The ten-man shortlist for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2019 award was made yesterday. The list is one with many flaws. The absence of some players and inclusion of others led to many questioning FIFA.
According to FIFA, the list is based on their respective achievements during the period from 16 July 2018 to 19 July 2019 inclusive
We have the shortlist below.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Frenkie De Jong, De Ligt, Salah, Sadio Mane, Harry Kane, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Van Dijk made the ten-man shortlist.
Many names in there were expected. Salah, Mane, and Van Dijk had a very good season that saw them win the Uefa Champions league. Van Dijk marshalled the defense well. Salah and Mane ensured the goals are not scarce to come by. They scored for fun.
Cristiano Ronaldo was instrumental to Juventus serie A triumph and his hat-trick against Switzerland helped Portugal to the final and winning the first ever Nations league. He was also Serie A most valuable player and led the comeback against Atletico Madrid in the Champions league.
Messi also played a crucial role for Barcelona last season. He won the la Liga trophy and claimed the European Golden boot. He was also part of the Argentina team that won the bronze medal in Brazil.
I think those are the worthy players in the list.
We can add De Ligt too. He had a fine season and his quality showed throughout. He was one of Ajax best player. He also showed his quality in the nations league.
That makes it 6 players that are worthy of the final 10 list.
Eden Hazard, Frenkie De Jong, Mbappe, and Harry Kane are not worthy of the list.
Eden Hazard wasn't Chelsea best player in the Europa league last season. He couldn't make the EPL team of the season and now making the Final 10 list.
Frenkie De Jong inclusion is another funny thing. On what basis? Is it because he transferred to Barcelona or because he won Eredivisie player of the season? We have league strengths and Eredivisie is not one tough league like that. His inclusion in the list at the behest of many others is funny.
Mbappe inclusion is also debatable. He's the highest goal scorer for Psg last season in all competitions. Well, that's a pretty cool CV. What about their performance in the Champions league? Do we have to choose by goals? Then I can list 4 players that deserve his spot.
Harry Kane inclusion nullifies the authenticity of the list. This is a player that was injured in the closing stages of the season. He missed a couple of matches. I wonder what criteria the panel use to shortlist these players.
Players that deserves the spot
Allison Becker should be in that list. 6 cleansheets tied with Ter Stegen in the Uefa Champions league, golden glove in the EPL, and conceding just a goal in the Copa America. What do you need again? Do you want him to go a whole season without conceding a goal before you recognise him? His heroics in the Copa America showed that he's a top goalkeeper. He should be on that list. Making the last 10 doesn't mean you will win it but it's a form of recognition that yes you are good enough to make it this far.
Bernado Silva should be in here too. Manchester City just did a domestic double and quadruple if we are to count the community shield. None of their players is in this list. It's crazy. One player performed exceptionally. The player is Bernado Silva. He did it for Manchester City and also did it for Portugal in the nations league. He deserves a spot in here.
Dusan Tadic is another great contender. 38 goals 24 assists for Ajax in all competitions last season. That plus helping Ajax to the semi finals of the Champions league. Are you now going to say Eredivisie is a low league because it's Tadic? He deserves a spot in the list.
Other players include Hakim Ziyech, Raheem sterling, Lewandowski. They also deserve a spot.
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