Six top candidates for top FIFA prize.
Spanish football website Fichajes.com has picked its six main candidates for this year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or award, with just one Premier League player among the leading contenders to win the coveted prize.
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Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo won the award in 2014 after some superb individual displays, finally getting the better of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi who had won the previous four years running.
See below for a run-through of this year’s outstanding players:
6) Angel Di Maria (Manchester United)
A hugely important player for Real Madrid in their double winning season last term, Angel Di Maria has continued his fine form since signing for Manchester United in a British transfer record £59.7m move this summer. The Argentine also helped guide his national side to the final of this summer’s World Cup, though he missed out on the game itself through injury. Undoubtedly one of the finest players in the world at the moment, Di Maria may still face a battle to take the top prize this year, with some fierce competition ahead of him from other top clubs around Europe.
5) Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
One of the best goalkeepers in the world, Bayern Munich and Germany star Manuel Neuer was pivotal in his club’s success in the Bundesliga last season, as well as for his country as they took home the World Cup this summer. A goalkeeper is never likely to be the favourite for an individual award such as this, but Neuer is a deserving candidate.
4) Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
Another world class name from Bayern Munich, Arjen Robben has been superb for club and country, helping his team to another Bundesliga title, whilst also guiding Netherlands to the semi-finals and eventual third place finish in the World Cup in Brazil this summer.
3) Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
Like Neuer, Thomas Mueller is a deserving candidate in this list after his exploits with Bayern Munich and Germany in 2014. The prolific forward helped the club to the Bundesliga title and was also in top form at the World Cup as he finished as his country’s leading scorer as they took home the trophy.
2) Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
As ever, Barcelona star Lionel Messi is a leading candidate for the award despite a less spectacular season by his standards. The Argentine could not take home any silverware for his club, and narrowly missed out on a World Cup medal as his country lost the final 1-0 to Germany in extra time.
1) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
An outstanding player at the top of his game, Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo may be the big favourite to win the Ballon d’Or again this year. The Portuguese international may have done little of note at the World Cup this summer, but he was majestic as Real won the Champions League and Copa del Rey, scoring at a phenomenal rate to establish himself as one of the finest players of his generation.