Toni Kroos is not on the 30-strong shortlist to choose the winner of the “Ballon d’Or”, the highest individual award in world football. His coach is very surprised, even if Carlo Ancelotti admits that it could have caused problems.
His two midfield colleagues are on the Ballon d’Or list, with only Toni Kroos missing from Real Madrid’s ‘Bermuda Triangle’. For coach Carlo Ancelotti “a bit strange because Kroos played a fantastic season”. He is not saying that Kroos has to win the award in the end, “but he deserves to be on the list”. That also applies to teammates like David Alaba or Eder Militao. However, the Italian also admitted: “There might be a problem if all Real Madrid players are named, I understand that.”
Kroos, along with Luka Modri? and Casemiro, played a big part in Los Blancos’ success in the Champions League. Ancelotti had described the trio around the ex-national player as the “Bermuda Triangle”, “because the ball disappears in their part of the field”.
Modric and Casemiro, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius jr. and goalscorer Karim Benzema – one of the top favorites for the award. Still too few for Ancelotti.
“France Football”, the trade magazine that awards the most prestigious individual award in football, announced the 30-strong shortlist on Saturday. In addition to Kroos, Lionel Messi is also missing. The Argentinian superstar, who has been presented with the trophy seven times, more than any other professional, missed out on the nomination for the first time since 2005. Neymar, his PSG team-mate, was also left out. Messi’s longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, currently unhappy at Manchester United, made the shortlist. Premier League players dominate the list, providing 15 of the 30 nominees. Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) and Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) are also among the nominees.
Carlo Ancelotti himself is considered the favorite for the European Coach of the Year award. Alongside Jürgen Klopp from Champions League final opponents Liverpool FC and Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), the Italian is one of three finalists chosen by participants in the group stages of the European Cup competitions and selected journalists. Benzema and Courtois as well as former Bundesliga professional Kevin De Bruyne can hope for the European Footballer of the Year award.
