Congratulations to Cristiano Ronaldo for winning the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year award. While Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't my choice for the award, its easy to see why he won but the beef I have with this award has to do with the choices for the shortlist of candidates.

If this is supposed to be the "World" Player of the Year than how come only players based in Europe were on the shortlist. In geography class, we were taught that there were 7 continents and life has shown that Europe isn't the only place that produces fine things, whether its goods & services or footballers.

In a year, when you had an Olympic tournament, a Euro 2008, a African Cup of Nations, World Cup qualifying, and various continental club tournaments full of outstanding performances, don't tell me that FIFA couldn't find players not based in Europe to put on the "World" Player of the year shortlist. COME ON, MAN!

Let's begin. How could Deco be on the shortlist when he did nothing in '08 and Joffre Guerron of Liga De Quito, the face of the 1st ever Ecuadorean side to win the Copa Libertadores is not on the shortlist. Gigi Buffon of Juventus is a great keeper but does he deserve to be on the shortlist over Sebastian Battaglia, the influential midfielder of Boca Juniors who actually won a trophy in 2008.

What about Mohamed Aboutrika? The Pharoahs playmaker had a double of his own winning the African Champions League with Al-Ahly and the African Cup of Nations with Egypt and he was not on the shortlist while Steven Gerrard of Liverpool was. Gerrard didn't win anything and England didn't even participate in Euro 2008.

The Chelsea duo of Didier Drogba & Frank Lampard are good players no doubt, but did not deserve to be shortlisted. Even Kaka who is a great player had a down year and shouldn't have been shortlisted. Clear them out to make room for these guys who should have been on the shortlist:


Server Djeparov the Uzbekistan midfielder who won the Asian Footballer of the Year has helped Borat's most hated rival into the final phase of Asian World Cup qualifying.


Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the ex Boca star won the MLS MVP & MLS Cup MVP in leading the Columbus Crew to its 1st MLS Championship.


Yasuhito Endo, the Gamba Osaka playmaker led the Japanese side to an Asian Champions League trophy and a 3rd place finish in the FIFA Club World Cup.


Lucas Barrios was a goal scoring beast for Colo Colo this year and didn't get any love from FIFA or El Pais. Him & Guerron have legitimate beefs especially with El Pais.


Washington of Fluminense was deserving of shortlist recognition as he was a big part in the Tricolor Carioca reaching their 1st Libertadores final and was one of the co-leading goal scorers in the 2008 Brasileirao.

The fact is that the current FIFA "World" Player of the Year is not a global world encompassing award. Its a Eurocentric award, therefore the word "World" should be dropped from the name and simply known as the FIFA Player of the Year. That way, people know that a select few in FIFA's leadership came up with a shortlist to acknowledge those players they deemed worthy of such an award.

FIFA's Eurocentric minded selectors cornered national team captains and coaches into voting for European based players by only choosing European based players for the shortlist. The "World" in the FIFA "World" Player of the Year award is like when a U.S. professional sports team wins their league and claims to be "World Champion" that's total bull$%^&!.

To legitimize the FIFA World Player of the Year award, winners of the player of the year for all the FIFA confederations should be automatically shortlisted. CONCACAF needs to get with the program cause the other confederations either give a P.O.Y. themselves or recognize their P.O.Y. through some media outlet. An idea would be to breakdown the shortlist in a manner similar to the break down of places each confederation receives in the World Cup tournament. It would be probably still be Euro dominated but at least there would be more of a global representation in the award's shortlist. Now whether those nominated for the award actually win it, is a matter left to the democratic process. There just needs to be more variety on the ballot.

If FIFA continues to exclude non-European based players for its "World" Player of the Year award then the name needs to be changed to the more accurate title of FIFA Player of the Year. The problem is not the manner in which the winner is chosen or the winner themselves. Its the pool of candidates from which the award winner is chosen, it excludes many players that are worthy of nomination. Until non-European based players are included into the pool of candidates, FIFA's award is not a "World" award and can never claim to be.

FIFA P.O.Y Is Not A World Award

Part II of MAF's World Best XI will reveal the attacking portion of the team as well as the coach that puts it all together or keeps it together. Let us begin with the right side of the formation.

FORWARDS:
On the right side, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Everyone knows about the year he had with Manchester United and the trophies he won. As much as I don't like his attitude, his numbers are undeniable. He singlehandedly carried the goal scoring load while Rooney and whomever else Sir Alex put in the lineup struggled. 42 goals in 49 games all from a right wing position. Can't have a 2008 World XI without Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the middle, Mohamed Aboutrika

The Egyptian playmaker had a great year. He was instrumental in Al-Ahly winning its record 6th African club championship and led Egypt to the 2008 African Cup of Nations trophy as well. Aboutrika scored the trophy winning goal in the final against Cameroon. He is consistently tagged as the best African player playing in Africa despite a poor showing in the FIFA Club World Cup. Aboutrika will have to continue to play well for The Pharoahs in their march toward South Africa 2010.

On the left, Joffre Guerron.

Guerron made his name on the right side but since Cristiano Ronaldo is there and we couldn't leave the face of Ecuador's 1st ever Libertadores champion on the bench, I put him on the left. He's a professional he should be effective either way. Guerron was named the player of the Copa Libertadores as Liga De Quito made history. He was shockingly left off the ballot when El Pais named Juan Sebastian Veron as South American Player of the Year. Guerron was MAF choice for the title of "Rey del Fútbol de América" and an easy selection for MAF World XI.

STRIKERS:
Lucas Barrios


Who? Those who know South America & more specifically Chile know who he his. This year for Chilean super club Colo Colo, the Argentinean striker scored 37 goals in 38 appearances and was the leading goal scorer in both Clausura & Apertura tournaments leading Colo Colo to the Clausura title. He was named by the IFFHS as the Best Goalscorer in the World for 2008 quite easily making him one striker on the MAF World XI.

David Villa

The Valencia striker was the leading scorer of Euro 2008 and for the 07-08 season finished 5th in the Pichichi standings with 18 goals in 27 La Liga appearances. Villa currently sits 2nd on the Pichichi list for 08-09 with 12 goals in 16 games for Los Che. He is the best Spanish striker right now, one of the Top 5 in Spain, and one of the Top 10 in the world. Villa has been rumored with a move to Manchester City to join fellow Spanish striker, Fernando Torres in the English Premiership. Wherever he plays he's gonna be a consistent goal scoring monster.

DT/Coach:
This position was a decision between former Liga De Quito coach Edgardo Bauza, Spain's Euro 2008 winning coach Luis Aragones, and Manchester United's legend Sir Alex Ferguson. Finally, the coach of the WCB World XI is:

Edgardo Bauza

The man known as El Patón was the mastermind behind Liga De Quito's historic Copa Libertadores win. As a player he was best known as a defender for Rosario Central in the late 70s & early 80s and was part of the Argentina 1990 World Cup squad that lost to West Germany in the final. Ironically, he guided Liga past two Argentine squads on his path to the Libertadores title beating Estudiantes in the Round of 16 and San Lorenzo in the quarters. Bauza famously couldn't watch the PK shootout at the Maracana where his keeper Jose Cevallos saved 3 of 4 PKs to seal history as they defeated Rio's Fluminense in the final. Bauza resigned his post after the FIFA Club World Cup where Liga finished 2nd but his icon status with Los Albos is secure.

So the Mad About Futbol World XI formation is:
Casillas
Dani Alves - Vidic - Puyol
Xavi - Battaglia
C.Ronaldo - Aboutrika - Guerron
L. Barrios - D. Villa

So there it is. The Best XI from all over the world for 2008. Its going to be interesting to see who is going to make the Best XI for 2009. Whomever makes the lineup you better believe they are going to be amazing. Enjoy 2009! Peace!

'08 MAF World Best XI - Part II

Part II of the Award Winners series focuses on South America and its Player Of The Year. Since 1986, Uruguayan newspaper El País has been the official selector of "Rey del Fútbol de América" (America's King Of Football). Even though the award has been around since 1971. The 2 greatest of all time have won this award: Pele & Maradona. It is unique in that it is awarded to a South American player plying their trade in the Americas the exception was 1978 when Argentina's Mario Kempes won while playing for Valencia. Here are the 3 best candidates for the 2008 title of "Rey del Fútbol de América":

Joffre Guerron

The young Ecuadorean winger is the new starlet of South American football and the favorite to win the South American P.O.Y. At 23, he was an important part of the Liga De Quito side that this year won Ecuador's 1st ever Copa Libertadores. Guerron was named the player of the tournament as his speed and ball control made him the face of Liga's championship side. He has since moved on to La Liga side Getafe but his exploits with Los Albos are legendary.

Christian Benítez

You might be saying WHO? Christian Benítez is another talented youngster that Ecuador can look upon for the future. He's 22 and along with Argentinean Vicente Vuoso formed a lethal goalscoring combination that led Santos Laguna to the 2008 Mexican Clausura title. In the '08 Apertura tournament Benítez is tied for 2nd on the goalscoring list and has been an important part of the national team's balanced scoring attack.

Giancarlo Maldonado

Since his arrival to Atlante in Mexico, Maldonado has become an idol as he led Atlante to the '07 Apertura title. What he did in '07 was irrelevant since this is an '08 award but since that season he has been Atlante's and Venezuela's leading goal scorer. El Vinotinto is no longer the push over of South America and a massive reason why is the emergence of Giancarlo Maldonado.

The deserving winner of the title "Rey del Fútbol de América" is:
Joffre Guerron

This one is hands down. When you are the best player on the best team in South America then you get the trophy for the player of the year. 2008 is truly a historic year for Ecuadorean club football. Guerron leads Liga De Quito to the nation's 1st Libertadores trophy and now he is line to be the 1st Ecuadorean to be crowned "Rey del Fútbol de América." Too bad he won't be there when Liga participate in their 1st FIFA World Club Cup.

We finish up the Award Winners with Part III - a look at the candidates for African Player Of The Year.

'08 Ballers Of The Year - Part II

His performance against San Lorenzo helped Ecuadorian international Joffre Guerrón’s stock in the past 48 hours. Rumors are ablaze over the possibilty of him returning to Boca Juniors. Guerrón was part of the Boca youth teams back in 2005, but was shortly sent back to Ecuador where he matured into a phenomenal prospect on the wings for the Xeneize as Rodrigo Palacio’s impending departure looms large.

Guerrón was also vital in eliminating Estudiantes in the third round of the Copa Libertadores as he tore up the Pincharrata defense and scored quite an impressive goal for Liga in Quito. His performance was also key against San Lorenzo. The 23-year-old Guerrón was also being looked at by Portuguese champs Porto early in the season as his pace, shot, and dribbling ability that helped him stand out in the end.

“I would love to go to Boca. It is a club that I am familar with and know that I can succeed there,” said the young Liga star after his performance at the Nuevo Gasómetro in Buenos Aires.

Bringing Back Joff?