FIFA Announces 2014 Ballon d’Or 23-Man Shortlist

The shortlist for the Ballon d’Or was revealed late Monday and it is nothing short of a 23-man fantasy team. Six out of the 23 include World Cup winning Germans in addition to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The list is packed from top to bottom with soccer’s greatest players in all positions, offering fans with a highlight into some of 2014’s most exciting, successful , and outstanding players from across Europe.

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Outside of the normal plethora of attacking players stands goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who is often regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world, and who I believe has been consistent and powerful enough to challenge for the award. In the same position, wonder youngster Thibaut Courtois, also represents the outsider role for his outstanding time at Athletico Madrid and Belgium during the Summer’s World Cup.

The list also includes defender and UEFA Champions League winner Sergio Ramos. His performances for Real Madrid in 2014 put him into theoretical contention. Javier Mascherano also shares the defender spots with Ramos, but he doesn’t share the same World Cup experience as the Argentine was a large part of their success as well as man power.

To add to the list of non-attackers lies the only African representative, Yaya Toure. His agility, pace and skill for a man his size is so unique that his name in the shortlist is in no form surprising, let alone the significance he brings to Manchester City.

July 9, 2014; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Netherlands player Nigel de Jong (left) and Argentina player Javier Mascherano slide for the ball during the semifinal match in the 2014 World Cup at Arena Corinthians. Mandatory Credit: Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via USA TODAY Sports

The shame lies in one player whose existence in 2014 could not have been ignored but was not on the shortlist – Luis Suarez. His own destructive behavior has completely stripped his reflection at Liverpool and turned down any attempt at a chance for footballs biggest individual prize.

Outside of his explicit behavior, Suarez was the highlight of English football, but he cannot and will not be recognized for it individually because of his own antics. Being that apart of the awards nomination as well as victory comes from the players amount of courtesy and behaviur, Suarez has abused that opportunity.

Regardless, the Ballon d’Or shortlist is stacked with the game’s best and elite athletes in today’s game.

See the full list below:

Gareth Bale, Wales, Real Madrid

Karim Benzema, France, Real Madrid

Diego Costa, Spain, Chelsea

Thibaut Courtois, Belgium, Chelsea

Angel Di Maria, Argentina, Manchester United

Mario Gotze, Germany, Bayern Munich

Eden Hazard, Belgium, Chelsea

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain

Andres Iniesta, Spain, Barcelona

Toni Kroos, Germany, Real Madrid

Philipp Lahm, Germany, Bayern Munich

Javier Mascherano, Argentina, Barcelona

Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona

Thomas Muller, Germany, Bayern Munich

Manuel Neuer, Germany, Bayern Munich

Neymar, Brazil, Barcelona

Paul Pogba, France, Juventus

Sergio Ramos, Spain, Real Madrid

Arjen Robben, Netherlands, Bayern Munich

James Rodriguez, Colombia, Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Real Madrid

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany, Bayern Munich

Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast, Manchester City

Who do you think should win the Ballon d’Or? Let us know below

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