World Team of the Year

The FIFPro team of the year was announced yesterday and did not go down too well with football fans across the globe, the inclusion of David Luiz was particularly surprising while Iniesta’s appearance in the team was also a shock. Here is a team I feel more deserving of the accolade of being in the best eleven of 2014.

Goalkeeper

Manuel Neuer

Neuer made the FIFA team of the year and made it to the final three of the Ballon D’or award and for good reason. His performances this season have been sensational, fully warranting the accolade for best goalkeeper in the world. His ability to play as a keeper-sweeper and his shot stopping ability made a great impact as Bayern Munich won domestic honours and  Germany won the World Cup this summer.

Defenders

Philip Lahm

After leading his team to World Cup glory, Germany star Philp Lahm is a must in the team of the year, he could well have made it in the team in a midfield role with Guardiola transforming the small man since taking charge at Bayern.

Sergio Ramos

Ramos has been a rock at the back for Real Madrid in the past year helping Madrid to Champions League glory scoring the equalising goal in the final against Atletico Madrid that sent the game to extra-time and gave Madrid the chance to claim the title, and so they did. Despite a poor World Cup his form at Madrid has stayed strong and puts him in this team.

Diego Godin

Godin was a key part in the sensational season that Diego Simeone masterminded at Atletico Madrid as they won La Liga for the first time since 1996, he was a major cog in a great defence that also saw Atletico get to the Champions League final only to lose to rivals Real.

Leighton Baines

May seem a surprise entry to many but Baines has been by far the best left back in the Premier League and compared to the other top left backs in Europe such as Jordi Alba and Marcelo he has been more impressive in the last year. His great dead ball ability and crossing saw him create many chances for both Everton and England while unlike most modern day full backs he also is a very capable defender.

Midfielders

Luka Modric

Somehow this man was omitted from FIFA’s team of the year after having a fantastic year for Real Madrid, the former Tottenham was an integral part of the Champions League winning side and has come into his own under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti.

Angel Di Maria

Di Maria is yet another one of the Champions League winning side that warrants a place in the team of the year. Di Maria was man of the match in the Champions League final and was fantastic as Argentina made it to the World Cup final, an injury prevented him from playing in the World Cup final and many people feel the result could have been different if he was fit. Since his move to United he has continued his form and shown his quality in the Premier League.

Toni Kroos

Another German to make the team and deservedly so as he starred in their campaign particularly in the semi final where he scored 2 goals against Brazil. He has since moved to Real Madrid and has struggled to reach the form he showed for both Bayern and Germany but still deserves a place in this team based on the first seven months of the year.

Forwards

Lionel Messi

You can’t have a team of the year without Lionel Messi in it and after another brilliant season he is one part of our front three, he once again scored bucket loads of goals for Barcelona and was awarded the player of the tournament at this summers World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The only player in world football at this moment in time that can stake a claim for being better than Messi is Ronaldo after winning his second Ballon D’or in a row. The Portuguese man once again scored a remarkable amount of goals and rightfully was crowned the best player in the world for 2014

Luis Suarez

Bite or no bite Suarez was the best striker in the Premier League and in Europe for Liverpool in 2014, he almost single hand idly won the Premier League for Liverpool and the fact he was omitted from the shortlist for the Ballon D’or was laughable. Regardless of his moment of madness in the World Cup Suarez deserves credit for the performances he gave in 2014.