'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Football and awards always go hand in hand. While players keep reiterating how awards do not matter as much, evidence keeps pointing to the contrary. It has not been long since the dust has settled on Luka Modric winning the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award ahead of former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. Now, the next one, FIFA FIFPro XI shortlist, a precursor to crowning FIFA Player of the Year is here.
This shortlist, which picks 55 best-performing players from the previous season (2017/18), has expectedly thrown up a few surprises. While the debate rumbles on regarding undeserving names on the list, there are a set of players who deserved to be on the shortlist, some more than the other.
These players had stellar seasons for their clubs and/or countries and have played a big role in their club's fortunes. However, they do not find themselves on the list, stirring up another awards' debate. While a case can be made for several players, let us take a look at the top 10 who definitely should be on the FIFPro shortlist.
#10 Nicolas Otamendi - Manchester City/Argentina
Kicking off the list is Manchester City's defensive stalwart from last season, Nicolas Otamendi. The Argentine was Pep Guardiola's trusted lieutenant at the back as the Citizens became the first team in the Premier League to win 100 points.
In fact, the 2017/18 season was easily the best in the 30-year old's career as he finally lived up to his nickname of "The General", fully committed to the City cause and scoring crucial goals. Further, the City no.30 played a solid role in the Manchester club's run into the Champions League quarterfinals.
Hence, he is unlucky to miss out from the shortlist and is our first entry in this list.
#9 Alisson Becker - AS Roma/Brazil
One of the incredible success stories of last season, Alisson went from being a deputy to Wojciech Szczesny to one of the top goalkeepers in the world. The Pole's move to Juventus allowed Alisson to take the no.1 spot and he played a key role in the capital side's third-place finish in the Serie A. The Brazilian's incredible 3.41 saves per goal with a 79% save percentage went along with his 83% distribution accuracy making him a total package.
His performances went up another level in the UCL as Roma had a dream run into the semifinals. In that run, no opposition team except Liverpool could score in Rome with the likes of Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona failing to breach Alisson's goal. His dominance between the sticks made him the Brazil no.1 ahead of Manchester City's Ederson at the World Cup and earned him the moniker of 'Messi of Goalkeepers'.
Alisson even sealed a move to Liverpool this summer for a goalkeeper world-record fee, although for a short period of time. Thus, the 25-year old can consider himself unlucky to miss out despite his heroics.
#8 Lorenzo Insigne - SSC Napoli/Italy
Lorenzo Insigne was a key part of one of the most exciting teams in Europe last season. The Italian formed one-third of Napoli's feared front three and had one of the best seasons of his career as the side from Naples came extremely close to winning their first league title in 28 years.
Easily the neutral's favourite, Napoli won a superb 91 points in the Serie A last term, a tally good enough to win the league more often than not. However, Juventus picked up 4 more points to clinch the title. Nevertheless, Maurizio Sarri's side played some of the best football in Europe and Insigne was right in the middle of it.
The local boy naturally deserves to be on the 55-man shortlist for his noteworthy performances last season and he can consider himself a tad unlucky.
#7 Jan Vertonghen - Tottenham/Belgium
Belgium had a terrific run into the semifinals at the World Cup and a lot of their players are superstars in the Premier League. While the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard got into the shortlist, his fellow countryman, Jan Vertonghen did not.
The Tottenham man is one of the few complete centre-backs in the world and had another terrific season last time around. Rock-solid while defending, comfortable enough on the ball to even play left-back and ever-consistent meant he formed the defensive lynchpin for third-placed finishes for his teams in the Premier League and the World Cup.
As the FIFPro XI recognizes the best players from last season, Vertonghen deserves to be right up there with the rest.
#6 Mauro Icardi - Inter Milan/Argentina
Icardi's bad luck when it comes to selections continue. On one hand, his performances failed to fetch him a place in the Argentina World Cup squad. On the other hand, his Capocannoniere-winning exploits did not fetch him a mention in the FIFPro shortlist either.
The 25-year old had his shooting boots doing the job for him as he bagged 29 league goals last term. He led Inter Milan by example to eventually edge Lazio out and clinch the fourth and final Champions League spot for this season.
As Inter Milan return to Europe's biggest competition, it is surprising to see Icardi not get the due recognition for it in the shortlist.
#5 Gareth Bale - Real Madrid/Wales
Call it the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo or not, Gareth Bale could and should have easily made the shortlist. The Welsh international played better last season than the one before when he was nominated on the list.
Bale managed to score 16 goals in the La Liga, 9 better than the previous term. Further, he scored a superb double in the Champions League final, effectively winning the game for Los Blancos and another Champions League crown.
When the 29-year old could get on the list for lesser in the previous season, he definitely should have been on the list this time around.
#4 Sergio Aguero - Manchester City/Argentina
Sergio Aguero and "Team of the Year" never share a good history. The Argentine is easily the best striker in the Premier League this decade in terms of quality and consistency. However, he finds himself in only one PFA Team of the Year, the most recent one.
This story now continues into the FIFPro XI shortlist as his exploits have once again failed to garner recognition. The 30-year old scored 26 goals and assisted 8 more in just 28 starts in the PL and UCL. Those are the traits of a top marksman and helped his club win the PL in a record-breaking fashion while carving their way to the final eight in Europe.
Thus, Aguero is yet again unlucky to be overlooked and he will be hoping to use this as a motivation to do even better this season.
#3 Roberto Firmino - Liverpool/Brazil
Roberto Firmino could easily think of his omission as a numbers game. While he was the fulcrum of Europe's deadliest attacking trio last season, his partners-in-crime Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane made the shortlist. Thus, the Brazilian could very well have been excluded as there would be too many Liverpool forwards.
The 26-year old had a hand in 40 goals last season, with 17 of them in the Champions League as the Reds reached the final of the prestigious tournament. Further, Firmino's game is more than just goals and assists as his style of play is crucial for Salah and Mane to thrive.
Hence, it is a glaring miss by FIFA to omit one of Europe's best no.9s last season.
#2 Raheem Sterling - Manchester City/England
Sterling and media continue to never be on the same side. The Englishman finally came of age last season under Guardiola's tutelage as his numbers confirm. The wide forward did the double-double, scoring and assisting 10+ goals last season, with 18 and 11 respectively.
Further, he was easily one of Manchester City's best players last season, scoring late winners and causing havoc against every opposition. He was a starter for England as the Three Lions marched into the World Cup semifinals.
While the likes of Eden Hazard and Andres Iniesta find themselves on the list for less, Sterling can feel hard done by as it could just be a case of higher-profile names being picked over him. However, at 23 years of age, if he keeps up the current form, he will be on the list sooner than later.
#1 Hugo Lloris - Tottenham/France
Putting his performances aside, Hugo Lloris leading France to the 2018 World Cup win this summer could easily have warranted his inclusion in a 55-man shortlist. Adding the fact that the Tottenham shot-stopper had a good season for his club as they finished third in the league makes his omission even worse
The 31-year old followed up his performances with the London club into the World Cup, keeping 4 clean sheets en route to a memorable trophy win. Such a successful season by one of the best keepers in England has somehow gone unnoticed in the shortlist.
When one looks at the likes of Gianluigi Buffon and Thibaut Courtois making the list, it is simply odd for Lloris to not be in it.
