Who will win the 2012 Ballon d’Or?

Last month journalists, national coaches and captains have been voting for the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012 who will be announced this monday (7th of January 2012). The 3 last short-listed are Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Spanish player Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona) and Argentinian player Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona). Messi won the last 3 Ballon dOr and again he’s the favourite this year to gain to most famous award in the football world. As if he hasn’t win any major title with Barcelona or the National Argentinian team, Leo Messi broke an amazing record scoring 91 goals in 2012… He’s definitely a legend and a sure value in modern football, the kind of player you have to bet on if you bet online with bwin for exemple.

Who do you think will win the 2012 Ballon d’Or this monday? Messi again? Or Iniesta and Ronaldo got their chance too? Let me know your choice in the comments below to enter the draw to win 2 amazing prizes: a £75 voucher on BuyaGift.co.uk and an amazing copy of the Official Commemorative Book for the London 2012 Olympics. Pretty cool innit? Leave a comment and maybe you’ll be picked out!

Winner will be announced and contacted on Tuesday 8th of January 2013. Competition opens to UK residents only. 

Cristiano Ronaldo – 05/02/85

2012 was yet another glorious year for the irrepressible Cristiano Ronaldo. With Portugal, he scored twice against the Netherlands and another against the Czech Republic to propel his side to the semi-finals of EURO 2012, while with Real Madrid, he won La Liga – scoring 46 goals along the way – and played a key role in their run to the Champions League semi-finals, where he scored twice in the second leg against Bayern Munich. Winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2008, he has again started this season as he means to go on, scoring the winner against Manchester City in the Champions League before claiming a hat-trick against Ajax. In domestic action, he also scored twice against Barcelona to become the first man to score at least one goal in six consecutive clásicos.

Andres Iniesta – 11/05/84

Still a spectacular and impressive figure in the Barcelona midfield, and often standing head and shoulders above the rest, Andrés Iniesta took centre stage for Spain once again in June, winning his second European Championship title and being named as the best player, not only of the final, but also of the entire tournament. As if that were not enough, he recently received the UEFA Best Player in Europe award, ahead of Messi and Ronaldo, from UEFA President Michel Platini.

Lionel Messi – 24/06/87

Even though Barcelona did not lift a major trophy in 2012 – the Copa del Rey aside – Lionel Messi continued to go from strength to strength, amassing goals and records along the way. His achievements in 2012 included becoming Barça’s  all-time leading goalscorer in official matches when he scored his 233rd goal on 20 March, breaking the record for the number of UEFA Champions League goals in a single season (14) and, with his 82 goals in all competitions, he edges ever closer to breaking the record held by the legendary Gerd Muller (85 goals). The three-time Ballon d’Or winner was no less impressive for Argentina either, helping them dominate the South American FIFA World Cup qualifiers.