Zidane Denies Cristiano Ronaldo Rift

Zinedine Zidane has dismissed suggestions of a fall-out between himself and star player Cristiano Ronaldo after the Real Madrid forward reacted angrily to being substituted against Las Palmas.

Ronaldo was brought off in the 71st minute with Real 2-1 up in the La Liga fixture but after failing to score from six attempts the 31-year-old showed his frustration to Zidane’s decision, appearing to swear as he left the pitch.

Real went on to concede an equaliser for a second-successive draw in the league, but after the match the focus was firmly on Ronaldo, who has endured a difficult start to the season after picking up an injury at Euro 2016.

Everything is normal. It is not just Cristiano – all players can be angry when they leave the pitch,” Zidane told a press conference ahead of Real’s trip to play Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“We’re already thinking about tomorrow’s game. I took the decision for the good of the player.

“Nothing has changed. All this talk [about the incident], more than about tomorrow’s game, well we must live with that. We are relaxed. I’m not stupid, and he is intelligent. We are all here for the same thing.”

Zidane Denies Cristiano Ronaldo Rift

Real Madrid Make a £38m Bid For Chelsea"s Star Man

Real Madrid have reportedly contacted Chelsea over a surprise transfer raid for defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic.

Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane is keen to bring in someone new in that position this summer, as his side look set to miss out on Juventus’ Paul Pogba to Manchester United.

 

Matic is now emerging as Real’s prime target, with the Serbian’s future uncertain after a poor season at Stamford Bridge last term.

Still, Chelsea are unlikely to let the 27-year-old leave too easily, with Sport claiming he could cost as much as £38million for Madrid to prise away.

Matic is one of the top midfielders in Europe on his day, and could shine in the slower-paced game in La Liga after a dip in his form in England.

Chelsea may no longer see the former Benfica man as first choice after signing N’Golo Kante from Leicester City this summer.

 

Real Madrid Make a £38m Bid For Chelsea"s Star Man

Sergio Arrives in Madrid Ahead of Real Signing

Paraguayan striker Sergio Diaz arrived in Madrid on Wednesday prior to completing his move to Real Madrid.

The 18-year-old, who joins from Cerro Porteno, impressed Real Madrid scouts during a recent junior tournament in Toulon (France) and has played for all of the junior levels of his country’s national team up to under-23, reports Xinhua.

“I am coming to the most powerful club in the world to try and help and to show my talent and the talent that there is in Paraguay,” he said.

“I will do everything I can in order to do well,” Diaz added.

The youngster is expected to strengthen Real Madrid’s B-team Castilla, which plays in the third tier of Spanish football, but he could carry out pre-season training with the first team.

“I don’t know who I will carry out pre-season with, but I suppose they will tell me in the next few days,” said Diaz on arrival at Madrid airport.

Sergio Arrives in Madrid Ahead of Real Signing

Paul Pogba In Talks With Real Madrid

Paul Pogba’s agent has confirmed that he has begun talks with Real Madrid about a potential world record summer transfer.

The Juventus star – who is contracted to the Italian club until the summer of 2019 – is in his homeland playing for France at Euro 2016.

But his agent Mino Raiola says he is in contact with three clubs interested in signing the midfielder – and confirmed European champions Real are one of them.

Raiola told Spanish paper Marca: “We are talking (with Real) but nothing is decided. [Real coach] Zinedine Zidane’s wish is important. The club’s wish is important.

“We are in the initial phase. It’s not a negotiation. Both sides know what it wants and we shall see if we complete a deal or it ends in divorce.”

“Paul dreams of winning the Ballon d’Or…Real Madrid is a fantastic club to achieve that.

“He admires Zidane. He has always told me that. This is going to be very important in his decision.

“However, he needs to choose a project, not a coach, as coaches come and go. Pogba’s interest is not in being the most expensive signing and neither is it mine.

“The aim is for him to join the best sporting project and win as many titles as possible. We are talking with three teams and Paul likes the sporting projects of some of those.”

Pogba made 48 appearances in all competitions for Juve this past season, helping the club clinch a Serie A and Coppa Italia double.

“He wouldn’t have a problem staying at Juventus,” Raiola said. “He is very happy there. Paul chooses his future as it’s the logical thing.”

SKY SPORTS

Paul Pogba In Talks With Real Madrid

Real Madrid Rejects Liverpool"s Loan Offer

Real Madrid are set to turn down loan offers for Liverpool target Mateo Kovacic – and will only sell him for £24m.

The 22-year-old only arrived at the Bernabeu last summer but has struggled to establish himself as a regular first-team player.

The midfielder made just eight La Liga starts last term and reports in Italy have suggested that a loan back to Serie A could be on the cards.

Roma are very keen on luring the Croatia international back following three impressive seasons at Inter before his Real switch.

And it has been reported that Kovacic could be open to the move with game time so short in Spain – which has come as a blow to Liverpool.

The Reds have kept tabs on him for some time now and they have also been heavily linked with a summer offer.

But now the Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Madrid do not want to loan Kovacic out next season and that they will only consider letting him go permanently if somebody is ready to cough up.

They paid Inter €30m (£24m) to sign him this time last year and it is said that they will only sell him should they receive the same fee in return.

Real Madrid Rejects Liverpool"s Loan Offer

James Urged To Leave Real Madrid

James Rodriguez should accept that he will not play regularly under Zinedine Zidane and leave Real Madrid, according to former Colombia boss Hernan Gomez.

The 24-year-old, an €80million signing from Monaco in 2014, struggled to earn a consistent place in Zidane’s plans following his appointment as Madrid boss in January.

James has often been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, with Manchester United among the clubs rumoured to be monitoring him, though the playmaker said last month that he intends to fight for his place in the Spanish capital.

But Gomez, who now coaches Panama but worked as James’ international manager between 2010 and 2011, says it is not right to see Colombia’s star player accept a back-up role at Madrid.

“I’ll give James some advice,” Gomez told WIN Sports. “It’s best for him to go to another team because it’s been shown that the man doesn’t want to play him.

“He’s a world-class player and he would have to go to another team… it’s a very personal concept, he’s our idol and we want to see him play, but this ‘boss’ won’t put him in. I don’t like it.”

James scored Colombia’s second goal from the penalty spot as they beat United States 2-0 in the Copa America in California on Sunday.

GOAL

James Urged To Leave Real Madrid

Bayern Striker Reaches Private Agreement With Real Madrid

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has reached a private transfer agreement to join Real Madrid in the summer, according to AS.

Madrid director Jose Angel Sanchez reportedly met with Lewandowski’s agent Cezary Kucharski during Bayern’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Atletico Madrid and a deal seemingly appears closer than ever.

The Champions League winners would still need to agree a fee with Bayern, which is certainly not a foregone conclusion, but Lewandowski has openly admitted a move to Madrid is something he wants in the future.

Bayern Striker Reaches Private Agreement With Real Madrid

Referee Mark Clattenburg To Officiate UCL Final

Mark Clattenburg has been appointed by UEFA to referee the Champions League final between Real Madrid and city rivals Atletico at the San Siro in Milan.

The 41-year-old from County Durham officiated at the semi-final first leg between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Clattenburg, who has been an international referee since 2007 and will take charge of this season’s FA Cup final on May 21, will be assisted by fellow Englishmen Simon Beck and Jake Collin in Milan.

UEFA confirmed the fourth official for the showpiece European tie on May 28 will be Hungarian Viktor Kassai, while the two additional assistant referees Anthony Taylor and Andre Marriner are also both from England.

 

 

 

Referee Mark Clattenburg To Officiate UCL Final

Manchester City Stars Ready to Make History

Fernando says Manchester City ‘s players are ready to “write our names in history” tonight when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

Brazilian midfielder Fernando will be charged with the task of anchoring City’s midfield, along with compatriot Fernandinho, the pair facing the challenge of thwarting Cristiano Ronaldo and his marauding Real team-mates.

But Fernando believes City are capable of pulling off a shock by overhauling favourites Real over the two legs of their semi-final and reaching the final at Milan’s San Siro on May 28.

Fernando in action for Manchester City

“It’s a great competition, the best in the world, and we have reached the semi-finals,” said Fernando. “So we want to do our best and try to reach the final, to write our name in history.

“It’s a competition in which every player wants to play, and one everyone wants to win, so I’m pleased to be here.

“It will be difficult against Real Madrid but we also have great players who are in a good moment, and I hope we can surprise them at home and then go and have a great game in Madrid as well.

“The crowd made a great difference against PSG and we hope on Tuesday they can push us through this time as well.”

Fernando has emerged as a key man for City in recent months and has forged an impressive midfield partnership with Fernandinho, providing the platform for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Sergio Aguero to flourish.

Manchester City Stars Ready to Make History

UCL: C.K Akunnor Urges Former Club Wolfsburg To Attack Real

Head coach of Ghana Premier League side, Dreams FC and former Wolfsburg captain, C.K Akunnor has urged the German club ‘not to be shy’ as they come come up Spanish giants Real Madrid in the second leg of their quarter final clash on Tuesday Night.

The Germans, who are seeking a historic champions league semi final berth will take a 2-0 advantage to Madrid and Akunnor who spent five years at the club between 1998-2003 feels they can pull through but only if they are bold on the night.

Speaking to Accra based radio station 3FM, the former Black Stars captain said,“I think it will depend on them. I don’t think they should look shy or they should go defensive. Maybe they cannot really defend so they should go and attack,but of course be cautious at the back because once you are in Madrid, the least mistake you commit you will be punished and they have the big name to do that.”

Wolfsburg are playing in their first quarter final and on the verge of a first ever appearance in the champions league. Akunnor feels their progress this season is just reward for the planning at the club.

“I saw them last week and I think it was exciting. They have surprised a lot of people including many in our part of the world. People called to ask me, so I was really happy and I hope it will continue,” he added.

“I think they had a plan and it was a gradual process and whatever effort they put up in the previous years has yield into a good results and everybody is enjoying and everybody is excited because it is a plan and its yielding into a good result.”

Meanwhile, Real Madrid boss Zinadine Zidane has urged patience for his side because as he says “we will not win this in the first 10-15 minutes.”

UCL: C.K Akunnor Urges Former Club Wolfsburg To Attack Real

Magical Ronaldo Sets Another Record In The La Liga

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to hit 30 La Liga goals in six consecutive seasons as he led Real Madrid to a 4-0 thrashing of Eibar on Saturday.

The Portugal forward netted in the 19th minute and also provided passes for Lucas Vazquez and Jese to score as the hosts stormed into a 4-0 halftime lead.

James Rodriguez had opened Real’s account with a curling free kick in the fifth minute.

Real Madrid are third on the league standings on 72 points, with title rivals Atletico Madrid winning at Espanyol.

Coach Zinedine Zidane made eight changes to the team that suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at VfL Wolfsburg in the Champions League in midweek with only Ronaldo, Pepe and Casemiro keeping their places.

Rodriguez was criticised for being caught laughing on the sidelines in Germany in midweek but the Colombia international lifted the crowd by scoring early on, his first goal in just under two months.

Magical Ronaldo Sets Another Record In The La Liga

Raul To Play For Real Madrid Again

Raúl González will pull on the white shirt of Real Madrid with which he is synonymous again in the seventh edition of the Corazón Classic charity match at the Bernabéu on June 5 , when Ajax will be the guest opposition.

Raúl’s agent, Ginés Carvajal, confirmed to AS that the presence of the legendary number seven is 95 percent assured. Raúl has a couple of entries in his diary to attend to in the US in his role as LaLiga ambassador but, all being well, he will line up for Madrid again three years after his last appearance at the Bernabéu during the Trofeo Bernabéu, when Al-Saad were the invited team. During that game Raúl, who was at the Qatari club at the time, played for both sides.

The match on June 5 will serve as an homage to

Johan Cruyff , who passed away on March 24. Among the other players lining up will be Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro, Luis Figo, Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf and Edgar Davids

Raul To Play For Real Madrid Again

Match Build-up El Clasico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Barcelona will be hoping to inflict further damage on El Clasico rivals Real Madrid, and stay on course for a sixth La Liga title in eight years, when they welcome their old foes to the Nou Camp later today.

Luis Enrique’s men are now unbeaten in a remarkable 39 games in all competitions, and sit nine points clear of Atletico Madrid in second, and ten clear of Saturday’s opponents.

An unprecedented second successive treble beckons for the record-chasing Catalans, and victory over a Real Madrid side very much in transition would take them another step closer.

Here’s what you need to know as the kick off gets closer

Squads
Barcelona

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Claudio Bravo, Jordi Masip, Douglas, Gerard Pique, Marc Bartra, Rafinha, Daniel Alves, Thomas Vermaelen, Jeremy Mathieu, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Adriano, Aleix Vidal, Sergio Busquets, Arda Turan, Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, Sergi Roberto, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Munir el Haddadi, Sandro Ramirez.

Real Madrid

Keylor Navas, Kiko Casilla, Ruben Yanez, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Raphael Varane, Alvaro Arbeloa, Dani Carvajal, Danilo, Marcelo, Nacho, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Isco, James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Jese, Lucas Vazquez.

Reasons for Barcelona fans to be optimistic

Barcelona sit nine points clear at the top of La Liga and 10 points clear of third place Real Madrid. The title is almost theirs.

The Catalan giants have already beaten Real once this season. They won 4-0 away in the Bernabeu back in November, helped by a brace from Luis Suarez.

Neymar. Suarez. Messi. Barca possess arguably the most lethal strike force ever. Between them they’ve netted 107 times for their club this season; a remarkable statistic.

Reasons for Real Madrid fans to be optimistic

They have more points from their last four games than Barcelona do. We’re clutching at straws a little here, but Madrid have 12 points from 12 while Barca only have 10. Zidane has built a bit of momentum ahead of the big one.

The pressure is off. At the Nou Camp and with the league title in sight, Barca are definitely favourites for this game. By contrast, Madrid are playing largely for pride and this could play into their hands.

Last 5 meetings

Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona

Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona

Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona

Last time out – Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona
Barcelona’s key man

Since his £75m move from Liverpool to Barcelona in July 2014, Luis Suarez has just got better and better. Playing alongside Neymar and Lionel Messi in Barca’s sumptuous front three, the Uruguayan has bagged 43 times in 43 appearances this season.

More than this, however, is Suarez’s all-round game. Tenacity has always been a big part of Suarez’s play and he has won over the Barca faithful with his enduring work ethic.

Brcelona’s demolition of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in November and if he’s on form come Saturday night, he’ll take some stopping.

Real Madrid’s key man

Real Madrid have certainly been under-whelming at times this season. Rafa Benitez paid the price in January when he was sacked with his side lying four points behind then league leaders Atletico Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo has also come under fire at times for his performances, however the Portuguese star seems intent on silencing his critics. 41 goals in 38 games games prove that the three time Ballon d’Or winner is still at the top of his game.

Match Build-up El Clasico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid

EL Clasico Combined XI

El Clasico is nearly upon us, with Real Madrid and Barcelona enduring differing fortunes in La Liga this season.

This is sportscrusader.com combined XI
Goal Keeper: Keylor Navas

The Real Madrid shot stopper is one of if not the reason(s) why the Los Merengues still believe they can catch up with their sworn rivals, Barcelona in tonight’s game.

Right Back: Dani Alves

The Brazilian defender has shown his old form this season since he decided to renew his contract with FC Barcelona earlier this summer. And this consistency in performance has seen him make Sportscrusader.com right back position his own.
Right Centre Back: Gerard Pique

Pique has been a rock at the back for both club and country and his impressive form has seen Barcelona close in on another league title and make yet another successful defense of the UEFA Champions League crown.

Barcelona’s centre-back pairing has changed with every other game with Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu partnering Gerard Pique. Hence, only the Catalan centre-back gets the nod.

Left Centre back: Sergio Ramos

The Spaniard has been the only constant in defence and the captain is one of the most valuable leaders on the pitch. The two have partnered at the back for Spain as well and they feature in this XI. Though they have had their differences every now and then, there is no better pair to play in this team.

Left back: Marcelo

The afro-headed Brazilian has been in fine form when available, takes up the left-back slot. The Brazilian is effective at both ends of the pitch for Real Madrid. Comparing a few key stats alone, Marcelo has won almost twice the tackles as Alba while also creating 27 more chances in roughly the same minutes.

Defensive Midfield: Sergio Busquets

The lanky midfielder walks into this lineup as the central defensive midfielder with no real competition in the whole of La Liga, let alone Madrid.

Central midfield: Ivan Rakitic 

The Croatian international has been sensational ever since arriving at the Camp Nou and he adds a certain steely nature in both attack and winning the ball back – be it through tackles or interceptions.

Central midfield: Luka Modric 

The former Spurs midfielder is the only Real Madrid player in this combined XI. The industrious Croatian midfielder has created more chances and has more key passes than the other midfielders in contention.

Forward
Luis Suarez 

The Uruguayan is selected upfront with no doubt thanks to is 26 goals and 12 assists compared to Benzema’s 20 goals and 3 assists.

Lionel Messi

Five times FIFA ballon d’or winner, Lionel Messi in spite of the knee injury that saw him miss a number of games starts along with club mate, Suarez.

Messi has 22 goals and 10 assists.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese captain leads the race for the Pichichi this season so we just went with the stats on this one. Ronaldo has been involved in 37 goals while Neymar has had a hand in 31. And the Ballon d’Or runner-up has the knack of turning up inClasicos.

EL Clasico Combined XI

Barcelona To Wear A Special Jersey Tomorrow In Tribute of Cruyff (See Photo)

Barcelona on Saturday will pay tribute to Johan Cruyff during tomorrow’s El Clasico against Real Madrid by wearing ‘Gràcies, Johan’ on their jerseys.

View image on Twitter

 

VIEWING INFORMATION

Date: Saturday, April 2, 2016

Time: 6:30 p.m GMT

TV Channel: beIN Sports USA, Sky Sports 2

Live Stream: beIN Sports Connect, SlingTV, FuboTV

 

 

Barcelona To Wear A Special Jersey Tomorrow In Tribute of Cruyff (See Photo)

Ronaldo Deserves More Respect From Real Madrid Fans - Kaka

Cristiano Ronaldo deserves more respect from Real Madrid fans, according to former team-mate Kaka.

The Portugal captain joined from Manchester United in 2009 for a then-world-record £80million transfer fee before going on to become the club’s record goalscorer.

The 31-year-old has scored 354 goals in 338 games and has 41 to his name this term yet still finds himself on the receiving end of jeers from some sections of the Madrid support.

Kaka, who played for Madrid between 2009 and 2013, told Cadena Cope: ‘Cristiano is a great player, I am not just talking about his quality, but in terms of what he has contributed to Madrid.

”I would like to see the fans have more respect for Cristiano for what he has done for this club. Sometimes I hear whistles against Cristiano and it’s not good after all he has done.”

Ronaldo Deserves More Respect From Real Madrid Fans - Kaka

Aubamayeng Chooses Real Madrid

Burussia Dortmund striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng has revealed a boyhood promise made to his grandfather will be a deciding factor in choosing his next club should he consider leaving the German side.

The Gabonese international mentioned he had promised his grand pa of playing for Spanish giants, Real Madrid before retiring from football.

The 26-year old striker, has attracted the interest of Europe’s biggest clubs after netting 27 goals in 31 games this season, is expected to be sold for at least £50million this summer if the Bundesliga club decides to do business.

He said, “Real Madrid? There’s no deal in place, but… I promised my granddad I’d play there one day. Like I’ve said before, I’d love to play in Spain and to finally enjoy a bit of good weather,” he told beIN Sports.

Its no secret Real Madrid are interested in securing Aubamayeng’s services but will have to wait for the final ruling from FIFA in relation to a transfer ban that is yet to take full effect.

Aubamayeng Chooses Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo Fan Kills Messi Fan In A Row Over Which Player Is Better

A 24-year-old man has been arrested after a football dispute ended up with his friend dead

A man has killed his friend in an argument over who is better of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The row, which Spanish news agency EFE reports as having taken place at a birthday party, was between two Nigerian men living in Nalasopara, an area of the Indian city of Mumbai.

Local police chief Kiran Kabadi revealed that a man known as Obinna, who was celebrating his 34th birthday, threw a glass at Cristiano Ronaldo fan Nwabu but missed after a heated discussion over the players’ respective merits.

The 24-year-old Nwabu picked up a piece of the broken glass and attacked Messi enthusiast Obinna, gashing him and leaving him to die on the floor of his apartment.

Both footballers had stellar weekends, with Messi back to his best in a 4-0 destruction of Eibar in the Basque Country.

The Argentine forward scored a wonderful solo goal, as well as a penalty, to ensure Barcelona finished the weekend eight points clear of nearest rivals Atletico Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, scored four goals in the 7-1 destruction of Celta Vigo.

The Portuguese was jeered by the Bernabeu crowd as Real Madrid laboured in the first half. But the Portuguese turned it on in the second period to fire Zinedine Zidane’s men to a convincing victory.

Source: Mirror

Cristiano Ronaldo Fan Kills Messi Fan In A Row Over Which Player Is Better

Lionel Messi Scoops 2105 FIFA Ballon d"Or Award

Lionel Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the best player in the world for the fifth time, while US midfielder Carli Lloyd has claimed her first-ever FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award.

FC Barcelona coach Luis Enrique Martínez and US national team coach Jill Ellis have also been named for the first time as FIFA World Coaches of the Year for Men’s and Women’s Football respectively.

The winners were chosen by the coaches and captains of the national teams as well as by international media representatives invited by FIFA and France Football. The entire electoral procedure was overseen and monitored by PricewaterhouseCoopers Switzerland (PwC).

The awards were presented on Monday evening (11 January 2016) during a 90-minute show at Zurich’s Kongresshaus that was hosted by Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt and British journalist Kate Abdo.

The musical entertainment for the 1,100 guests and TV viewers in over 190 countries and territories around the world was provided by British pop star Leona Lewis and young Croatian cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser, known as 2CELLOS.

This year’s FIFA Fair Play Award was presented to all the football organisations and clubs around the world that are working to support refugees. Former German international Gerald Asamoah, who campaigns for the welfare of refugees, received the award from former South African icon Lucas Radebe on behalf of all the awardees.

This year, the world has witnessed a refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe because of conflict in Syria. Many innocent people have fled their homes in desperate conditions to find safety for themselves and their loved ones. Society has responded and the world of football has also contributed to the cause.

Clubs and football organisations all over the world have acted to help welcome and support refugees as they integrate into local communities.

International players’ union FIFPro received votes from 26,478 professional players from around the world for the FIFA FIFPro World XI, the best team of 2015, with the following result: Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich) in goal; Dani Alves (Brazil/FC Barcelona), Marcelo (Brazil/Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid) and Thiago Silva (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain) in defence; Andrés Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona), Luka Modrić (Croatia/Real Madrid) and Paul Pogba (France/Juventus) in midfield; and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona) and Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona) in attack.

The FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year was also presented after 1.6 million football fans cast their votes on FIFA.com, FIFA on YouTube and francefootball.fr.

This award, which is a tribute to Ferenc Puskás, the captain and star of the 1950s Hungary team, was won by Brazilian Wendell Lira from Goianésia, who topped the poll with 46.7 % of the votes ahead of Lionel Messi (33.3 %) and Alessandro Florenzi (7.1%).

Lionel Messi Scoops 2105 FIFA Ballon d"Or Award

PHOTO: See tiny Michael Essien leading out his boyhood team

Michael Essien was a star amongst a host of young players while growing up in his native Ghana.

The Panathinaikos midfielder perhaps did not predict he will be as big as he is now having played for some of the top European clubs.

With Olympique Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan amongst the clubs on his CV, Essien has realized his boyhood dream of becoming a top class professional.

He also played for Ghana at two World Cup finals.

PHOTO: See tiny Michael Essien leading out his boyhood team