A great collection:Real Madrid have more Golden Ball winners than any other team
Real Madrid have had ten Golden Ball winners throughout their history; more than any other Club in the world. Many of the most recognised players have made a name for themselves by playing for Real Madrid, while several others have been signed by the Club shortly after they received the highest individual honour in European football. Realmadrid.com reviews some of those players for you.
ALFREDO DI STÉFANO
The Blond Arrow was the first great player in the history of this sport. Thanks to his tremendous quality and leadership ability, he was the second ever to win the honour from 'France Football' in 1957. The Spanish-Argentine played through the golden years of the team, winning five European Cups. He was chosen to receive the award for a second time in 1959.
RAYMOND KOPAThe French player was named the Best Footballer of the Continent in 1958. Kopa formed part of the lethal duo along with Di Stéfano, and both were on top of the football world due to their spectacular performances. On this occasion, Kopa won the Golden Ball and Di Stéfano took home the Silver Ball, exactly opposite of what took place one year earlier.
RONALDO LUIZ NAZARIOThe Phenomenon finished 1997 off in spectacular style by being named the Best Player in the World after scoring 40 goals that year. It looked like the Brazilian would fade from prominence after a serious knee injury, but in 2002 he won the award again thanks to an excellent World Cup -his eight goals crowned him top scorer- and brilliant performances in his first season with Real Madrid.
ZINEDINE ZIDANEZidane was named the Golden Ball recipient in 1998. Despite the fact that his Juventus lost to Real Madrid in the European Cup final that year, Zidane got even by leading Les Bleus to a World Cup title in Saint Denis. Zidane also scored both goals that were the nail in the coffin in the final, and he was named the best player of the competition. He joined Real Madrid in 2001, where he closed out his list of honours by winning the European Cup in Hampdem Park in Glasgow, with an unforgettable mid-air strike included.
LUIS FIGOThe Portugal native left Barcelona for Real Madrid during the most critical point of his career. Figo became a Madridista after being named the best player of Euro 2000 in Holland and Belgium. The Portuguese had a brilliant season with the Merengue and led the Whites to a League title. Later that year, he was awarded the trophy that accredited him as the best player in Europe.
MICHAEL OWEN
The Englishman won the 2001 Golden Ball after a great overall year with Liverpool. Owen and the Reds defeated Alaves in an action-packed UEFA Cup final. He rounded out the year with a European Super Cup and finally this important recognition. He barely beat out Raúl, who came in a close second in the running. Owen signed for Real Madrid in 2003 and played for the Whites for one year.
FABIO CANNAVAROThe Italian adds his name to a long list of Madridistas who have won the Golden Ball. He becomes the third defender to ever win, joining Franz Beckenbauer and Mathias Sammer. Il Capitano was chosen after leading the Azzurra to their fourth World Cup title in Germany. Following the summer competition, he signed for Real Madrid in order to contribute his strength and leadership skills to the White defence.
Report by Carlos Cristóbal
Photos by Realmadrid.com
Translation by Matthew Goltz
posted by khalidmrrakchi@hotmail.com @ 10:59 PM
2 Comments:
It is a bit disingenuous of Real Madrid to claim more Golden Ball winners than any other team, when the last few (Zidane, Figo, Owen, Cannavaro) all won the award before joining the team. All it says is that Real Madrid buys players that have already shown their greatness rather than players who become great at Real Madrid.
This is maybe correct ,,but you have to admit that even if players like Zidane or Figo have won the golden ball for their great football before joining Real madrid,they all continued to perform the same great football for many years in Madrid ,,and in my point of view Zidane and Figo both deserve Golden ball in juventus nd Barca as well in Real madrid ,,because they didn't stop performing well .Now,for the cases of Owen or Cannavaro,i think it's just the problem of the Golden ball bad timing "i guess this year couldn't be an argument,as we had the WC2006",and i guess this timing should change or the rules should change, to give the exact truth about the issue!
For me ,,i think Real madrid couldn't be accused for this ,,as it's always the club that bring big players and great footballers ,,,and i don't think that a golden ball could be anywhere in the Contract of any great player that have won this award in Realmadrid !!!
Thanks for the visit Gonzalo,,and i hope that you liked my blog ,,:)
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