Which defender comes out on top in UEFA’s Team of the Year nominations.
It’s that time of the season again where UEFA release their picks for the team of the year for 2014. Though it is a decision that will split fans right down the middle, we’ve decided to take a look at the numbers behind UEFA’s reasons to include these 12 players. Taking into account how many games they’ve played and how many of those games they’ve won, we’re left with a percentage that will hopefully go someway into explaining why they’re so highly rated.
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12. Matts Hummels – Borussia Dortmund & Germany
Appearances: 32
Won: 18
Win Percentage: 56%
The Germany star may have picked up a World Cup winners medal, but his injury problems either side of the tournament have hampered his chances at finishing further up the list.
11. Vincent Kompany – Manchester City & Belgium
Appearances: 40
Won: 23
Win Percentage: 57%
Like Hummels, The Belgian international has seen his numbers dented by absence through injury. But he has enjoyed successful spells with both his club and country teams.
10. Pablo Zabaleta – Manchester City & Argentina
Appearances: 41
Won: 24
Win Percentage: 59%
Faring only slightly better than his cohort in the City back line, the Argentine managed to scrape into the top ten.
9. Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid & Uruguay
Appearances: 45
Won: 28
Win Percentage: 62%
Godin enjoyed a particularly successful season at club level, but two defeats at the World Cup let him down slightly.
8. Miranda – Atletico Madrid & Brazil
Appearances: 42
Won: 26
Win Percentage: 62%
The Brazilian clocks in with almost identical stats as his cohort in the heart of the Atletico defence.
7. Medhi Benatia – Bayern Munich & Morocco
Appearances: 29
Won: 20
Win Percentage: 69%
The Moroccan excelled in Serie A with Roma last season before linking up with the unstoppable force that is Bayern over the summer.
6. David Alaba – Bayern Munich & Austria
Appearances: 40
Won: 29
Win Percentage: 72%
Alaba has established himself as one of the most exciting young players in Europe in 2014, but his numbers have been let down thanks to his association with a lacklustre Austrian national side.
5. Ezequiel Garay – Zenit St Petersburg & Argentina
Appearances: 36
Won: 26
Win Percentage: 72%
Garay enjoyed success on several fronts last season with Benfica, and over the summer linked up with Russian outfit Zenit, who are already well on their way wrapping up the title in their own league.
4. Sergio Ramos – Real Madrid & Spain
Appearances: 44
Won: 33
Win Percentage: 75%
Ramos is a regular on this list and in all likelihood will be up until the day he retires.
3. Philipp Lahm – Bayern Munich & Germany
Appearances: 44
Won: 34
Win Percentage: 77%
A massively successful year for Lahm, who collected the Bundesliga title before adding the World Cup to his ever growing list of achievements.
2. Jerome Boateng – Bayern Munich & Germany
Appearances: 45
Won: 35
Win Percentage: 78%
Another Bayern defender to make the list, Boateng is the enforcer of his club and country, with his performances being rewarded handsomely.
1. Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid & Spain
Appearances: 35
Won: 30
Win Percentage: 86%
Carvajal is a surprise name that comes out on top ahead of his contemporaries thanks to his involvement in the majority of Real’s victories. It’s no wonder why he’s fast becoming the club’s first choice at right-back.
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