper Safiq Rahim picked Xavi, Leo Messi and Andres Iniesta, in that order. Coach Datuk K. Rajagobal chose Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez as the top three. For Coach of the Year, Safiq and his sifu picked Joachim Loew as the top candidate.

There were only two coaches who picked Messi, Ronaldo and Suarez in that order - Rajagobal and Bolivia's Gustavo Quinteros. Only two captains - Denmark's Christian Poulsen and Ronald Raldes of Bolivia - felt Messi, Ronaldo and Suarez deserved to be on the top three.

The top three, as everybody is fully aware, are Messi, Ronaldo and Xavi.

As for my vote, I share the sentiments of 10 fellow journalists that Messi, Ronaldo and Suarez were the top three players throughout 2011. His racist remarks to Patrice Evra aside, Suarez was outstanding in Uruguay's relentless march to the Copa America title.

Interesting to note, Rajagobal and I seem to share the same view this time! Haha!

Read the vote details for the players' award here and coach awards here and our vote last year here.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

BRO - Messi & Guardiola is the right & best choice for FIFA best player and coach award

hairaul said...

Salam Mr. Rizal,

I reproduce this story in my football blog. Thanks for the information btw. Really enjoyed reading your blog.

http://thecornerarc.blogspot.com/2012/01/fifa-ballon-dor-2011-malaysian-vote.html

mimya said...

bro, satu permulaan yg baik utk lu menjalin semula hubungan erat dgn Datuk Rajagobal tu :)

nstman said...

Barca do not need a coach to win. Put a monkey as a coach and they would still win, no disrespect to Guardiola.