A best XI of players who failed to make the Ballon d’Or shortlist.
Some big names failed to make it onto the Ballon d’Or shortlist, so much so that we compiled this superb line up of the best players who aren’t in contention, with shock names…
GK: Gianluigui Buffon (Juventus)
One of the best goalkeepers in the world and a Champions League finalist with Juventus last season, Gianlugi Buffon has somehow not done enough to make it on.
DR: Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich captain and star player for the Bundesliga champions, Philipp Lahm is another name very harshly ommitted.
DL: Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
A treble winner with Barcelona, Jordi Alba is one of the best left-backs on the planet but has somehow failed to make the list of nominees.
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DC: Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
Another member of Barcelona’s treble-winning team, Gerard Pique is a world class centre-back who’s had a tremendous career, but he’s been strangely left out.
DC: Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
Manchester City’s captain and one of their best players, Vincent Kompany was not at his best last season but remains up there with the best players in Europe.
MC: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
Yet another shock ommission, Barcelona defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets is another baffling choice left out of the list of nominees.
MC: Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Very harsh indeed, PSG playmaker Marco Verratti is another top class performer who won major honours last season.
AMR: Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Absolutely bizarre for one of the best players in the world, Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus has also been left out of the Ballon d’Or reckoning.
AML: David Silva (Manchester City)
Each player seems to get more staggering, and David Silva may be one of the strangest of the lot, with the Manchester City midfielder regularly one of the best players in the world in his position.
AMC: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Not everyone’s cup of tea, but Arsenal star Mesut Ozil is another big name who does the business for a top club and deserves a shot.
FC: Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)
A great goalscorer who maybe gets it a bit wrong in some big games, Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain is another harsh ommission from the contenders list.
