Who the nominees for the 2014 Ballon d’Or should be.
FIFA have announced the 23 nominees for the 2014 Ballon d’Or award and there are some notable absences and some surprise inclusions on their list.
SEE ALSO:
Six players who should have been nominated for FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014.
Power ranking the 2014 Ballon d’Or candidates from 23-1.
FIFA announce 23-man Ballon d’Or shortlist.
So CaughtOffside has decided to bring you who the candidates really should be, based on statistics over the past 12 months from WhoScored.
23. Carlos Tevez, Juventus and Argentina – 7.56
May not have made the 2014 World Cup due to his differences with the national team coaching staff, but during his first season with Juve the forward was in fine form.
22. Luka Modric, Real Madrid and Croatia – 7.56
Amazingly this 29-year-old was not included on FIFA’s list despite being instrumental in Madrid’s Copa del Rey and Champions League triumphs.
21. Ander Herrera, Athletic Bilbao/Manchester United – 7.59
A slightly surprising inclusion now, although Bilbao did have a great 2013/14 campaign that saw them finish in the top four of La Liga and Herrera has done well since a £29m summer switch to United.
20. Nemanja Matic, Chelsea and Serba – 7.59
Since making his return to Stamford Bridge in January this midfielder has been consistently brilliant.
19. James Rodriguez, AS Monaco/Real Madrid and Colombia – 7.61
Did well with Monaco, then was excellent at the World Cup and finished as the Golden Boot winner and earned a £63m switch to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. Say no more.
18. Karim Benzema, Real Madrid and France – 7.63
Is often overshadowed at Madrid by more illustrious stars, but deserves his place.
17. Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid and Spain – 7.64
Hardly showered himself in glory in Brazil with the Spanish national team, but with Los Blancos the 29-year-old continues to prove he is one of the best defenders in world football.
16. Max Kruse, Borussia Monchengladbach and Germany – 7.65
Not a name that immediately springs to mind when thinking of potential Ballon d’Or winners, but the form of this forward almost earned him a place in Joachim Low’s talented German squad for the World Cup.
15. Angel di Maria, Real Madrid/Manchester United and Argentina – 7.65
Another summer purchase for the Red Devils and a midfielder who was inexplicably forced out by Los Merengues despite his brilliant performances.
14. Juan Cuadrado, Fiorentina and Colombia – 7.72
The absence of this 26-year-old on the list suggests FIFA is disregarding Serie A as Cuadrado has been in fine form for both club and country over the past 12 months.
13. Kevin de Bruyne, Wolfsburg and Belgium – 7.77
Some may raise an eyebrow at this one – particularly Blues fans who saw the attacking midfielder leave their club in January – but since arriving in the Bundesliga de Bruyne has been in good touch.
12. Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich and Netherlands – 7.78
Hardly a surprise to see this winger included with Robben likely to make the final three in this year’s award show.
11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paris Saint-Germain and Sweden – 7.80
Missed out on World Cup action, but at 33-years-old this striker just seems to get better with age and is still among the best players in the world.
10. Robert Lewandowski, Borussia Dortmund/Bayern Munich and Poland – 7.81
Controversially made the free transfer from Dortmund to rivals Bayern over the summer, but his absence from the official list is something of a surprise after his brilliant goalscoring form.
9. Eden Hazard, Chelsea and Belgium – 7.81
Has made the cut for the trophy that the 23-year-old is so desperate to win one day and his form for the West Londoners suggests this is likely to happen in the not so distant future.
8. Loic Perrin, Saint-Etienne – 7.82
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the lot as this 29-year-old defender has never earned an international cap, but his performances in Ligue 1 in 2013/14 suggests he should be in the mix.
7. Gareth Bale, Real Madrid and Wales – 7.84
Became the most expensive player in history in 2013 after completing a £85.3m move to Madrid and since then has done his very best to prove he is worth the price-tag with some brilliant displays.
6. Ricardo Rodriguez, Wolfsburg and Switzerland – 7.92
A second player from Wolfsburg now and Rodriguez has been in good touch at left-back for both club and country.
5. Roberto Firmino, Hoffenheim – 8.00
Another who is yet to earn a senior international cap, although Firmino is on the cusp of the Brazil squad and was in fine goalscoring form in the German top tier last term.
4. Luis Suarez, Liverpool/FC Barcelona and Uruguay – 8.07
Amazingly the PFA Player of the Year is not on the Ballon d’Or shortlist, which despite a biting ban is still inexplicable after Suarez scored 31 Premier League goals in 33 games.
3. Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund and Germany – 8.14
An injury may have stopped this forward attending the World Cup, but excluding him on that basis after his brilliant form for Dortmund also seems wildly unfair.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid and Portugal – 8.43
The bookmakers’ favourite to regain the trophy, Ronaldo has been in typically great touch for Los Blancos, although struggled to make an impact at the World Cup.
1. Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona and Argentina – 8.48
May not have won any silverware with Barca last term, but was named the best player at the World Cup – although the decision behind that could certainly be challenged.