Bastian Schweinsteiger tips Wesley Sneijder for Ballon d'Or
Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger says that Inter Milan attacker Wesley Sneijder should be considered the favourite for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award.
Holland international Sneijder has had an exceptional year by most standards, helping his club to win the treble of the Italian league, Italian Cup and UEFA Champions League under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho.
Sneijder continued his good form into the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he helped his country reach the final of the competition but could not guide Holland to a win over Spain.
As a result, 26-year-old Schweinsteiger, who is also among the 23 men shortlisted for the award, has insisted that Sneijder should be recognised as the best player on the planet by football's governing body.
He told France Football that: "Wesley Sneijder deserves it. He is the player who, to me, made the strongest impression. If, after winning the Champions League, he had won the World Cup, he would have earned the Golden Ball (given to the best player at the World
Cup) as well. He had a great year."
Sneijder has also won league titles with Ajax and Real Madrid. He was named as the second best player at the World Cup behind Golden Ball winner Diego Forlan and also picked up four Man of the Match awards at the tournament.
Schweinsteiger, meanwhile, won the Bundesliga title and German Cup with Bayern last season and also reached the Champions League final. He also helped Germany to finish in third place at the World Cup in South Africa, but suggested that it would be difficult
for him to win the Ballon d'Or as he did not win any international titles with club or country.
He added that: "That's why the Spaniards, like Xavi (Hernandez) and (Andres) Iniesta and the Inter players are favoured."
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