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As we get closer to January 12 when the FIFA Ballon d'Or will be awarded, more and more people are being asked about their pick for the award. And, when one of the greatest players to ever play the game speaks, you listen to what he has to say.
Diego Maradona was visiting Cuba on Monday, and reporters made sure to ask him who he thought would win the Ballon d'Or. Now, one would think that Maradona, the extraordinary attacker that he was, would favor Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for their exploits in thrashing opponents in La Liga and the Champions League last year.
Why not pick your fellow countryman that led Argentina to the World Cup Final for the first time in 24 years where it took a spectacular strike from Mario Götze to win it for Germany? Messi did win the Golden Ball after all.
Why not pick the guy that's scoring goals at an astonishing rate in Spain and Europe? Ronaldo did win the Champions League with Real Madrid last season.
"Neither Messi, nor Ronaldo, my favorite is Neuer, he's the one who deserves it the most."
Maradona, one of if not the greatest players of all time, chooses a goalkeeper as his player of the year over two of the best attacking players the game has ever seen. This has to be considered good for Neuer's chances at bringing the trophy back to Munich, right?