There is a name missing from that Brazilian list of Player of the Year/Ballon D'Or winners - that of Robinho, Neymar's idol, who made his way through the Santos youth ranks. Because so far, his European adventure is all going according to schedule. The young Brazilian, who turns 24 next month, would seem to have no chance of winning - this time. So it is a big deal that Neymar has been nominated this year. Since then, though, there has been no Brazilian on the podium, let alone winning the prize. Romario won it in 1994 Ronaldo in '96 and '97, and again in 2002 Rivaldo in '99 Ronaldinho in 2004 and '05 and Kaka in 2007. For a while, the award was almost considered a Brazilian birthright. The FIFA World Player of the Year prize is a big deal in Brazil. In large part, this has to do with Neymar's nationality. And Monday will also be a big occasion for the other man on the podium, Messi's Barcelona teammate, Neymar. His chief rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, makes it clear that he is highly motivated by individual awards. Lionel Messi would probably agree - he gives every impression that for him, such awards are merely a consequence of work carried out in a collective context. Too much importance is probably given to the FIFA Ballon D'Or award, which has more to do with the way football is marketed than with the game itself.
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