The “Ballon de Plomb” (Lead Ball) is an award given by the French website Les Cahiers du Football to the player who has had a particularly disappointing or controversial year. Here is the list of the ten nominees for the 2012 Ballon de Plomb:
- Morgan Amalfitano (Olympique de Marseille)
- Kévin Anin (OGC Nice)
- Michaël Ciani (Girondins de Bordeaux / Lazio Rome)
- Alou Diarra (Olympique de Marseille / West Ham United)
- Cris (Olympique Lyonnais / Galatasaray)
- Issam Jemâa (AJ Auxerre / Stade Brestois / Al Kuwait)
- Diego Lugano (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Modibo Maïga (FC Sochaux / West Ham United)
- Stéphane M’Bia (Olympique de Marseille / Queens Park Rangers)
- Yann M’Vila (Stade Rennais)
The criteria for selection include intrinsic qualities, mentality, and career choices that are debated among football fans. The winner will be determined through a vote on the Cahiers du Football website from December 26 to January 4. The Ballon de Plomb has been awarded since 2003, and previous winners include players like Francis Llacer, Fabrice Fiorèse, and Yohan Démont.
