The alternative Ballon d'Or: 30 players who could have made the shortlist
Here are the players the media around the world feel should have been included on the 30-man list
Every year the Ballon d’Or is the biggest event in Planet Football’s social calendar. The debate the prize generates isn’t just about whether it’ll be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo who wins it; nor is it about the potential outsiders, like Neymar, Antonie Griezmann or even Riyad Mahrez.
Once France Football had revealed the 30 candidates, social media, newspapers and television were awash with people giving their opinion on the list, talking about the players present, but also those who deserved to be present but weren’t.
The French magazine itself admitted that it was tough on Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Özil, Eden Hazard, Leonardo Bonucci, Jerome Boateng and Karim Benzema to miss out. At Barcelona there’s surprise that Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets have not been included.
But there have been complaints from all over the planet. In Argentina they feel Javier Mascherano should be present, while in Chile they add Claudio Bravo’s name to that of Alexis Sanchez, stating that the two players won the Copa America for a second successive year. Bravo, too, won a league and cup double with Barça.
Benfica forward Jonas, who came fourth in Europe’s Golden Shoe, is also missing. There’s also no room for Edinson Cavani or Mauro Icardi… players who have had success collectively and individually with their clubs and their countries.
Here’s a list of 30 players who didn’t make it. The alternative Ballon d’Or:
1. Gerard Piqué (Barça)
2. Sergio Busquets (Barça)
3. Ivan Rakitic (Barça)
4. Javier Mascherano (Barça)
5. Keylor Navas (Real Madrid)
6. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
7. Marcelo Vieira (Real Madrid)
8. Jan Oblak (Atlético)
9. Yannick Carrasco (Atlético)
10. Kevin Gameiro (Atlético)
11. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal)
12. Mesut Özil (Arsenal)
13. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
14. Thibaud Courtois (Chelsea)
15. Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
16. Claudio Bravo (M. City)
17. David Silva (M. City)
18. David De Gea (M. United)
19. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (M. United)
20. Dele Alli (Tottenham)
21. Harry Kane (Tottenham)
22. Jerome Boateng (Bayern M.)
23. David Alaba (Bayern M.)
24. Douglas Costa (Bayern M.)
25. Marco Reus (B. Dortmund)
26. Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
27. Dani Alves (Juventus)
28. Mauro Icardi (Inter Milán)
29. Edinson Cavani (PSG)
30. Jonás Gonçalves (Benfica)
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