Is there anyone who can stand in the way of Cristiano Ronaldo claiming his third straight FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award? Lionel Messi is the natural answer to that question with Mohamed Salah a surprise serious contender this year. Don’t count out Chelsea and Belgium forward Eden Hazard however.
The 27-year-old made The Best short list, announced today, and just ten names long.
Hazard was arguably the best overall player at this summer’s World Cup, but he finished second in Golden Ball award (tournament’s most outstanding player) voting to Croatia’s Luka Modric.
Eden Hazard has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer, where he would be regarded as a Ronaldo replacement, but Chelsea don’t want to sell; no matter the price.
Hazard is obviously as valuable a commodity as it gets among footballers. Let’s take a look at who else is in this rarified air.
FIFA Men’s Player of the Year Nominee Short List
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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