2012/13 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: Winner Ribery

[Maex]

Today the UEFA announced the ten-man shortlist for the season 12/13. After the former winners Messi (2010/11) and Iniesta (2011/12) the UEFA selected the following candidates:

Gareth Bale (WAL) – Tottenham Hotspur FC
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) – Real Madrid CF
Zlatan Ibrahimović (SWE) – Paris Saint-Germain FC
Robert Lewandowski (POL) – Borussia Dortmund
Lionel Messi (ARG) – FC Barcelona
Thomas Müller (GER) – FC Bayern München
Franck Ribéry (FRA) – FC Bayern München
Arjen Robben (NED) – FC Bayern München
Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER) – FC Bayern München
Robin van Persie (NED) – Manchester United FC

(http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/news ... candidates)

Who do you think, will make it this year?

[Massimo]

Wtf?? Where is Burak Yilmaz??

[Maex]

[Foye]

I expected more from you Massimo. Expected a hate rant for Bundesliga players and a Pirlo love story instead of a wtf where is Burak...

[Slava]

I'd be surprised if one of the midgets still don't win this.

[5DOM]

Sneijder didn't win, and I don't expect a Bayern player to. Going to be Messi again.

[Andre3822]

I would give it to either Robben/Lewandowski/Philipp Lahm(who for some reason is not on this list, nor is any defender, which is a travesty)

[J-Mezzy]

Hmm. Wasn't Robben on the bench for most of the season? I hope Ribery gets it

[Man of Steel]

Ribéry deserves it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they gave it to Xavi so that all three of them get one (even though this was a bad season for him). Trebles don't come around often though, so Franck gets my vote. CR's top scorer in UCL makes him a close second for me, but trophyless seasons shouldn't be rewarded.

[Point forward]

The "problem" with Bayern is that they don't depend on one player, but rather collectively carry the load. I honestly cannot say whether Neuer, Lahm, Schweini, Ribéry, Müller or Robben was the Bayern MVP. Their collective strength made them unbeatable on the pitch - but IMHO will make them very beatable in these individual awards.

[Maex]

The "problem" with Bayern is that they don't depend on one player, but rather collectively carry the load. I honestly cannot say whether Neuer, Lahm, Schweini, Ribéry, Müller or Robben was the Bayern MVP. Their collective strength made them unbeatable on the pitch - but IMHO will make them very beatable in these individual awards.

That's exactly the point. You have a couple if players which are on a very high level. Obviously the votes will be split between them.

For me it would be Schweinsteiger who would deserve it, but you can find a argument for Ribery, Lahm and Müller as well. I tend to dismiss Robben, because he missed some games (2800 minutes vs. 3900 minutes from e.g. Schweinsteiger), also he was really valuable in the important games.

In the end it will be Messi or Ronaldo again. They are the more fancy players and goals/assists seem to be the most favorable statistics, maybe because it is just so easy to see.

[cgf]

Ribery should win it. Neuer, Lahm and Schweini were all excellent, Muller was lethal all season and Javi was a stud to, but Ribery was the shining star of Bayern's star studded squad.

My only change may be to swap Lewa out for Ilkay, he was just ridiculous all season long and had an absolutely massive influence over BVB's play, especially with Hummels' healthy bothering him all year long. Ilkay was their shining star and even Lewa scored a ton of goals and had that massive game against Real that put them into the final, it was still Gundogan who was playing out of his mind and making that BVB attack so spectacularly lethal. He's the reason BVB where the only club in the world able to go blow for blow with Bayern in midfield, he's just that smooth. But Lewa's more high profile both in his role and in the media, so I get why he got the nom, still should've gone to Schweini's replacement for the NT.

[J-Mezzy]

I would put Reus over Lewandoski

[Foye]

It's named best player award....so the best player should get it. That's either Messi or Ronaldo.

[Maex]

Today the field of players will be narrowed down: The Top 3 players will be announced.

[Next Coming]

Should be Ribery or Bastian. Will be Lionel.

[IronChef]

Should and will be Lionel, still the best player around

[Slava]

Messi
Ribery
Ronaldo

Rest of the top 10:

4 Robert Lewandowski (POL) – Borussia Dortmund (80 points)
5 Arjen Robben (NED) – FC Bayern München (55)
6 Thomas Müller (GER) – FC Bayern München (51)
7 Gareth Bale (WAL) – Tottenham Hotspur FC (48)
8 Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER) – FC Bayern München (34)
9 Zlatan Ibrahimović (SWE) – Paris Saint-Germain FC (27)
10 Robin van Persie (NED) – Manchester United FC (24)

http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/ ... +shortlist

Looking forward to Ronnie's reactions on the podium if he doesn't win it.

[Massimo]

Bale Ribery or Bastian..

I am sure it will go to Cris or Messi though.

[Maex]

I do think Schweinsteiger got a bit underrated. Messi will always be the favorite. Let's see how Ribery is doing - now the Bayern players are not splitting their votes anymore.

At least Schweinsteiger has something to compensate that: https://www.google.com/search?q=Sarah+B ... 73&bih=941