OFFICIAL: Kaka wins Ballon d'Or

[D-Kin]

Kaka parades Ballon d'Or Sunday 2 December, 2007

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Kaka has paraded his Ballon d’Or trophy in Milan’s Piazza Duomo and pledged to stay for many years.

The Brazilian was in Paris this morning to pick up the ‘France Football’ award for Player of 2007, but came straight back to Italy to celebrate.

He leaned over the balcony in Piazza Duomo and showed the Golden Ball to over 2,000 fans who waited for him in the square.

“I want to win a lot more with this club and double all the trophies I have so far, from the Champions League to the Ballon d’Or,” he told Italia 1.

“This is my fifth season here. I have had many opportunities to walk away, but it is only normal that a Milan player is highly sought after.

“I want to become the captain of this side and a symbol. My future will be here and I am happy at Milan.”

Ricky has been the subject of a series of bids from Real Madrid, going up to a reported £80m, but insists he has no intention of walking away.

“I have a great rapport with my teammates and the club. Why would I want to change?”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[azzurri]

He deserves it. He carried Milan through Europe.

If he wants to retain it though, he has to start playing better in serie a this season.

[Jager]

Congrats to Kaka!

[LAF]

IMO this should have went to Zlatan or Ronaldo. Both have been far more impressive than Kaka'. I can't deny Kaka had his moments though, although Zlatan and Ronaldo have been abit more consistent with moments that turn games this year.

They showed the list of winners on TV and the one thing that hits out is the fact lesser players have won it over Del Piero (Owen, for example).

[Jager]

Well Kaka was immense last year, and he won this for his CL performance.

[D-Kin]

You've got to perform well in the big tournaments to win awards like this and Kaka has done that.

Neither Zlatan or Ronaldo were that impressive in the CL and unfortunately that's where is really counts.

[LAF]

Hmm... well I can't argue with his outstanding performances in the CL 1/4 finals and Semi-finals but imo the reason Milan's form picked up in the league was due to Ronaldo.
Kaka' came up trumps in the big matches, that's what won him it.

C. Ronaldo was far more consistent for his team and is currently still playing better than Kaka', Kaka's CL semi-final performance against United won him it no doubt.

Anyway the best player in the World just now is Ibrahimovic.

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by LAF

Hmm... well I can't argue with his outstanding performances in the CL 1/4 finals and Semi-finals but imo the reason Milan's form picked up in the league was due to Ronaldo.
Kaka' came up trumps in the big matches, that's what won him it.

C. Ronaldo was far more consistent for his team and is currently still playing better than Kaka', Kaka's CL semi-final performance against United won him it no doubt.

Anyway the best player in the World just now is Ibrahimovic.

Agreed.

But like you said, Kaka came good when it really mattered.

Zlatan, Ronaldo and Messi are all currently playing better than him though.

[Sven]

Fully deserved, be crime if he lost.

[Aladino]

Kaka's interview at Milanello. The team gave him a round of applause before training started today, to congratulate him.

A RECIPROCAL BONDING
12/3/2007 2:37:00 PM
As soon as he arrived in Milan, Ricky went towards Piazza del Duomo to show the Golden Ball to his fans and to thank them for contributing day by day to this great success. – THE PRESS CONFERENCE –

MILAN – These are the declarations of Kaka and Adriano Galliani during the press conference which was held last night at the arrival of the 2007 Golden Ball at the headquarters of Bwin at the Piazza del Duomo in Milan.

KAKA':
"I’m really happy to have received this award. Today it was an unforgettable day for me, but unfortunately it came to an end. In a day like this, you never get tired and only think about the nice things of the past and when tonight I will arrive home I will think, ‘unfortunately it’s over!’. I was excited this morning, then the award was handed to me in a city like Paris, in France, everything influenced. The first days I will keep this trophy close to me for sure, I think next to my night table.”

Ricky, was there ever a player you admired when you were a kid?
“Yes, there was a player who played with San Paolo and he was called Rai. When I was much younger, he was an example for me, he was the number one of the team and he won a lot and taught me a lot.”

When did you understand that Milan was the team for you?
“I always said that I want to become the symbol of this club, to be the captain one day, obviously respecting all of hierarchies of the case. Everyone has always misunderstood my talk when I say that my future depends on God’s will, but I want to remain at Milan.”

What affect does this award have for Brazilian and Italian football?
“I’m the fourth player after Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. I think that for Brazilian football is a nice thing. Then I believe that the possibility to win this award is bigger when playing in a winning team like Milan and a national team like the Verdeoro. Italian football is going through a delicate and difficult moment, but still remains a very competition football and this win can be very important.”

Ricky, with this award you become a perfect lad.
“Perfect no, I’m a contemporary lad, I do all the things that the other lads of my age do. I have my values, like the family – a value which I like a lot – and faith. For my defects you have to ask my parents and my brother.”

Who do you want to dedicate this Golden Ball to?
“I dedicate it to every person who has contributed in all of these years, to those who were close to me in my life and in my career. To all of these I give a piece of this Golden Ball. Many have been close to me, have supported me also from abroad and I want to thank all of these for this.”

Did you speak to President Berlusconi?
“The President was very happy about the fact that another of his players won this award and he hopes to bring more of these to the club.”

What excited you most?
“Seeing all of these fans outside waiting for me, there are no words to describe such a big and special emotion. I would have liked to hug them one by one because even they are part of this success. I did not expect all of these people.”

Do you also expect the FIFA World Player?
“I wouldn’t know, they told me I’m in the top three. I hope to finish this year in a wonderful way, maybe also winning in Japan, even though it will not be so easy, but it would be the perfect ending for this year. However, my motivation is that of winning again all that I have already won so far. Even though the next Golden Ball will be of a Milan player, we would all be happy because it would mean that Milan won again.”

ADRIANO GALLIANI:

“I hope that other Golden Balls arrive to Milan soon. Like the President of ‘France Football’ said, the Golden Ball is won by the player who proves Fair Play both on and off the pitch, and if Ricky has become like this we must also thank his parents. Therefore I thank mum and dad, who maybe did not teach him how to play football, but taught him to be a well-mannered boy and with great values, and I believe that this is fundamental for today’s footballers because they have substituted the Hollywood stars and have become models for the children, therefore they need to be positive models.”

For us Kaka is a reason of joy, pride, excitement and commotion. I’m really happy, just like President Berlusocni, of Riccardo’s desire to remain at Milan for a long time. I think that it will be a reciprocal commitment from Riccardo and the club. Let’s hope that Ricky ends as late as possible his tie with Milan, and he’s still a child as he only has 25 years of age. It’s a present we want to give to our fans.”

[D-Kin]

Maradona disputes Kaka throne Tuesday 4 December, 2007

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Former Napoli and Argentina legend Diego Maradona has questioned the decision to award Kaka the Ballon d’Or.

The Brazilian ace was presented the prestigious award on Sunday and is expected to add FIFA’s World Player of the Year prize in Zurich on December 17.

Few in the football community doubt Kaka’s credentials after his inspirational role in Milan’s Champions League triumph last term, but Maradona doesn’t believe the Brasilia native was a worthy winner.

“I don’t think that it was quite the right choice,” the 47-year-old told journalists.

“In my opinion Lionel Messi is without a doubt the best, followed by Sergio Aguero and Juan Roman Riquelme, but also Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho.”

Maradona made himself still more unpopular in Milan by dismissing the Diavolo’s chances of securing the Club World Cup in Japan later this month.

“Everyone is talking about Milan, but the Rossoneri are Kaka-dependent,” he roared. “I’m backing Boca.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

Definitely no bias there.

[BlackNess]

^^^ The same in goal.com

Maradona Feels That Kaka Doesn't Deserve The Ballon d'or

As soon as Kaka received the prestigious trophy on Sunday in Paris, a furious debate ensued questioning the merits of the Brazilian superstar receiving the award.

Though his Champions League form was great, the play-maker was practically non-existent through the Serie A season, and there have been calls from various quarters that consistency should be rewarded as opposed to a few glittering performances.

Former Argentinean superstar Diego Maradona - who had made his position clear by backing Lionel Messi - chose to stick to his guns.

“Rooney, Ronaldinho and Messi would have been the worthy winners,” he said.

“It was a tough decision but there is not much separating Kaka from those players. Some are even better.”

"I don't know too well how the election is done but I think that Rooney is better than Kaka.

"Milan is a team that depends all the time on Kaka but that doesn't make him the best player in the world."

'El Diego' also had an opinion on the upcoming World Club Cup that pits his beloved Boca Juniors against AC Milan.

“It’s going to be a difficult match and everyone is predicting Milan to be victorious but Milan are Kaka-dependent,” he stated.

"I am not scared of Milan, I only want Boca to get to the competition in good physical condition."

Speaking of his current favourites in football - Maradona ruled on who he feels is the pick of his fellow countrymen.

"At the moment the best three Argentinian players are Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Juan Roman Riquelme."

[Blaugrana]

I think the first source (proposedly) misquoted Maradona. He probably said that Messi, Rooney and Ronaldinho are the best players of the world, just that Aguero and Riquelme are in the top 3 of best ARGENTINIAN players (like the quotes in the 2nd source)

I agree with him about the top 3 Argentinian players, but Rooney and Ronaldinho haven't been the best.

[sinoy1]

A bit late but Congrats to Kaka.For a league thats in a "crisis" we've done quite well .