2008 (sorry, the subject line wasn't quite long enough for the full title...)

Those with frankly unhealthy memories may recall that one of my first posts on OTF was around a year ago, attempting to shamelessly promote my site's new annual award. Well, now I've (hopefully) hung around long enough to convince everyone I'm not just spamming, I'm doing it again.

Lionel Messi won last year's award and is one of the three nominees this season, along with Sergio Agüero and Carlos Tevez. You can see the nominees and their write-ups here, with videos!

Votes to be emailed to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it by midnight of the Monday after the end of the Torneo Clausura (two weeks today, then). Feel free to debate / talk about your choices on here but bear in mind I won't be taking any votes purely on posts on this thread.

Happy voting.

Not only do I remember you doing this, but when I saw the subject header, I thought to myself "blimey, that's come around quickly".

However, I'm not voting now as there is no Mascherano in the shortlist. Boo! Surely he's had at least as good a season as Tevez?

Yes, and he has the silverware to prove it.

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Couldn't this have been an open vote, Sam? I've only actually seen with any frequency the Argentines playing in Portugal, and of them, I'd go with the very excellent Lisandro López. Only seen Messi once or twice, ditto Tevez, Agüero not at all.


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Thus proving that Sam needs to solicit nominations for the shortlist on here, instead of just "spamming" us for votes. I even forgot to nominate Javier Zanetti on HEGS, as has been my tradition.

Kun Agüero should walk this, btw.

No way, man. Carlitos all the Way. He's turned out to be an intoxicating combination of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mark Hughes. The number of important goals he scored last season is unreal. I fucking heart him.

Is there an award for 'Speediest (or most mercenary) adoption of a dual nationality by a football player'?

The "oriundi" Argentines and Uruguyans (Orsi, Monti, etc.) who were quickly adopted by Mussolini's Italy and helped them win the '34 and '38 World Cups are worth a shout here.

There was an open vote for nominations. My plan was to have five nominees (as last year). Only three players were voted for. Regular readers of my site had the chance to have their say, and one single nomination for Masche (who I myself love, as I've said in the past on here) would've been enough to get him into the 'final'. I didn't want to piss too many people off by spamming first for the nominations, and then for the final voting itself. Next year, if you'd prefer, I can do precisely that...

My personal preference shall go unstated, because I'll only be voting in the event of a tie.

ursus arctos wrote:

QUOTE:
The "oriundi" Argentines and Uruguyans (Orsi, Monti, etc.) who were quickly adopted by Mussolini's Italy and helped them win the '34 and '38 World Cups are worth a shout here.

Orsi, Monti, Sivori, Di Stefano: come on its in the name!

Maradona, Platini, Lil Fuccillo, John Ruggiero, Daniele Dichio: it's no coincidence.

Not questioning their ethnicity, SixM, just noting that it was very convenient that Italy considered them to be dual nationals.

Ursus: I wasn't being in the slightest bit serious in that regard.I just like an opportunity to throw in the names of the greats, and Fuccillo, Ruggiero and Dichio, and how much the whole world of football owes to Italians!!!!

Seriously, Italy is at it again, of course, with Camoranesi and now Osvaldo who scored a very tidy winner for Italy in the U20 final last week.

I don't know the immediate family background of Orsi, Monti, or Sivori, though they may have had an Italian national as a parent given the period?

It isn't Jack Charlton and the Republic of Ireland I suppose, nor should it be really. Though I do worry what national teams will look like in a decade or so.

Alumnia (who is very ordinary anyway) for England etc

SixM, my recollection is that all three had at lease one Italian parent, though each was born in Latin America. Altafini was a bit further removed.

Yes, that was my understanding, about Sivori at least. Orsi and Monti are more obscure players for me, i know only their names in truth.

I had forgotten about Altafini.

With so many Argentinians coming to Europe at such a young age, I imagine the scope for such practice will broaden.

I may be imagining this but I think Spain were trying to get Messi and Aguero to commit to them?

How is Osvaldo eligible for Italy?