FC Barcelona News

The first team trained with their new training kit this morning – the players involved in Sunday’s game worked on warm down exercises, whilst Adriano worked out in the gym

Masip, Espinosa, Bañuz, Miguel Maza, Ilie, Ie, Ca, Roman, Quintillà, Araujo and Sergi Gomez from Barça B also took part in the session

The first team showed off their new yellow training shirts and bibs at this morning’s session during which the players involved in Sunday’s game worked on warm down exercises, whilst Adriano worked out in the gym.
Tito Vilanova took charge of the session, which the five players who are due at the FIFA presentation in Zurich -Messi, Iniesta, Piqué, Xavi and Alves- all missed.

B team youngsters Masip, Espinosa, Bañuz, Miguel Maza, Ilie, Ie, Ca, Roman, Quintillà, Araujo and Sergi Gomez all came in for the session to prepare for this week’s Cup game against Cordoba.

 

Enjoy all the information about the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich

09:00h – Iniesta and Messi, from La Masia to Zurich

Andrés Iniesta and Leo Messi are two of the three finalists for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or which will be awarded this Monday in Zurich. Along with Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), the two FC Barcelona players will compete for the award reserved for the best player in the world. It’s worth noting that the Argentinian has won the last three editions of the award and Iniesta was named the Best Player of the EURO and the Best Player in Europe of the Year by UEFA.

 

08:00h – FC Barcelona takes center stage in Zurich

Ten first team players, and ex-FC Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, are in the running for awards this evening at the 2012 FIFA awards gala in Zurich

07:00h – Everything in place for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony

Messi and Iniesta will travel to Zurich on Monday for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony. Both Barça players are finalists for the award along with Cristiano Ronaldo. President Sandro Rosell, members of the Board of Directors, FCB players nominated to the FIFA FIFPro 2012 team, and the players’ families will travel with the two Ballon d’Or finalists to Switzerland. 

Ten first team players, and ex-FC Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, are in the running for awards this evening at the 2012 FIFA awards gala in Zurich

Messi and Iniesta, in addition to being on the shortlist for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or, could also be named to the FIFA/FIFPro World XI all-star team

Xavi, Cesc, Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Mascherano are among the 55 all-star team nominees

FC Barcelona is the team with the most players nominated for the awards that will be given out at the Kongresshaus in Zurich this evening. Among the accolades is the FIFA Ballon d’Or, the award reserved for the best player in the world. Leo Messi and Andrés Iniesta are on the three-man shortlist for the award, Cristiano Ronaldo is also in the running for the distinction. Both Barça players are also on the list of nominees for the all-star FIFA/FIFPro World XI along with teammates Xavi, Cesc, Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Mascherano. In addition to the nominated players, ex-FC Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola is nominated for the FIFA Coach of the Year award.

Messi and Iniesta, top three finish for the FIFA Ballon d’Or

For the sixth year in a row Barça will be represented on the finalist podium of the FIFA Ballon d’Or. This year Leo Messi and Andrés Iniesta, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, are vying for the prize. Barça’s Argentine forward has won the last three editions of the Ballon d’Or (2009, 2010 and 2011), and he’s looking to become the first footballer to ever win four. This will be Andrés Iniesta’s second time on the FIFA Ballon d’Or podium, he finished second in 2010. The Spaniard, who won the UEFA Best Player in Europe award in August, could win his first Ballon d’Or this evening.

FC Barcelona’s 10 all-star team candidates

The first order of business during tonight’s gala is the naming of the 2012 FIFA/FIFPro World XI all-star team. Ten FC Barcelona players have been nominated to the team. The first is Messi, in the striker position, followed by Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc and Sergio Busquets, in the midfielder positions, and Puyol, Piqué, Alves, Mascherano and Jordi Alba, in the defender positions.

Guardiola nominated for Coach of the Year award

FC Barcelona will also represented in the 2012 Coach of the Year award category. Pep Guardiola, who managed Barça for four seasons, is a finalist for the accolade along with Spain national coach Vicente del Bosque and Real Madrid manager, José Mourinho.

Messi and Iniesta will travel to Zurich on Monday for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony. Both Barça players are finalists for the award along with Cristiano Ronaldo

President Sandro Rosell, members of the Board of Directors, FCB players nominated to the FIFA FIFPro 2012 team, and the players’ families will travel with the two Ballon d’Or finalists to Switzerland

FC Barcelona will be well represented at the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday. Leo Messi and Andrés Iniesta will be the main focus of attention at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, as both Barça players are in the running for Ballon d’Or along with Cristiano Ronaldo.

President Rosell to lead FC Barcelona delegation

The Blaugrana delegation, led by President Sandro Rosell, will depart from El Prat airport at 11.00 AM. The president will be accompanied by both Ballon d’Or finalists, the candidates for the FIFA FIFPro 2012 all-star team, the players’ families, FC Barcelona Vice-President Josep Maria Bartomeu, directors Jodri Mestre and Manel Arroyo, and Football Director Andoni Zubizarreta.

Pre-ceremony press conference

After the plane carrying the Barça delegation touches down in Zurich, at 12.45, the players will go to the team hotel, which is located adjacent to the Kongresshaus. At 15.00 the Ballon d’Or finalists will hold a press conference in the hotel, hours before the ceremony gets underway (19.00). Messi and Iniesta will then walk down the traditional red carpet to the Kongresshaus where they’ll be greeted and welcomed by FIFA President Joseph Blatter.

The winner to be announced before 20.00

The winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or will be announced minutes before 20.00. Before the best player in the world is named, other awards, like the Best Manager of the Year Award – Pep Guardiola is a finalist – and FIFA’s all-star team – Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Piqué, Alves, Jordi Alba, Mascherano, Puyol, Cesc and Sergio Busquets are all finalists – will be announced.

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