The FIFA World Player of the Year award was started in 1991 and it ran until 2009. It was merged with Ballon d’Or in 2010 and became the FIFA Ballon d’Or award. This partnership lasted for six years. In 2016, FIFA decided not to renew the deal and resurrected the FIFA World Player of the Year award - but this time as FIFA Best Men’s Player Award.
Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award on the previous two occasions with Lionel Messi finishing as runner-up. On Tuesday, FIFA announced the 10-man shortlist for the 2018 Awards. Unsurprisingly, the World Cup in Russia played a big part in this year’s shortlist.
Usual suspects Ronaldo and Messi made it on to the list. However, there was no room for some of the in-form players in the world right now. Players, coaches, fans, and media will vote on the award and the final three-man shortlist will be announced in September.
The 10 Nominees for the 2018 FIFA Best Men’s Player Award:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Juventus), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City / Belgium), Antoine Griezmann (France / Atletico Madrid), Eden Hazard (Chelsea / Belgium), Harry Kane (Tottenham / England), Kylian Mbappe (PSG / France), Lionel Messi (Barcelona / Argentina), Luka Modric (Real Madrid / Croatia), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool / Egypt), and Raphael Varane (Real Madrid / France)
On that note, let's take a look at the top four players who missed out on 2018 FIFA Best Men’s Player Award shortlist.
4. Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic is one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment. The Croatian international has played more matches (71) than any other player during the 2017/18 season.
He played a huge role in Barcelona's domestic double (La Liga and Copa del Rey) last season. Also, he helped Croatia to the final of the 2018 World Cup. Given the amount of football he has played over the last 12 months, it was really amazing to see how he managed to maintain a great level throughout the season.
Although he scored only five goals and assisted five more in all competitions for Barcelona and Croatia this season, he was irreplaceable throughout the 2017/18 campaign. A technically gifted player, Rakitic brings stability and balance to the midfield. His work rate and fitness were exceptional all through the season.
He can defend well and at the same time, possesses great abilities going forward. Ernesto Valverde and Zlatco Dalic showered praise on him for his phenomenal performances throughout the season.
3. N’Golo Kante
Unsung hero of France’s 2018 World Cup campaign, N’Golo Kante is arguably the best defensive midfielder in world football at the moment. An old-fashioned deep-lying midfielder, Kante never stops running.
Along with Paul Pogba, the 27-year-old played a huge part in their World Cup win. He dominated the midfield and allowed players like Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and Olivier Giroud to express themselves in the final third.
He provided defensive cover to Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti, which allowed French fullbacks, Pavard and Hernandez, to go forward and attack. Kante’s greatest strengths are his positional awareness, tackling, disrupting opponents passing rhythm, and the ability to read the game.
Although Chelsea finished fifth in the Premier League last season, Kante was one of their best performers.
2. Paul Pogba
He might not be a hero at Old Trafford but he certainly was a hero in Russia for his national side. Pogba played a stellar role for France in the World Cup and led them to their second World Cup title. He also scored a stunning goal in the final against Croatia.
While he was often criticized at Manchester United, he finished the 2017/18 Premier League season with six goals and 10 assists. This was an exceptional return for a player who predominantly plays as a central midfielder.
Pogba is a treat to watch with the ball at his feet. He is exceptional in the air and possesses great technical abilities. His work-rate is phenomenal and he contributes a lot at either end of the pitch.
1. Neymar
Arguably the biggest omission from the shortlist. According to FIFA, the world’s most expensive player does not feature in the list of top 10 best footballers in the world at the moment. Neymar finished third in 2017 but was not able to make the shortlist this year.
Despite winning three domestic trophies with Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar’s underwhelming World Cup resulted in his omission. Neymar scored 27 goals and assisted 16 more for Paris Saint-Germain last season but missed the last three months of the season because of an injury.
Although he scored a couple of goals in the World Cup, he wasn’t at his usual best. Brazil lost to Belgium in the quarter-finals and was eliminated from the tournament.
zibuko
230
Neymar has already made history by being the only nominee and sole winner of the ............ wait for it!
CityMan
157
Btw some of the players in the article don’t deserve to be in top ten because having a good World Cup campaign does not overshadow how you did in the other 4 or so competitions. Don’t mean to hate on him but Pogba wasn’t very good with Man U this season but was great for France. I don’t think that’s enough to be on this list.
DarrelDee
143
Ronaldo had a good season in laliga despite playing few games as compared to messi & he challenged for a golden boot as he was second in laliga, in Champions league he carried Real Madrid all the way from group stages with decisive goals until quater finals when others came in but you know he's Mr Champions league nobody was able to match his Champions league goals as he won the golden boot once again & lifted the trophy, during the Russia 2018 world cup he was man of the match on two occasions & he was a 2nd joint top scorer regardless of not going far in the tournament but still had a good season, Ronaldo deserve this award inclusive of a ballon'dor
maco007
125
i rily dont understand why neymar was left out ,cos he performed better than everyone on that list in club level apart from ronaldo,messi and salah....if only he didnt go on injury,still he should have made the list....mbappe is not meant to be on the list
Teumopsu
124
The only game Barcelona lost in the league was because Messi didn't play. For champions' league the coach played for worst formation against Roma (a team they scored 4:1 in 1st league). I still don't trust Valverde that much because of Roma game!
ShovanShiwakoti
75
Pogba and Kante were the best players in the French team Mbappe didn't make that impact except in last 16 match Grizman did nothing except taking penalties or lucky goals (against Uruguay). Umtiti was better than Varane while Neymar took more than 80 percentage of attacking pressure for Brazil and assisted more with PSG so why not him and Hazard did nothing but played selfish so why him?
Ashok_bud
73
How can people not think about omission of Phillipe Coutinho ?? He was decisive in Ucl with liverpool scored important goals for barca in laliga and cdr as well as he was the best player of brazil in wc campaign just my opinion though !!
haaens
69
I deeply feel sorry, disgraced and ashamed for Neyma. He left Barcelona running away from the shadow of the Great Messi, in order to chase World Best Award. Where has it landed him? Out of the top 10, shame. Well, lesson, never good to be too egoistic.
Mahamed_Amin10
69
If Neymar were at Barca I’m sure he would have a better result or he would’ve been a winner for this year But he made a stupid decision and went the worst league where’s he can’t really show what he can do cuz it doesn’t even matter even if he performs good of the the trash league that he went. He thought that he ran away from Messi’s shallow but he get into a whole where his name got lost. I’m just saying if you’re truly a talented player then play like a Lionel Messi where you don’t depend others and you play your game and show the world that you are one of the best. Messi played with legends like Ronaldinho, Eto’0, Xavi, Iniest and they were all better than him when he started but you can’t stop being the better from someone who’s meant to be a better
Tocklmo
61
Ronaldo has good season. Mbape has good world cup. Messi has top scorer and top asists. However we think Messi will get best player awards 2018.
lented
54
I personally don't understand why I should see harry Kane...instead of Dejan Lovren or Ngolo Kante...even Rakitic performed better than harry Kane...he never brought an excellent performance like how he has been playing in spurs...am really disappointed in FIFA for adding him just to the ten man shortlist...or is it because there is no English player??...I think it's favouratism just to add harry Kane...he don't deserve to be there...he did absolutely nothing...
L10NELMESSI
54
Neymar miss was understandable to everyone he didn't do anything as such. Pogba missed because of mourinho playing style. Rakitic missed coz there were better player in top 10 than him. Kante should have been replaced with harry kane or hazard I guess
Fazdknot
50
To me i think Sadio Mane has a place in the 10 man shot list not mbape Varan or Gris man this is already the mago mago in the starting point that Salah will not be given what he disserved he has golden bout in England best player in England took every thing there and even scored more golds in the champions league than messi more golds than messi in the world cup even if he played only games
stivink3ys
44
Thank you for taking out Neymar... He should double his game and learn to play a better foot ball if he wants to match the likes of MESSI and Ronaldo... To me, Neymar is overhyped
CityMan
43
Man I hope KDB can win EPL fa cup EFL cup UCL and World Cup one year so he can win a balon d’or!!! 😂😂😂 only joking guys but you have to recognize that he 100% deserves to be in the top 10 (maybe even top 5) with the amazing season he had with City and how good he was for Belgium. Congrats to whoever wins it though it’s a tough choice!
AT62
41
I am happy that Mohamad Salah (Liverpool) was listed as one of the candidates. He might not have chance to win but I am still proud that he made it. Alhamdulilah
dennisachafu
27
If the world cup played a big role, then Messi shouldn't be there at all.He was a flop with Argentina to the extent that he missed a penalty. This is fifa men's best and not uefa. So, fifa world tournament should be considered first. This is the only tournament that unites the world and should be cardinal in selecting the best in that year. I cannot understand why messi score goals for baca but when it reach world tournament he cannot perform. Spain is a country where any striker can score plenty goals. Ronaldo has shown himself everywhere and he is now in Italy where goal scoring is difficult.It will be a shame if club's performance is considered ahead of fifa tournament in a world cup year. What happened in 2010 and 2014 world cup and Baloon d' all was a shame on fifa. To me, without sentiment, the award should be given to Luca Modric or Griezman for helping their teams in world cup.
Mohammadyasain
26
Neymar miss out because he didn't play most of season. He play only 19 match in League. 😟😟😟 He awarded best player of League 1.