If it had been up to US national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, neither Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi would have won the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or.
FIFA released the ballots from each person who voted for the award that Ronaldo claimed on Monday, and Klinsmann's first-place vote went for finalist Franck Ribéry. Klinsmann also voted for Gareth Bale and Radamel Falcao, leaving off both of the players that many consider to be the two best in world soccer these days.
US captain Clint Dempsey's votes did not go against the grain. Dempsey voted for Ronaldo first followed by Messi and then Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Other notable votes for North American soccer fans include those of former Egypt head coach Bob Bradley, who left off Messi and went with Ronaldo, Ribéry and Ibrahimovic; Mexico captain Rafa Márquez, who chose Messi, Arjen Robben and Philipp Lahm; and Republic of Ireland captain/LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane, who selected Ronaldo, Messi and Bale.
Here are some of the notable votes for the FIFA men's player of the year award:
Jurgen Klinsmann (US coach) |
1. Franck Ribéry |
2. Gareth Bale |
3. Radamel Falcao |
Clint Dempsey (US captain) |
1. Cristiano Ronaldo |
2. Leo Messi |
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic |
Benito Floro (Canada coach) |
1. Cristiano Ronaldo |
2. Andrés Iniesta |
3. Xavi |
Atiba Hutchinson (Canada captain) |
1. Leo Messi |
2. Cristiano Ronaldo |
3. Franck Ribéry |
Miguel Herrera (Mexico coach) |
1. Franck Ribéry |
2. Arjen Robben |
3. Philipp Lahm |
Rafa Márquez (Mexico captain) |
1. Leo Messi |
2. Arjen Robben |
3. Bastian Schweinsteiger |
Bob Bradley (Egypt coach) |
1. Cristiano Ronaldo |
2. Franck Ribéry |
3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic |
Leo Messi (Argentina captain) |
1. Andrés Iniesta |
2. Xavi |
3. Neymar |
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal captain) |
1. Radamel Falcao |
2. Gareth Bale |
3. Mesut Özil |
Robbie Keane (Republic of Ireland captain) |
1. Cristiano Ronaldo |
2. Leo Messi |
3. Gareth Bale |
Iker Casillas (Spain captain) |
1. Cristiano Ronaldo |
2. Franck Ribéry |
3. Arjen Robben |
Bryan Ruiz (Costa Rica captain) |
1. Cristiano Ronaldo |
2. Franck Ribéry |
3. Radamel Falcao |
Noel Valladares (Honduras captain) |
1. Leo Messi |
2. Cristiano Ronaldo |
3. Franck Ribéry |
