1 Lionel Messi Barcelona 8
2 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid 7
3 Roberto Soldado Valencia 5
4 Radamel Falcao Garcia Atlético Madrid 5
5 Cesc Fábregas Barcelona 4
6 Santi Cazorla Málaga 4
7 David Villa Barcelona 3
8 Karim Benzema Real Madrid 3
9 Imanol Agirretxe Real Sociedad 3
10 Álvaro Negredo Sevilla FC 3
Diego Forlan was named the best player at the 2010 World Cup and recently led Uruguay to the 2011 Copa America. He’s a bit old now – 32-years-old to be exact – but I think that he has a few good years left in him.
And Inter Milan thinks the same.
The Italian club have just bought him from Spain’s Athletico Madrid and given him a two-year contract.
Great move by Inter.
And for Forlan too. Nothing like finishing up your career in beautiful Italy with one of the best club’s ever.
Diego Forlan was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player in 2010′s FIFA World Cup. Although his individual skills aren’t normally as flashy as Ronaldo’s or as dramatic as Messi’s, Forlan deserved his South African honour and may have a legit crack at the Ballon d’Or. Check out the vid above – if you can get past the sadly dated Bon Jovi soundtrack, you’ll see 4 minutes of Diego scoring from every possible angle for both Atletico Madrid and Uruguay.
Besides great hair, Forlan brings an inspirational quality to his game – his feats, and the way he performs them, obviously lift his teammates and get them playing better themselves. Messi also inspires his mates; but Ronaldo seems more of an individual, a soloist dazzling with flashes of brilliance that must make his teammates just kinda shrug and say, “attaboy, Ronnie – now go get us another one, will you?”
Regular Best Player visitors will recall the riveting debates here on the site over what, exactly, makes someone the Best: sheer skill, or the ability to win, or leadership, or…or…? Sure, Ronaldo and Messi are sick, but when you’re casting your votes below, remember that those two are also playing with the two best club sides in the world right now. Forlan’s never seen anything like that collection of talent – neither club nor country can provide him with a supporting cast even half that good.
Step aside, Ronaldo, you whining under-achiever. The Vanity Fair cover will be mine!
The pundits came up with a laudable spark of originality in selecting Diego Forlan as 2010 Golden Ball winner as the tournament’s best player, even though Uruguay finished fourth overall. Many votes were likely in before the final, and Forlan’s stellar South African show wasn’t really threatened by any Spanish or Dutch performances in the big game, though Xavi was brilliant as usual and others, like Ramos, Iniesta, Villa, and of course Casillas shone for Spain, while Robben was always dangerous for the Dutch (and complaining when he wasn’t).
Forlan was amazing in carrying Uruguay on his back. He showed the free-flowing brilliance we all hoped to see from Messi, Ronaldo, and others, and the inspirational leadership that Brazil obviously lacked. Though he’s been starring in La Liga lately, BP senses that a new footie star is born… expect to see a lot of Diego Forlan in ads, on posters, magazine covers, etc., in the next while. He’s just as ripped as Ronaldo and has better hair than Messi, and he makes everyone on the England team look like someone who’d come to fix your water heater.
Shame that by 2014 Forlan will be 35 and likely just a role player for his country by then – though with his ability to score from long range, who knows what role he may play?
