Robin Van Persie: 4 Reasons Why He Will Win the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or

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Unless you have been living in a nuclear fallout shelter for the past year, you must have noticed that Robin van Persie is in scintillating form.

If he doesn’t get sidelined with injury, most of the goals for Arsenal will come through him. 

Thus, there is good reason to believe that 2012 will be the year that will hold the most promise for the prolific Gunner. 

Here are four reasons why he will win the FIFA Ballon d'Or. 

4. Captain Vantastic

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Cesc Fabregas was a great player, but let us all admit that he was no captaincy material. 

Never vocal, Fabregas let his skills do the talking. However, for a team like Arsenal, vocal leadership is required. 

Furthermore, the protracted transfer saga with Barcelona also infused the dressing room with discord. 

However, Robin van Persie has restored a sense of calm to the dressing room. Of course, the influx of senior players like Per Mertesacker, Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun has also been helpful. 

Van Persie is the symbolic figurehead of a resurgent Arsenal side, and if Arsenal manage to pick up form, finish this season on a high note, and start the following season superbly, it promotes the Van Persie brand as well. 

3. Complete Player

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Besides his goal-scoring attributes, which we will touch upon shortly, Robin van Persie is also a highly versatile player. 

He works effectively in tight spaces and can navigate well. Furthermore, more focus on him allows other players to make runs and find themselves in preferable positions to get on the score-sheet. 

In addition, RVP makes a number of key passes. He has recorded eight assists already this season. 

He is able to spot runs and can find an incisive pass to his comrades. 

2. Goals, Goals and More Goals

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People get dumbfounded when Van Persie doesn't score in a game these days.

His goal-scoring record thus far has been borderline absurd. 

The year 2011 has been nothing short of phenomenal for the Arsenal captain; he nearly beat Alan Shearer's record for the most goals in a calendar year, and surpassed club legend Thierry Henry's record for most goals in a calendar year.

This season alone he has scored 25 goals in 26 games and has also recorded eight assists in the Premier League. 

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are prolific as well, but in my opinion they play in a league not comparable to the Premier League, where all opposition is resilient. 

It's a league where Blackburn stun Manchester United, Everton defeat Manchester City, and West Brom humiliate Chelsea. Not to mention giants such as Liverpool and Tottenham. 

Furthermore, he works without illustrious compatriots. There is no Xavi to feed the ball to him as incisively, no Iniesta to dribble around opposition and find him in spaces—in most cases Van Persie has to do this on his own. 

That is what makes his goal tally even more remarkable. Such excitement has not been enthused into the Premier League since the heydays of Thierry Henry. 

1. Euro 2012

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One thing is for sure: one quality season in the Premier League alone doesn’t warrant anyone of the most prestigious individual accolades.

Even Wesley Sneijder could not win it with a Champions League medal and guiding his country to the World Cup final. 

He has strong competitors in the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Not to mention the dynamic Spanish duo of Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

However, there is one window of opportunity for Robin van Persie: the Euro 2012.

Netherlands have a phenomenal team this year, and with the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Urby Emanuelson and Arjen Robben around RVP, the Dutch enter the tournament as favourites.  

With the form that Van Persie is enjoying, it will not be unlikely to see him emerge as the player of the tournament, rendering him strong credentials to bag the Ballon d'Or.