Best FIFA Men’s Player 2019: Who are the top 3 contenders to win FIFA’s top individual prize this year? We here at SportsRush rank the three most likely winners.
FIFA’a annual awards are set to return this year and new names have made the shortlist for their most prestigious individual award; The Best FIFA Men’s Player award. FIFA have recently announced a 10-man shortlist for the award based on their performance in the last 12 months.
https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/1156565641064792065
The usual suspects of Lionel Messi and Cristiano have made the cut. They are joined by Kylian Mbappe, Eden Hazard, Virgil Van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Frenkie De Jong, Mohammed Salah, Matthijs De Ligt and Harry Kane. Interestingly, last year’s winner, Luka Modric failed to make the cut this time.
There has been a lot of hue and cry over Allison Becker, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva’s absence but hardly anyone can argue over the inclusion of any names that did make it. This is proof of the outstanding football on display last season. However, only one man will come out the victor and we here at SportsRush will look to rank the 3 most likely candidates to win the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2019 award.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo won the award two years in a row before succumbing to Real Madric teammate Luka Modric last year. Individually, Ronaldo has had a very average season if judged by his standards. However, he did have an eventful year that saw him score 28 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
Not the most lucrative numbers. Most of his goals though, came when his team needed it the most, such as the hattrick in the return fixture against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. He also scored a hattrick against Switzerland in the UEFA Nation’s league semifinal. Ronaldo also won the Seria A, Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Nation’s league.
Luka Modric’s win last year was testament to the value of trophies and Ronaldo won that in plenty last year keeping him good stead in the competition. However, there are a couple more who’ve had a better 2018-2019 then the Portuguese ace.
Lionel Messi
If we talk individual success, no one has had a season like Lionel Messi. The Argentine magician scored 51 goals and provided 22 assists last season. Most forwards would give an arm and a leg for such a season in their career. However, as far as trophies are concerned, Messi doesn’t have much to show for.
Barcelona won the La Liga. However, they crashed out of the Champions League semi-finals with a humiliating 4-0 defeat to eventual winners Liverpool. They failed to accomplish the domestic double when they lost the Copa Del Rey final against Valencia a few days later.
Lionel Messi had the perfect chance to seal his name on the trophy by winning the Copa America. However, his disappointing run in the tournament and Argentina’s 3rd place finish has made the road ahead difficult. Messi will hope that his individual performance doesn’t get ignored by the glory of trophies and his La Liga victory and solo exploits help him land the prestigious award.
Virgil Van Dijk
For a long time, defenders have been seen as expendables. They are not valued as one would a striker or an attacking midfielder. However, Virgil Van Dijk changed that narrative last season when he became one of, if not the most important reason why Liverpool clinched the Champions League. The Dutchman was solid at the backline and allowed the trio of Mane, Salah and Firmino to attack freely.
Apart from the champions league, he also captained Netherlands to the final of the UEFA Nations League Tournament. With Liverpool, Van Dijk came close to winning the EPL falling agonizingly short by a single point. On the Individual front, he was the only defender in England, to not have been dribbled past over the course of the 2018/2019 season.
With a season that almost matches Cristiano Ronaldo’s in team accolades and Lionel Messi’s in individual exploits, it is clear that Virgil Van Dijk stands out the most and would be the perfect candidate to win the award of FIFA Best Men’s award 2019.
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