Messi, Ronaldo and Xavi up for FIFA Ballon d’Or 2011
Zurich provides the setting for the first major football event of the year, the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2011 Gala, which takes place on Monday 9 January (tonight).
The highlight of the star-studded evening will be the unveiling of the second FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, while the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s
Football and Women’s Football will also be named, along with the winner of the FIFA Puskas Award and a clutch of other accolades.
The first item on the packed agenda is a press conference at 14.00, when FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year candidates Marta, Homare Sawa and Abby Wambach will be joined by Bruno Bini, Norio Sasaki and Pia Sundhage, the three nominees for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football award.
Following the presentation of the FIFA Interactive Award to the winner of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2011, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Xavi, Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will take center stage for their press conference, which kicks off at 15.00 and will also go out live.
At 17.00 it is on to Zurich’s Kongresshaus, where a fan zone will be set up beside the red carpet to give the lucky locals a chance to get the autographs of the players, coaches and celebrities attending the glittering show.
The gala will kick off at 8pm (CAT).
Last year, this show was hosted by a South African – the first one to do so – Carol Tshabalala (Manana) who co-starred with award winning Pedro Pinto. The chairman of the PSL, Dr Irvin Khoza is also attending the awards function.
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