SPANISH NEWSPAPER MUNDO DEPORTIVO has published what they say is a leaked 59-man preliminary list for the 2015 Ballon d’Or and some unexpected names are included.
The big-hitters are all present and correct – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of fourteen players shortlisted from either Barcelona or Real Madrid (both teams have seven nominees).
Michael Probst / AP/Press Association Images
Michael Probst / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Five Bayern Munich players also feature while three former and three current Juventus players make the cut too.
But there are some strange inclusions too.
Bournemouth’s Christian Atsu, on loan at Stamford Bridge from Chelsea, has been selected as has Massimo Luongo, the QPR player who spent the last two seasons with Swindon Town.
It seems both have been included because of their international exploits with Ghana and Australia respectively.
David Ospina has been shortlisted for the Ballon d'Or. Kirsty Wigglesworth
Kirsty Wigglesworth
A collection of lower-profile Premier League players also made the shortlist – Leicester City’s Shinji Okazaki, QPR’s Eduardo Vargas, Manchester City’s Wilfried Bony and Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina.
Only two English players feature: Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane.
Preliminary List in full:
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Barcelona (7)
Claudio Bravo , Javier Mascherano, Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic, Neymar, Luis Suárez
Real Madrid (7)
Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, James Rodríguez, Toni Kroos
Juventus (6)
Giorgio Chiellini, Paul Pogba, Alvaro Morata, Arturo Vidal (now Bayern), Andrea Pirlo (now New York City FC), Carlos Tevez (now Boca Juniors)
Bayern (5)
Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben, David Alaba, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer
Manchester City (5)
Wilfried Bony, Yaya Touré, Sergio Agüero, Nicolás Otamendi (formerly Valencia), Kevin de Bruyne (formerly Wolfsburg)
Chelsea (4)
Diego Costa, Willian, Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard
PSG (3)
Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Javier Pastore
Laurent Dubrule / AP/Press Association Images
Laurent Dubrule / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Manchester United (3)
Wayne Rooney, David de Gea, Memphis Depay (formerly PSV)
Arsenal (2)
David Ospina, Alexis Sánchez
Atletico Madrid (2)
Antoine Griezmann
Jackson Martínez (formerly Porto)
Others (15)
Carlos Bacca (Milan), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool, Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Christian Atsu (Bournemouth), Paolo Guerrero (Corinthians), Eduardo Vargas (Hoffenheim), Gary Medel (Internazionale), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Andrés Guardado (PSV), Carlos Sánchez (River Plate), André Ayew (Swansea), Massimo Luongo (QPR), Shinji Okazaki (Leicester)
The rumoured Ballon d'Or preliminary list contains some VERY odd names
SPANISH NEWSPAPER MUNDO DEPORTIVO has published what they say is a leaked 59-man preliminary list for the 2015 Ballon d’Or and some unexpected names are included.
The big-hitters are all present and correct – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of fourteen players shortlisted from either Barcelona or Real Madrid (both teams have seven nominees).
Five Bayern Munich players also feature while three former and three current Juventus players make the cut too.
But there are some strange inclusions too.
Bournemouth’s Christian Atsu, on loan at Stamford Bridge from Chelsea, has been selected as has Massimo Luongo, the QPR player who spent the last two seasons with Swindon Town.
It seems both have been included because of their international exploits with Ghana and Australia respectively.
A collection of lower-profile Premier League players also made the shortlist – Leicester City’s Shinji Okazaki, QPR’s Eduardo Vargas, Manchester City’s Wilfried Bony and Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina.
Only two English players feature: Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane.
Preliminary List in full:
Barcelona (7)
Claudio Bravo , Javier Mascherano, Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic, Neymar, Luis Suárez
Real Madrid (7)
Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, James Rodríguez, Toni Kroos
Juventus (6)
Giorgio Chiellini, Paul Pogba, Alvaro Morata, Arturo Vidal (now Bayern), Andrea Pirlo (now New York City FC), Carlos Tevez (now Boca Juniors)
Bayern (5)
Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben, David Alaba, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer
Manchester City (5)
Wilfried Bony, Yaya Touré, Sergio Agüero, Nicolás Otamendi (formerly Valencia), Kevin de Bruyne (formerly Wolfsburg)
Chelsea (4)
Diego Costa, Willian, Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard
PSG (3)
Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Javier Pastore
Manchester United (3)
Wayne Rooney, David de Gea, Memphis Depay (formerly PSV)
Arsenal (2)
David Ospina, Alexis Sánchez
Atletico Madrid (2)
Antoine Griezmann
Jackson Martínez (formerly Porto)
Others (15)
Carlos Bacca (Milan), Giovani dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool, Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Christian Atsu (Bournemouth), Paolo Guerrero (Corinthians), Eduardo Vargas (Hoffenheim), Gary Medel (Internazionale), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Andrés Guardado (PSV), Carlos Sánchez (River Plate), André Ayew (Swansea), Massimo Luongo (QPR), Shinji Okazaki (Leicester)
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