'%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)
#3 Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Luka Modric is one of the best midfielders of his generation. That he broke the Cristiano Ronaldo - Lionel Messi duopoly over the Ballon d'Or by winning it in 2018 speaks volumes of his ability. He turned in quite a few excellent performances for Real Madrid last term as well.
However, it's a little confusing as to why Modric has made the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist ahead of Toni Kroos. The German international showed his class on multiple occasions and watching him orchestrate play from deep with his accurate passing was a joy to watch.
Modric scored six goals and provided six assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid in the 2020-21 season. Kroos scored three goals and provided 12 assists in 42 appearances.
The Croatian international did not win any major trophies either and as such, his inclusion is a bit baffling.
#2 Simon Kjaer (AC Milan)
While Simon Kjaer is a credible defender and an exceptional leader, his inclusion in the Ballon d'Or 30-man shortlist seems undeserved. He captained Denmark to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 but it's quite surprising that he made the list ahead of several others.
While Kjaer is a dependable presence at the back, he wasn't operating at as phenomenal a level as his inclusion might lead one to believe. Kjaer received a lot of praise in the summer for his intervention when his teammate Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during a game at Euro 2020.
The 32-year-old acted swiftly to put Eriksen in a recovery position before asking his teammates to form a wall around him as he was attended to by medical professionals.
While Kjaer is a solid centre-back, he is rather fortunate to have made the list ahead of other defenders like Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Antonio Rudiger etc.
#1 Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) and Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Cesar Azpilicueta was a member of the Chelsea side that won the UEFA Champions League title last season. While Azpilicueta's work ethic and effectiveness are commendable, his inclusion in the 30-man shortlist is a bit puzzling.
Azpilicueta was deployed either as a wing-back or as a right-sided centre-back in Tuchel's system last year. While he has definitely helped Chelsea become formidable at the back, he wasn't that outstanding on an individual level.
Raheem Sterling had a rather average season in 2020-21 by his own lofty standards. The 26-year-old had become a prolific goalscorer and creator for Pep Guardiola's side by the time the 2020-21 campaign rolled up. However, he struggled to assert his dominance last term.
He scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City. Sterling won the Premier League title and the League Cup and played a crucial role in England's run to the finals of Euro 2020.
But he was nowhere close to his best and his inclusion in the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist is as surprising as any we've seen in recent times.
