Tag Archives: Mario Balotelli

Messi Could Pick Up a Fourth FIFA Ballon d’Or Award

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Lionel Messi has the chance to make soccer history…

The 25-year-old Argentine fútbol star, who just claimed his second Golden Boot award, is among the 23 players in the running for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or award.

Lionel Messi

Should he come out on top, Messi, who made history by claiming the award the last three years in a row, would become the only player to claim the award four times.

But Messi will face stiff competition from several noted players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi Hernandez, this year’s runners-up for the world’s best player award.

Here’s a look at the nominees:

Real Madrid Players:
Cristiano Ronaldo
Iker Casillas
Mesut Ozil
Karim Benzema
Sergio Ramos
Xabi Alonso

Barcelona Players:
Lionel Messi
Andres Iniesta
Sergio Busquets
Gerard Pique
Xavi Hernandez

Atletico Madrid Player:
Radamel Falcao

Manchester City Players:
Mario Balotelli
Sergio Aguero
Yaya Toure

Manchester United Players:
Wayne Rooney
Robin van Persie

Juventus Players:
Andrea Pirlo
Gianluigi Buffon

Shanghai Shenhua Player:
Didier Drogba

PSG Player:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Bayern Munich Player:
Manuel Neuer

Santos Player:
Neymar

The final three candidates will be revealed on November 29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in Zurich on January 7, 2013, when the player who receives the most votes from coaches and captains of international teams, as well as reporters, will be announced.

Agüero Leads Manchester City to English Premier League Title

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Call it “The Miracle in Manchester” as Sergio Agüero helps propel Manchester City to its first English Premier League title in nearly 45 years.

In one of the most exciting game endings in soccer history, the 23-year-old Argentine soccer star on Sunday scored late in stoppage time to lead his team to victory over the Queens Park Rangers.

Sergio Aguero

With Manchester United beating Sunderland 1-0, Manchester City needed a win over Queens Park to win the team’s first title since 1968.

Manchester City trailed the Rangers 2-1 after 90 minutes and needed two goals in stoppage time to win the title that had slipped from their grasp.

Edin Dzeko helped Manchester City even the game at 2-2 with a header off a corner kick in the 92nd minute. Then, in the 94th minute, Agüero and Mario Balotelli combined at the edge of the box. Agüero latched onto Balotelli’s ball, dribbled around a defender, and fired a shot to the left of Paddy Kenny that hit the back of the net.

Sergio Aguero

That remarkable goal by Agüero the son-in-law of the great Diego Maradona, completed a remarkable comeback to give Manchester City the title.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a finale like this,” City manager Roberto Mancini said. “We didn’t deserve to lose. We had a lot of chances and we deserved to win the game and championship. It’s fantastic for the club and the supporters after 44 years. It’s been a crazy season and a crazy last minute.”