We are back at that time of year, the Ballon d’Or season!
The best individual player of the season trophy tends to elicit all kinds of opinions, and many don’t really understand why a player should be singled out to such extremes in a team sport, while others love the idea that a GOAT or a superstar clearly stands out from the rest.
Anyway, the list of the 30 possible winners of the Ballon d’Or 2021 has already been confirmed and, as always, it left us all wondering if those most involved in the world of football really watch the games or know something about this sport.
There were some surprise inclusions on the list, especially when considering the unfortunate superstars who lost instead. So which players deserved to be included in the list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or?
Here are nine of them.
For a brief period of three weeks each season, it becomes really fashionable to talk about how underrated Thomas Muller is and how he deserves to be recognized as one of the greats.
However, that conversation is quickly forgotten until it arises about 12 months later. Clearly, it wasn’t the trend to promote the Bayern star when they made their decisions on Ballon d’Or nominees.
More than 30 goal appearances since the start of last season, but Muller will be viewing the Ballon d’Or ceremony as Robert Lewandowski’s big year.
Juventus’ poor season in Serie A last season probably cost Federico Chiesa a spot among the shortlisted superstars, but come on, the kid is playing his best football right now.
Chiesa was one of the stars at Euro 2020, playing a key role in Italy’s glorious summer campaign, while firmly placing himself on the radar of the big clubs. He has already opened his account in Serie A and in the Champions League this season, and is ready to become the benchmark of Vecchia Signora
Lorenzo Insigne’s iconic moment at Euro 2020 came in the quarter-final victory over Belgium, beating one of the best goalkeepers in the world with his signature shot.
He has also started the new season in great shape, helping Napoli rise to the top of Serie A. He will be a god in Naples if he propels them to unthinkable title success and a Ballon d’Or nomination shouldn’t be too far off.
When we think of players whose reputation is affected by their nationality, Jan Oblak is one of the most affected. The Slovenian is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but he rarely gets to prove it on the international stage.
He was instrumental in Atlético de Madrid’s first LaLiga title since 2014, earning points with several decisive saves in the last minute, including some from the penalty spot. A wall.
If Harry Kane is Batman, it’s time for Robin to have his moment! Son Heung-min is by far Tottenham’s most popular player right now, and it’s easy to see why.
22 goals and 17 assists accounted for half of a love story with Kane as the two complemented each other to break a Premier League record, the most goal contributions between any two players in a single season.
Son is a world-class player, and if he played for a team that was in the top four in his league, he would receive much more praise. It’s not his fault that he plays Eric Dier and Davinson Sánchez (well, more or less it is, but you get the point).
It is insane that Inter’s defense did not receive the applause they deserved for the success of the Serie A title in 2021. The Nerazzurri conceded only 35 goals and added 91 points last year, breaking their 11-year streak without being champions. .
At the heart of that defensive wall was Stefan de Vrij, one of the smartest businesses and the best free transfers ever seen in football. He holds the rear guard together and should be recognized for his displays.
This is extremely puzzling. Edouard Mendy was nominated for the 2021 Yashin award for best goalkeeper after pulling off countless heroics and stabilizing Chelsea’s bottom line on their way to Champions League glory.
Somehow a Ballon d’Or nomination was missed, while Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had a similar performance, in a shorter period of time, for Italy, got the nod. We are not sure about that.
I’m just going to check if Graeme Souness was part of the Ballon d’Or selection committee, because this is pretty obvious. Paul Pogba offered one of the best displays ever from a losing-side player in France’s elimination from Euro 2020 against Switzerland, and has started the new season in a similar fashion.
He broke the record for the most assists recorded at the start of a Premier League season with Manchester United and continues to deliver, even as there are changes around the starting lineup.
He is one of the best midfielders in the world and his name should be among those 30 nominees.
Whoever drew up that shortlist of 30 men ‘does not know about the ball, as children say today. It is impossible for them to know what they are doing as they inexplicably excluded Joshua Kimmich from the list.
The Germany international can play in various positions with ambidextrous ease, and he does so for one of the best clubs and teams in the world.
It’s absolutely glorious to watch it for 90 minutes, and frankly it’s a scandal that it’s been left off the list.
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