Di Maria makes Ballon d’Or shortlist - Republik Of Mancunia: A Manchester United Blog

Angel di Maria is the only Manchester United player to feature in the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or.

Gareth Bale (Wales), Karim Benzema (France), Diego Costa (Spain), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Angel Di Maria (Argentina), Mario Gotze (Germany), Eden Hazard (Belgium), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Toni Kroos (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Javier Mascherano (Argentina), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Paul Pogba (France), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Arjen Robben (Holland), James Rodriguez (Colombia), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast).

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5 Comments

Tommy October 28, 2014

It's great to see a united player has made shortlist albeit due to his performances for real Madrid, you can't expect a team who finishes 7th to have any nominations, I expect Ronnie to win it again although I would like to see neuer to win it, he's been exceptional this year but he's a keeper so has no chance

tallestreD October 28, 2014

Tommy_ why would Neuer be given the Ballon d'or? I don't think he merits it. Though he's a top top draw goalie but there's a CR7 and LM10 to contend with. Surely those two are a one-off?

TallestreD -he's as good in goal as those players are in their positions, he's won bundesliga, german cup and world cup, why is his position any less significant

Marq October 29, 2014

Tommy

I don't think you can link trophies won to validity of being the best (Although it always does) i think the statement of Ronaldo & Messi being as good in their position as someone else in theirs, is not right at all. Ron & Messi are freaks of nature and they are at least 1 notch above what people usually term as the best in their position. Neuer had a good season, yes, and trophy wise he has got the lot. But if you look away from the trophies, there are a few other keepers who have performed at the same level as he did.

Anyway, just my opinion. I never believe in giving someone else an award because the incumbent has won it too many times. Ronaldo for me, considering he won the CL and started the new season on fire again. Messi maybe, because of Argentina's run in the WC, but one should not forget that the Argentina team overall is no pushover to begin with.

Tommy October 29, 2014

Marq -football's a team game not an individual one, the year bayern won the treble, the ballon d ot winner should have came from their squad, it's a political award, it's no different to s general election!

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Di Maria makes Ballon d'Or shortlist

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