Anyone else see the world XI today? I must say I respectfully  disagree with the inclusion of Marcelo, Alves and Xabi Alonso. Falcao was a beast but he has fierce competition with players like RVP, Lewandowski and Ibra. IMO Pirlo deserves to be there and Lahm needs to be there. The fact that only Barca and Madrid players were in it highlights their dominance or UEFA's subtle bias. Also Borussia Dortmund beat teams like ManCity and Real Madrid, surely teams like them should be credited as well. Like an underdog team of the year or some shit like that. 

In a personal note I'm so happy to see that Abby Wambach received the FIFA women's award. What's disappointing is the lack of attention about this here in the US. The fact that an American woman received such a prestigious award (amongst people like Lionel Messi) should be proof that this beautiful sport is slowly increasing in popularity here in the USA.  

Oh also Stoch's goal was good but not as amazing as Papiss Cisse's goal (against Chelsea) or Ibra's goal (you know which one). Sad they didn't even make it to the Puskas top three :(

Enough with my rant. I'd love to see your versions of the World XI. This one's mine:

GK: Casillas
DEF: Lahm, Chielini, Thiago Silva, Ramos
MID: Cazorla, Pirlo, Iniesta
ATT: Ronaldo, Lewandowski, Messi 

inb4 obvious knibis reply:"EPL sucks...panties on a line...herp derp..."
Cheers!

The XI is a joke. 5 Barca players.... What the hell did Barcelona achieve in 2012 other than the Copa Del Rey? Only proper area in the XI is the attack. Messi, Falcao, and Ronaldo all deserve to be there. But why more Barca players... what did they offer(not 91 goals I can tell you that)? So many players being left out. Cole should be the LB, Pirlo should be there, Lahm should be there as well. Basically your XI is right except put Falcao instead of Lewa, and remove Cazorla and put Lampard or Gerrard. The manager of the year is another pathetic decision. Del Bosque won the EURO, but they were favorites anyway. Where are the managers that lead underdogs or won multiple trophies? Where is Klopp? Where is RDM? Why the hell is Pep in the top 3. What did he achieve this year? For the Puskas they're right. Ibra and Cisse goal were lucky. Where as the Stoch volley wasn't lucky. He knew he was aiming for the goal.

I honestly don't know how Klopp didn't even get a glimpse. He's revitalized Dortmund in an amazing way. And I change my mind. I would put Xavi over Cazorla (sorry Arsenal fans). 

Basically, Madrid's contribution should be Casillas and Ronaldo. In every other position Madrid's players are lesser than can be found elsewhere.

I'd have this:

                     Casillas
Lahm -- Chielini -- T. Silva -- Cole
                       Xavi
                Pirlo -- Iniesta
    Messi -- van Persie -- Ronaldo

I like how everyone jumps on me because of my "different opinion". Remember that it wasnt I who started that discussion in the last thread. It was koldimere with the "Oh it looks like Knibis him self made this" comment.. 

So stop hating on me for nothing...

The only thing I would change in the XI is Lahm for Marcelo, Chiellini for Pique, and Pirlo for Xabi Alonso. Although you guys think this shows UEFA's favoritism towards Barca/Madrid, I think it shows the dominance of the two teams over European football instead.

Bull Shit.
It's all from the La Liga. -.-

I also completely disagree with Vendetta, Gerrard or Lampard do not even come close to being on the XI. 

That's the thing, though, tdot2barca -- Real haven't been terribly dominant. Barca have, for certain, and I defy anyone to not admit that Barca are the best team in the world, but Real have really only made their name (in the current period) by keeping pace with Barca, not because they've won a whole lot.

What mighty dragons of Europe have Real slain? Aside from thrashing Ajax and Lyon, in group stages, they've fallen each time they've come up against one of the real powerhouses.

Don't get me wrong, I think they have a fantastic squad, and a record-breaking La Liga title shows their quality, but, without intending to start up the hated League Wars, their only domestic rivals last season were Barca. If they win the CL (or get to the final) this year, then sure. but otherwise, I think we're looking at a team that was assembled simply to dislodge Barca's domestic grip, not conquer the world.

This may be proven wrong, but it may be that's all they're good enough to do, in fact.

@Vendetta
Could not have said it better myself

The only thing i disagree with the XI is that Lahm should have been included and perhaps Pirlo. Some spaniards are there because of their preformance for Spain as well as their clubs. Honestly Mata desrved a spot. 

Guys, being a Madrid fan, I have to agree with Lodatz here. Mourinho was signed SPECIFICALLY to overthrow Guardiola's Barcelona. You can't argue with that fact. Madrid have yet to prove themselves. And Marcelo was a beast last year. And I don't get how you don't consider Ramos as one of the best CB's in the world right now. IMO, it's him, Kompany, Chiellini, and Hummels.

And with the 4-3-3 formation, you need a CDM. SO you can pick your lot from Xabi Alonso, Busquets, Song, etc. I personally would make this my lineup.

                     Casillas
Lahm - Ramos - Hummels - Marcelo
                   Alonso
          Pirlo               Iniesta
   Ronaldo      Falcao         Messi

I agree with you Lodatz. But I think the XI and Ballon d'or is more based on personal skill rather than achievements. For example, Sneider achieved very much in 2010, but did not make the nominees. When it comes to personal skill, I think we can all agree that Pique and Ramos are slightly better than the likes of Hummels and Chiellini. We here all agree that Lahm should be there instead of Alves or Marcelo, and Pirlo for Alonso. I'm not saying that it has nothing to do with achievements, I'm saying its like 65% skill and 35% achievements.

@tdot2barca: Oh, sure, I go by that ratio myself, too. I was only highlighting the achievement angle because the argument was being made that playing for either Barca or Real = being the best player in your position, just because of their dominance of their league.

But, even looking at skill, I believe there are better defenders than Ramos and Pique. They're both skilled, but for me Chiellini has played better than either of them, this year.

Likewise, even though Arsenal didn't win anything, and the Netherlands underachieved in the summer, I think RVP has been the best striker, especially to be put between the twin gods of Messi and Ronaldo. 

Aaanyways.

I do not believe Chiellini was better than Pique or Ramos. You have to note the performances in the Euro 2012, especially the final. I also disagree with RVP being the best striker. I believe first it is Falcao, then Ibra, then RVP, but that is just my opinion. We have to consider that we support different leagues so it reflects on our argument, but I am trying to be as unbiased as I can.

@raimondo90: You have a point about Mata. Compared to what other players did in 2012, Mata was our playmaker. The attack/midfield were his puppets and he pulled the strings. He lead us to a CL, FA Cup, and contributed a bit in the EURO. If Messi deserves a spot there for his 91 goals, then Mata deserves a spot there for his help to our CL and FA Cup. What he has achieved this year so remarkable that I believe he does deserve a place in the XI. I've also decided to make a couple of changes on the players, I thought deserved to be there first.

                       Cech

Lahm -- Chielini -- Kompany -- Cole

                        Pirlo

                Mata  --  Ineista

         Messi -- Falcao -- Ronaldo

Haha that messed up.

               Cech
Lahm -- Chielini -- Kompany -- Cole
                Pirlo
       Ineista -- Mata

Messi -- Falcao -- Ronaldo

I think the voting this year has been atrocious across the board...

BEST MANAGER = Conte or Klopp 
Best Female Footballer = Alex Morgan
Puskas = Crouch's goal vs ManCity or Falcoa's scissor kick
Best XI: (GK was the hardest decision for me)
              Buffon
Alves Chielini Silva Lahm
         Pirlo  Toure
Messi     RVP   Ronaldo
           Falcao 
         

This was my World XI prediction

Why the best women players are American? No fucking Japanese? Disgrace...