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Kaka deserved FIFA world player award
Comments (9)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 | 08:28 AM ET
AC Milan star Kaka was crowned FIFA's world player of the year on Monday, beating out FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo for the honour.
I've long been a critic of the voting system for the award, as all too often voters cast their ballots based on a player's popularity or celebrity, and not their skill or accomplishments.
A perfect example of this came in 2003 when the Czech Republic's Pavel Nedved, a gritty midfielder who's not incredibly flashy, won the Ballon d'Or as the European player of the year but, inexplicably, he wasn't even a finalist for the FIFA world player award (Zinedine Zidane beat out Thierry Henry and Ronaldo, three players who delight fans with their flashy play).
It was David Beckham's celebrity that resulted in him finishing runner-up for the FIFA award in 1999 and 2001, because, Lord knows, at no time in his career was he ever among the top five players in the world, let alone the second-best.
But I digress.
No doubt the selection of Kaka didn't sit well with a lot of people who felt Ronaldo should have won the award, but there really was only one player who deserved to claim the honour, and that was Kaka.
Yes, Ronaldo had a better domestic campaign compared to Kaka. The Portuguese star was the best player in the Premiership last season and helped United win its first league title since 2003, but he was virtually non-existent in the Champions League.
By comparison, Kaka had a respectable (not great) Serie A campaign, but he was the top scorer in last season's Champions League with 10 goals, including a two-goal performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford (a 3-2 Milan loss) that was hailed by pundits as one of the best of the competition.
He followed that up with a masterful performance in a 3-0 win in the home leg of the semifinal, out-performing Ronaldo once again.
And that's why Kaka deserved the award more than Ronaldo - the Brazilian was the best player in club soccer's most prestigious tournament, competing against the best players and the best teams in the world.
Ronaldo was simply the best player in the Premiership - a laudable accomplishment, to be sure, but not worthy of winning the FIFA world player of the year award.
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John F. Molinaro is a reporter for CBC Sport Online whose chief love is international soccer. John served as senior editor of Sports Online's Euro 2004 website, which helped him win a CBC.ca Award of Excellence, and was the driving force behind our coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He holds an honours BA in sociology from York University and a print journalism diploma from Sheridan College, and is also the author of The Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time (Stewart House, 2002).
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Comments (9)
Antonio
ottawa
Kaka deserves this year Balon D'or and FIFA World Player of the year. He was clearly the best player of 2007 winning tittles with AC Milan (champions league, FIFA world cup of clubs). He has been able to stay soo humble at such high level in his carrer and his football one the most simple style of play and one of the best in the world right now. He doesn't do step overs like Ronaldo, has no flashy moves like Ronaldinho, or even the ability to dribble out a defender like Messi does. One thing you dont want however, is having kaka running at your defense, he will run pass 2 maybe 3 players with the ball in the blink of an eye. Or him having control of the ball around the 18 yrd box, not knowing weather he'll shoot or pass, he might just surprise you with what he'll do. All in all, this years fifa player of the year is a well deserve player who appart from having all the trophy's, money, success a player could want, he has been able to stay humble to himself, his country, and his religion. Good job KAKA!
Posted December 18, 2007 10:26 AM
Dennis
Ottawa
You are right about one thing, which is that Kaka deserved the award this year. In the end, the voting wasn't even close.
But how could anyone criticise the voting system? It's not exactly a facebook internet poll they're using. The people who are queried are the Captains and Managers of the world's national teams. Who else knows the game of football better? Are you suggesting that a different group of people pick the winner? Who else on the planet knows the game better? I suppose you would have John Molinaro and his drinking buddies decide the award?
Posted December 18, 2007 01:05 PM
John
I agree that Kaka deserved to win this award; he is a joy to watch on the field and likely hell to play against.
John, I have a couple of questions for you on other soccer matters:
1. What do you have against David Beckham? You consistantly berate the guy in your writting. Why?
2. With reference to the MLS adding foreign player slots, I was suprised to note that foreign players in the MLS are any non-American players. Is this not a US and Canadian league? From my understanding, this type of policy would require Canadian teams (Toronto) to hire only American players unless the player is hired as a foreign player. Seems pretty non-inclusive of Canadian talent and would discourage expansion of more Canadian teams. I would like to see more teams in Canada; Vancouver (maybe add the Whitecaps), Calgary, Montreal, etc.
Thanks,
John
Posted December 19, 2007 02:13 PM
Alex
Calgary
He deserve the award better than anybody else.His quality as a player is far beyond playing.He is a gifted player and he proved it through the year and continues progressing and growing.Winning games and helping his team winning games and titles.If that is not success I don't know what it is then?...Who chooses the winner? who better then who knows the game of soccer better...the managers and coaches of the national teams.I don't see nothing wrong other than lack of knowledge of profesional soccer. As I believe that this commentary is base from the fans point of view. Merry Christmas.
Posted December 22, 2007 04:20 PM
Zac
Ottawa
You mention that Zidane, Henry and Ronaldo delighted their fans with flashy play in 2003. You neglected to mention that Henry managed to chip in with 42 goals and 23 assists, winning the FA Cup, the PFA and Football Writers' player of the year awards in the process. Flashy, yes, but those numbers speak for themselves.
Ronaldo scored 23 goals to lead Real Madrid to the La Liga Championship, Spanish Super Cup and Champions League semi-finals. Zidane was also part of that Real Madrid side and, while obviously being one of the flashiest players in the game, played an integral role in Real's success.
Nedved also had a good season and was one of the game's great players but does he deserve to be ahead of any of the three above? I don't believe so. Neither did the managers and captains who should know the game better than either of us...so how can one argue that?
I do, however, agree that a) Kaka is a class act and a worthy winner of this year's award and that b) Beckham is one of the most overrated players in the world and has no business being in any such lists. Maybe best free kicks and crosses but there is more to the game than that.
Posted December 24, 2007 09:57 PM
steve
markham
I agree with Zac completly, but what he said about David Beckham is wrong.He is not overrated. He has his own tv show teaching KIDS how to play soccer. You don't see anybody like crybaby Cristiano Ronaldo doing that.
The only reason people say he is overrated is because he makes more foolish or maybe even smart moves more than anybody else. For example, when he made the move to the Galaxy that was on the news for like a year.
Kaka is one of the many grat superstars I idol. I was so happy to hear that he won the award over some great players like Messi and whiner C.Ronaldo. Merry Christmas an Happy New Year!
Posted December 29, 2007 09:04 PM
dejen
my name is dejen! i'm ethiopian.
i live in tasmania i play soccer for newtown eagles under fifteens. i love soccer it's my life and i w'll never give up.
i'm fifteen years old. i go for barcelona cause my favourite player plays for them.
my best player is ronaldinho and kaka.
well done to kaka who is the best player for the year. post code 7008
Posted December 31, 2007 12:33 AM
Aime Tarh.
Yaounde,Biscuiterie.Cameroon
HI,I AM NOT AGAINST THE VOTING OF KAKA AS THE BEST PLAYER OF THE WORLD.HIS SMARSHY PLAYING STYLE AND HARD INVOLVEMENTS TO MAKE MILAN GRAB THE CHAMPIOSN LEAQUE TROPHY IS A WHOLE BOOSTER TO EARN HIM THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.KUDUSS KAKA.YOU DESREVE IT.WHERE I HAD A PROBLEM WAS IN THE SECOND AND FOURTH CHOICES.I DO NOT BELIEVE DIDIER DROGBA WHO WAS RATED FOURTH DESERVED THAT POSITION.THE IVORIAN ATTACKER WAS THE BRAIN BEHIND ALL THE COVERTED TROPHIES OF CHELSEA AND IF HE HAD MADE IT TO THE FINAL,THEN THE BATTLE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE BEFORE THE SEMI FINAL HE WAS A FAVOURITE TO THE CROWN ALONGSIDE KAKA RONALDO AND TOTI.I BELIEVE THE POSOTION OFLIONNEL MESSI WAS SWOOPED WITH HIS.MESSI WAS NO WHERE IN THE EUROPEAN STAGE,MORE OR LESS IN THE DOMESTIC LEAGUE WHERE HIS PERFORMANCE WAS NOT UPTO THE BREAM AS HE WAS IN MOST MATHCHES A REPLACEMENT PLAYER.HOW COMES HE OUTSMASHED A REGULAR,HIGHEST GOAL SCORER,SECOND BEST IN ENGLISH LEAGUE AND SEMI FINALIST OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.ITS UNJUST.DROGBA MERITED A POSITION IN THE FIRST THREE.
Posted February 16, 2008 07:05 AM
AUBAKKAR MANIAR
BATLEY
KAKAS NOT GOOD RONALDO SHOULD HE GOT PACE SKILL SHOTS GOALS PENALTYS EVERYTHING AND WHAT HAS KAKA GOT NOTHING.
Posted February 18, 2008 04:42 PM