Why Gareth Bale's Ahead of Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and Rooney

Gareth Bale on top after hat-trick in Real v. Deportivo match. Credit: Reuters

Gareth Bale is head and shoulders above the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic this season – and that’s official.

While the Wales talisman is renowned for his pace and magic wand of a left foot, it’s his heading ability which has seen him climb above the rest.

Going into this weekend’s round of matches, the Real Madrid star is sitting on top the table of headed goals in Europe’s big five leagues.

Bale’s two headers which formed part of his hat-trick in Real’s 5-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna took his total to six in La Liga so far this campaign – leaving the rest of the continent’s big names trailing.

Barcelona duo Messi and Neymar (admittedly not renowned headers of the ball) have yet to net with their heads, with Manchester United’s Rooney also drawing a blank.

Zlatan has just the one headed goal to his credit for Paris St Germain, while Bale’s Real teammate Ronaldo has two, joined by the likes of Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Jamie Vardy (Leicester) and Edinson Cavani (PSG) on that number.

The 26-year-old Bale, who also scored two headers to help Wales into the Euro 2016 finals, faces his biggest challenge from the Premier League, with Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud having nodding in five and Romelu Lukaku, of Everton, with four. The Toffees’ striker is joined on the mark by Ligue 1 Angers’ Cheikh N’Doye, the Senegal striker reportedly a target for West Brom.

Those on three include Bale’s Real teammate Karim Benzema, Anthony Modeste (Cologne), Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa) and Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann. [Source]

Messi Unlikely to Grace FIFA 17 Cover

Leicester City's James Vardy may be on  FIFA 17's cover. Credit: Yibada.com

FIFA 17 is already a hot topic with fans eager to know which soccer player will appear on the cover of the followup to FIFA 16. According to International Business Times, it has almost become an tradition for the fans to see the Argentine and FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi in every FIFA title. But for 2017, it has been widespread that the world-renowned soccer player will not be the cover for the next installment, and the reasons are still in question.

Noted by Attack of the Fan Boy, Lionel Messi has been the cover star of FIFA for the many years that the installment has gone on. Such games include FIFA Street, FIFA 13, FIFA 14, FIFA 15 and the existing FIFA 16.

Rumors of Messi's contract coming to an end may have signaled that his affiliation with the development team will result in the superstar no longer being the face of 2017's FIFA expansion.

According to the Leicester Mercury, the search for the candidate for the next superstar to be given the privilege of being the cover has started. As much as many soccer fans would want to see the classic favorite Cristiano Ronaldo as the cover star, he is already affiliated with Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series and presumably will continue to be so. One of the closest contenders as rumors have stated is Leicester City FC's James Vardy, but EA Sports is yet to confirm his involvement.

FIFA 17 is still in production, and until EA Sports would declare anything about the title, all is to be taken as a grain of salt. [Source]

Next Up for Messi: 500 Goals for Barca and Argentina (Video)

 Watch Messi's craziest goals of 2015

With a fifth world player of the year award safely tucked away in the trophy cabinet, Lionel Messi can set his sights on one of the next milestones in his remarkable career: reaching 500 goals for club and country.

The Barcelona and Argentina forward can add to his jaw-dropping tally of 479 in 609 official games -- 430 for Barca and 49 for his national team -- in Sunday's La Liga match at home to Athletic Bilbao.

The 28-year-old from Rosario, who picked up the FIFA Ballon d'Or on Monday, is looking close to his best following a two-month injury layoff late last year and netted a hat-trick when second-placed Barca crushed Granada 4-0 at the Nou Camp last weekend in their most recent outing in Spain's top flight.

He has nine goals in 13 La Liga games this season, six behind leading marksmen and Barca team mates Neymar and Luis Suarez, who have 15 in 16 and 17 appearances respectively. [Source]

Messi's Ridiculous Goal (Video)

Watch 5 time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi curl home from way out into a small goal to the delight of Japanese fans.

SHOCK: See How Brazil's Ms. BumBum Celebrated Messi Ballon d'Or Win (Photo)

Instagram: Suzy Cortez

With Cristiano Ronaldo in mixed form at the moment and fellow Barcelona star Neymar still a little way behind in the "world's greatest" stakes, Leo was basically a shoe-in for world football's ultimate individual accolade. Supporters the world over were quick to congratulate the Argentine prodigy on his success.

However, few have done so with quite the same enthusiasm as Suzy Cortez.

Despite the fact she's a Sao Paulo supporter, Suzy (aka Miss BumBum Brazil) has posted a series of snaps on her official Instagram page celebrating the Barca star's Ballon d'Or victory. [Source]

Messi Hopes To Return to Argentinian Football One Day

Messi ponders return home Credit: Reuters

Speaking to FIFA.com, Messi revealed that the lure of a return home – where his boyhood club was Newell's Old Boys – still holds considerable appeal.

"Yes, I've always said that I would like to play in Argentina," he said.

"It was always my dream when I was a boy, though I had to leave at a very early age because of my situation and it didn’t happen.

"I had to go to Europe, start out with Barcelona and make my career there. But I would like to return to Argentinian football one day. What happens after that, only God knows."

Messi opened the scoring as Barcelona crowned a stellar 2015 by beating River Plate in the Club World Cup final last month and he conceded that helping defeat an Argentinian club was an unusual feeling.

Messi left Rosario as a 13-year-old to begin his journey to the top of world football in Catalonia.

The 28-year-old won his fifth Ballon d'Or in Zurich on Monday.  [Source]

What Christiano Ronaldo Envies Most About Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted rival Lionel Messi has a better left foot than he does before the Barcelona man accepted his fifth Ballon d'Or on Monday.

The comments came as he, Messi and fellow nominee Neymar spoke to reporters ahead of Monday's gala awards ceremony in Zurich.

Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the fifth time in his career, reclaiming his place as the world's best player after Ronaldo won the prize in 2013 and 2014.


Asked whether there was anything about Messi's game that he envied, Real Madrid galactico Ronaldo said he was a fan of the Argentine's left foot.

"His left foot is pretty good -- better than mine," he said. "I'd like to have his left foot."
At the other end of the stage, Messi's Barca teammate Neymar interrupted. "I'd take both of his feet," the Brazilian said amid smiles from all three superstars.


Messi, asked the same question, replied: "Envy is a very negative trait. Cristiano has many great qualities which every player would like to have. We each have our individual styles." [Source]

Luis Enrique: Barcelona Still Looking to Add to Attacking Options

Barcelona's attacking triumvirate of Lionel Messi -- who reclaimed the Ballon d'Or on Monday night -- Neymar and Luis Suarez have been scoring freely all season, but Luis Enrique is still looking to add to his attacking options.

Schalke winger Leroy Sane is the latest young attacker to be linked with a move to the Camp Nou but, with wages taking up over 70 percent of their annual budget, Barcelona have said that they are watching their finances carefully.

"This is a difficult transfer market. No one wants to lose an important player at this time. But still, we will attempt to reinforce our line until the last day," Luis Enrique said ahead of Wednesday's Copa del Rey second leg against Espanyol. "For reinforcements to come we must negotiate and those negotiations are tough. It won't be easy for clubs to give up key players during this winter transfer window." [Source]

Is 2015 Messi's Best Ballon D'Or Win Ever?

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi 

Messi endured a relative dip in form but bounced back in style in 2015 to win his 5th Balloon D'Or. But is this his best win ever? His masterful performances helped Barcelona to yet another Champions League win, with Messi instrumental in seeing off Manchester City, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich. Barca also won La Liga, with Messi scoring 43 goals in the 2014/15 season and topping the assists table too, but it was his opening goal in the Copa del Rey final that was perhaps his most memorable individual moment of 2015.

2012

Guardiola's final year in charge of Barca saw the club lose their grip on La Liga, but the goals kept coming for Messi. He netted an astonishing 50 of them in the 2011/12 league season. Messi was also top scorer in the Champions League for a fourth consecutive season, netting five times in one game against Bayer Leverkusen, but missed a crucial penalty in a semi-final defeat to Chelsea.

2011

Barca won La Liga again in the 2010/11 season with Messi scoring 31 goals and also providing 18 assists, but the little magician's year will be best remembered for his Champions League heroics. He was the top scorer in the competition for a third successive season as Barcelona lifted the trophy at Wembley. He starred in a semi-final win over Real Madrid before delivering a man of the match performance against Manchester United in the final. [Source]

Lionel Messi Wins 5th Ballon d'Or

Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player for the fifth time.

The 28-year-old beat club-mate Neymar of Brazil and Real Madrid's Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Either Messi or Ronaldo, who became a three-time winner last year, have won the past eight awards. -- Source: BBC

Ballon d'Or 2015: CR7 Still Waiting But Doesn't Think He'll Get It

Cristiano Ronaldo anxiously awaiting Ballon d'Or 2015 announcement. Credit: Twitter

Messi will win top prize says Ronaldo, according to the UK Telegraph. The media outlet failed to quote the footballer's observation, so Cristiano Ronaldo probably didn't just say he'd rather not get the honor.

FIFA Ballon d'Or Ceremony 2016 Time and Date

Are you anxious to find out who will win FIFA's Player of the Year? If so, set your watch to GMT. The ceremony starts around 5:30 p.m. GMT at Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland.