FC BARCELONA PLAYERS

PARIS (AP) -Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo and FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi are the favorites to win this year's Golden Ball, awarded by France Football magazine to Europe's top player.

Ronaldo finished second to AC Milan midfielder Kaka last year, while Messi was third.

Kaka was again among the 30 nominees released Tuesday, but does not believe he will win this time.

''I am realistic. This one won't be for me. It's a shame, but it's logical,'' Kaka said. ''AC Milan did not have a good season.''

Kaka is touting United's winger to take the top prize.

''My favorite is Cristiano Ronaldo,'' Kaka said. ''He won two major titles with Manchester, and he scored a lot of goals.''

The 23-year-old Portugal winger scored 42 goals in all competitions to help United win the Premier League title and the Champions League.

The 21-year-old Messi was also in top form for Barca, scoring several breathtaking goals for the Catalan club, and also helping Argentina defeat Nigeria 1-0 to win the Olympic gold medal in Beijing in August.

''He is the kind of player I really like,'' Kaka said. ''Like Cristiano Ronaldo, he dribbles, he scores. Messi often does it all on his own.''


Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is also among the nominees after helping Spain win the European Championship in June, scoring the lone goal in the final against Germany. Torres also scored 24 league goals in his debut season with the Reds.

Lyon striker Karim Benzema, one of only two French nominees along with Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, told France Football that Torres would get his vote.

''He scores goal after goal,'' Benzema said.

source: The Associated Press

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10. Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander to Real Madrid)
Last Week: 7

What a capture! Barcelona seemed to have him in the bag, but hesitated a little too much as they waited for Frank Rijkaard to leave and a new coach to take charge. Madrid managed to snatch Sergio Ramos a few years ago, and what a signing that has turned out to be. This one may be no different.

9. Deco (Barcelona to Chelsea)
Last Week: 6
On the wrong side of 30, a first look suggests that he is past it, but nothing could be further from the truth. There is a fire that burns in him as we saw during Euro 2008, and he has a lot more to give to football. He is not what Frank Lampard is, as he will never score as many goals. But then, he is also everything Lampard is not. Superb creativity, a great eye for the game, and an ability to run the show that has seen him win the Champions League with two different clubs. Finally, Chelsea have a player who can orchestrate the pleasing football their owner wants. With Ballack and Essien set to play around him, it will be an ominous midfield.

8. Amantino Mancini (Roma to Inter)
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Jose Mourinho does not quite promote exciting football, but he does like a fast, aggressive winger forward at least on one flank. That is just what he has found in Mancini, who will be handed the license to thrill just as Arjen Robben was during the glory years at Chelsea. Tends to blow hot and cold, though, as Roma found out last season. Lack of consistency will not go down well with the 'Special One', so he does need to focus a lot more.

7. Amauri (Palermo to Juventus)
Last Week: 5

The Brazilian-Italian striker made it to number three after earning himself a long overdue move to a top four club, but now slips down to seven. He has already shown his potential with Palermo, and the prospect of him getting some top quality service from the Juve midfield is simply mouth-watering. Champions League, here he comes.

6. Daniel Alves (Sevilla to Barcelona)
Last Week: 4
Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United – these are just some of the clubs that have queued up for him over the last 18 months or so. However, it is Barcelona who land him after some difficult negotiations with Sevilla. Perhaps a touch overpriced at 30 million euros (he would have been number one on this list at 20m), but then again, he is the best attacking full-back this world has seen since Roberto Carlos.

5. Samir Nasri (Marseille to Arsenal)
Last Week: 3
The highly rated French international is the latest to join the clan of young Gunners. Many view him as a replacement for Aliaksandr Hleb, while others go a step further and call him the next Zidane. He has had some problems with injuries, but let's hope those were exceptions as opposed to the rule. The prodigous playmaker is at number five.

4. Ronaldinho (Barcelona to Milan)
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A gamble? Yes. But given the chance, would you sign one of the all time greats of football for a third of his market price last summer? You bet you would. At 28, he is far from over. Some diet planning and some tough training, and he will give at least three or four good years to the Rossoneri. A gamble nonetheless, or he would definitely have been number one. Number four for the Gaucho.

3. Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham)
Last Week: 2
The hottest young Croatian was snapped up by Spurs despite the interest of clubs such as Barcelona and Chelsea, and what a signing it has already turned out to be. Looks set to become the jewel in Juande Ramos' midfield next season. He remains at the sharp end of our list.

2. Aliaksandr Hleb (Arsenal to Barcelona)
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A very shrewd buy, and what could very well turn out to be a stroke of genius from Barcelona. With Lionel Messi expected to run the show, what they needed was not a Ronaldinho, but a tireless, no-nosense attacking midfielder to offer support from the other flank - without hogging possession or the limelight. And they got him on the cheap too. A true critics' player in that while fans rave about others, he runs away with the technical plaudits.

1. Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal to Milan)
Last Week: 1

The underrated Frenchman was one of Arsenal's best players last season, and Milan's signing was nothing less than a coup. That it was a free transfer makes it even better. The smartest transfer this summer despite the number of high profile players on the move.

source: goal.com

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