The text discusses the list of 23 football stars competing for the Ballon d’Or, the prestigious award for the world’s best player. The notable candidates include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Franck Ribéry, with a renewed list compared to the previous year.
Six players from Bayern Munich, including Franck Ribéry, are among the contenders. The text mentions that only one African player, Yaya Touré from Manchester City, is on the list. The author also presents survey results indicating that Africa favors Franck Ribéry over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The list of 23 players named for the Ballon d’Or includes:
- Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
- Edinson Cavani (Paris-SG)
- Radamel Falcao (Monaco)
- Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris-SG)
- Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona)
- Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
- Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund)
- Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
- Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich)
- Neymar (FC Barcelona)
- Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
- Mesut Özil (Arsenal)
- Andrea Pirlo (Juventus Turin)
- Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
- Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
- Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
- Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
- Thiago Silva (Paris-SG)
- Yaya Touré (Manchester City)
- Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
- Xavi (FC Barcelona)
The text also includes polls for readers to vote on who should win the Ballon d’Or and whether Franck Ribéry can win.
