Former Liverpool striker, and Real Madrid and Barcelona legends included…
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Former Ballon D’or winner and Chelsea failure Andriy Shevchenko has backed Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer to win the 2014 Ballon D’or, following his excellent performance against Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend…
You can watch Shevchenko’s claims below, and read (in no particular order) the seven superstars we feel are in with most of a chance to collect the prestigious gong in January.
8) Manuel Neuer – Germany and Bayern Munich
Not only did Neuer perform exceptionally at the World Cup with Germany, helping his country beat Argentina in the final, but he was ever-present and usually brilliant as his club side Bayern Munich waltzed to the Bundesliga title last season too. He’s head and shoulders above any goalkeeper on the planet right now.
7) Gareth Bale – Wales and Real Madrid
Bale’s chances of Ballon D’or glory have been affected by the fact that Wales didn’t qualify for the World Cup, and that he plays in a club side where he is largely overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo. Still, he bagged a brilliant winner in the Copa del Rey final, and scored a crucial goal in the Champions League final victory too.
6) Arjen Robben – Holland and Bayern Munich
The Dutch winger was one of the most exciting attackers at the World Cup, helping his country to an impressive 3rd place finish. Robben also played a key role for Bayern Munich, and despite being in his thirties now, he’s playing the best football of his career.
5) Luis Suarez – Uruguay and Barcelona
Because of his World Cup bite and subsequent ban, it’s easy to forget just how good Suarez was for Liverpool last term. He outscored every player in Europe bar Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of league goals last term with 31, and weighed in with an outstanding 14 assists on top. His mesmeric performances fired Liverpool to within inches of Premier League glory, and earned him a monster move to Barcelona during the summer.
4) Lionel Messi – Argentina and Barcelona
Messi’s won the Ballon D’or four times already, and he’s one of the favourites to pick up the gong again early next year. He earned the Golden Ball awarded for the World Cup’s best player, despite a fairly anonymous performance in the final. This season he’s playing a deeper, more creative role – and he’s already registered nine goals and assists apiece in 12 starts.
3) Philipp Lahm – Germany and Bayern Munich
Lahm’s enjoyed a phenomenal 2014 in terms of trophies won and on-field performances. The legendary fullback is so good that Pep Guardiola’s deployed him in central midfield regularly, where he’s been equally as effective. He captained his country to World Cup glory, and Bayern Munich to a third consecutive title.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal and Real Madrid
Ronaldo is a heavy favourite to secure the Ballon D’or for the third time in his brilliant career, and when you look at his statistics, it’s not hard to see why. The Portuguese notched 51 goals in all competitions last term, scoring in the Champions League final victory over arch rivals Atletico Madrid. This term, he’s scored a simply unbelievable 21 times in 14 starts.
1) Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Sweden and PSG
Like Robben, Ibrahimovic is seemingly getting better with age. He won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award in 2013/14 as his French side cantered to the title, having scored 41 goals. Unfortunately for the football public, the giant Swede didn’t feature at the World Cup because his country didn’t qualify, but he’s not let it affect his form – starting this term with five goals in two league starts before injury cut him down.
