Sneijder tipped to win big prize

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Paris, Oct. 27: Despite the heartbreak of losing the World Cup final with the Netherlands, Wesley Sneijder is the bookmakers’ favourite to walk away with the inaugural FIFA Ballon d’Or award.

The attacking midfielder was on the losing side in Johannesburg on July 11, when Spain defeated Holland 1-0 to claim their first ever World Cup title. Spanish midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta are also strong contenders for the prestigious prize, but the presence of the Barcelona pair on the shortlist could split the pro-Spanish votes to Sneijder’s advantage.

More significantly, the 26-year-old Dutchman enjoyed a glittering debut season at Inter Milan that culminated in an unprecedented treble of the Italian league title, the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) and the European Champions League.

Sneijder leads the running for the award at 6-4 with British bookmakers William Hill, while Xavi is at 7/2 and Iniesta, who scored the extra-time winner in the World Cup final, is at 11/2.

The Fifa Ballon d’Or gala takes place in Zurich on January 10 and the ceremony will mark the marriage of Fifa’s World Player of the Year prize and the Ballon d’Or.

In recent years the two awards have often gone to the same player and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is the current holder of both trophies.

The prolific Argentine attacker failed to truly sparkle at the World Cup, as his country fell to Germany in the quarterfinals, but he is at 4/1 with William Hill after netting 45 goals in all competitions for Barcelona last season.

The shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or is dominated by players who starred at the World Cup in South Africa and the award has traditionally been awarded to players who have excelled in the quadrennial showpiece.

Fabio Cannavaro doubled up in the Ballon d’Or and the Fifa World Player of the Year after captaining Italy to World Cup glory in 2006. Spain’s top scorer at the World Cup — David Villa is at 9/1 with William Hill, with Uruguay striker Diego Forlan, the player of the tournament, at 16/1 and Germany’s Thomas Mueller at 33-1.

Pic Caption:
Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder celebrates during the Fifa World Cup in South Africa, in this file picture.