It was a tense scene in Zurich, Switzerland as things were all set in place to kick off at the annual 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony. It is a ceremony to name the best players in world football over this past calendar year. The normal proceedings are the same every year, naming the selections for the best World Starting XI in Men’s football, FIFA Puskás Award, Women’s World Player of the Year, and finally the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or. As usual the competition for each award was very narrow due to the overwhelming talent but the extraordinary football year of 2015 was set to end with many prestigious winners no matter who was chosen.
The World’s best starting XI brought back many familiar stars in the football world from previous competitions including Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, and many considerable others. The same setting was to be placed this year with a four player defense, three midfielders, and three attackers, as done every year. This years winners were Manuel Neuer, Marcelo Vieira, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves, Paul Pogba, Andres Iniesta, Luka Modric, Neymar Jr., Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. Many of these players have won this award in the past and based off of season performances it is sometimes not a suprise to see them winning because they continue to perform at a top level.
The FIFA Puskás Award is an award voted by fans all over the world that choose the best goal scored in the calendar year. Many players from the world’s top clubs tend to be contenders for the award year after year but the competition brings many competitors from across the world as brilliance can strike from anywhere. This brilliance came in the form of a spectacular over the head kick from Brazilian forward, Wendell Lira. Lira, who currently plays for Brazilian Serie B side Atletico-GO, received 46% percent of the vote and beat out Barcelona star, Lionel Messi’s 33%. The goal netted a 2-1 victory over league rivals Goianesia. “It is an honor to be here to get know famous players I’ve only seen on the screen before,” Lira said in his speech to the Zurich crowd as he accepted the award, “I thank my family and all those who voted for me. I should like to thank my wife and my daughter.”
This year’s Women’s World Player of the Year award came between three of the World’s best footballers from the World Cup of 2015 this past summer. The nominees were Celia Sasic of Germany, Aya Miyama of Japan, and Carli Lloyd of the United States. The award was given to Carli Lloyd, who was arguably the favorite after having one of the best individual World Cup Final performances after scoring a hat-trick against Japan who beat them in the final four years ago. “It really is an honor. It’s been a dream of mine. I want to thank everyone that voted for me and everyone at US Soccer for their support” said the US International as she accepted the award. Carli Lloyd scored six goals throughout the competition and led the United States to a third World Cup Final win to beat their arch rivals, Japan.
The final award that was given in the ceremony was to be given to the best Male footballer of the year and is the most prestigious individual award in football. The nominees for 2016 were very familiar faces in Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar Jr. Both Messi and Ronaldo have one the award multiple times, Messi with four, Ronaldo with three, but this is the first time Neymar had ever been nominated. Neymar, the 22 year old who plays for FC Barcelona, is a young star on the rise and was looking to become among the greats. However, the award was given to Messi for his fifth win making him one of the best players of the world, and for 2015.
