Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC's Lucas Leiva still loving his Bola-coaster ride
THE Bola de Ouro is to Brazil what the FWA Footballer of the Year is to England, an award which recognises a player's class, consistency and durability.[LNB]When you look back at a list of the past winners since its inception in 1973, fittingly it has been given to some of the game's greatest talents, men whose names will stand the test of time.[LNB]Zico was a dual winner, as was Falcao, while others to be named the top performer in Brazil's National Championship include luminaries such as Romario, Careca and Kaka.[LNB]And more recently, Carlos Tevez and Robinho can add their names to the roll of honour.[LNB]Clearly, those who choose the award at the Brazilian magazine Placar know what makes a special footballer, so it may surprise some to learn the 2006 recipient was a player who has spent much of the past two years fending off criticism.[LNB]The man in question is, of course, Lucas.[LNB]No matter that he was the youngest, aged just 19, to win the Bola de Ouro or how several of Europe's biggest clubs wanted to sign him, some will always have a myopic view of him.[LNB]In recent weeks, however, it seems a wider audience have started to warm to the talents that thrust him into limelight four years ago - spot the irony in that Lucas' performances have been red hot in temperatures as far removed from the Copacabana as possible.[LNB]Pick of the bunch, undoubtedly, was his effort at Villa Park 10 days ago, when he relished the responsibility of being Liverpool's midfield gremlin, constantly breaking up Aston Villa moves with confidence and composure.[LNB]For Rafa Benitez, though, there is nothing startling about what Lucas has been doing for much of this campaign; when signing him from Gremio in 2007, the Reds' manager knew he had brought someone to the club who, with time, would blossom.[LNB]Had the elements not intervened, Lucas would have had a key role to fill against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow but while Benitez is frustrated that contest has fallen foul of the elements, he actually feels a weekend off may do the young man some good.
