Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes that this weeks nominations for the FIFA Ballon D’Or are a testament to the declining force of Italian football.
The legendary Italian feels that the fact that no Italian is nominated for the coveted award showcases the problems in quality with regards to players from the peninsula.
“There is no Italian among the candidates for this year’s award because we are coming off a very disappointing World Cup and our clubs haven’t challenged for the highest honours for quite a few years,” he stated while speaking with FIFA.com.
“Either we improve the national team or our football will remain ordinary, and it will be impossible to stand out.
“The fact that no Italian has been nominated forces us to understand the situation our football is currently in, and confirms that the technical and individual quality of our players has declined.
“But it is also true that, as in any area of life, sport goes in cycles. This is perhaps a low point for Italy, but the country’s history carries a lot of weight, and Italian football has always managed to combine technique with tactical discipline.
“By putting an emphasis on these qualities, I think we will soon start to grow again.”
“Who will win the next Ballon D’Or? Probably [Cristiano] Ronaldo. Even if he hadn’t won the UEFA Champions League, the player who is the best at a particular moment should be rewarded.
“That said, I still think that [Lionel] Messi is still the best overall, because when he is 100 per cent he is simply sublime to watch.”
