FIFA on Monday finally announced the World Best IX after proning the list from 55 candidates that was initially shortlisted.
Some of the players that made the list are Alisson, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Ramos, Marcelo, F. de Jong, L. Modric, Hazard, Lionel Messi, Mbappé, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Soccernet.ng X-rayed some of their performance that stood them out of other candidates.
Alisson (Liverpool)
Played a key role in Liverpool’s Champions League success last season as he made some valuable saves that kept the team alive against teams such as Barcelona, Tottenham, Napoli to mention a few.
The 26-year-old Brazilian also kept 21 Premier League clean sheets, landing the division’s Golden Glove award. Without doubt, Allison proved to be a good buy for the Reds in his first season at Merseyside.
He has followed in the footsteps of Gianluigi Buffon and Thibaut Courtois by being named the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Brazilian saw off competition from his compatriot Ederson, of Manchester City , and Barcelona and Germany stopper Marc Andre ter Stegen to win the award.
De Ligt (Ajax and Juventus)
One of the standout players for Ajax despite the team’s failure to reach the Champions League final, De Ligt was solid at the back and helped the team to win Eredivisie and KNVB Cup in Holland.
The Dutch international made 55 appearances and scored seven goals in all competitions for Ajax before making the much anticipated move to Serie A giant, Juventus last this summer.
Van Dijk (Liverpool)
Van Dijk is widely regarded as the best centre-back in the world, with the eyebrow-raising £75m price Liverpool for him in January 2018 now considered a bargain.
Liverpool have been transformed from a vulnerable defence to among the best in Europe, culminating with their Champions League triumph in June of this year after finishing as runners-up 12 months prior.
Such is his calmness in possession, Van Dijk went 50 games without being dribbled past between March 2018 and August 2019, which was key to the Reds’ agonising finish as runners-up behind Manchester City in the Premier League after winning 97 points.
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
A winner of four UEFA Champions League titles, four Ligas, UEFA EURO 2008 and 2012, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup among a phalanx of trophies, Sergio Ramos, has displayed some elements of true leadership in the colours of the Real Madrid shirt, helping the team to reach the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League last season.
In his absence, the team was knocked out by Ajax in the round of 16.
Marcelo (Real Madrid)
One of the best left full-backs in the world, Marcelo had a decent display in the colours of Real Madrid last season despite the team trophless campaign.
The Brazilian international showed great character and was instrumental in some of the team’s goal scored last season.
F. de Jong (Ajax/Barcelona)
De Jong is an unavoidable talent and his shot in midfield is inevitable, something which was evident in Ajax’s Champions League run before the team came crashing in the semi final against Tottenham.
No doubt, de Jong’s performance for Ajax last season helped the team to clinch the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup in Netherlands.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Last season, the Croatian international was named the World Best Player, however, this season the case is different as he made the FIFA best IX.
Modric was the brain behind every Real Madrid attack last season even though the team failed to win a trophy. Overall, the former Tottenhma midfielder was one of the few standout players that took the game to their opponent both in the league and Europe.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea/Real Madrid)
The engine room that made Chelsea the Europa League champions after an impressive showing last season. Some of the high points of the Blues was been produced by the Belgian international before his departure to Real Madrid at the summer.
Hazard’s final year in west London was his most successful in the Premier League in terms of combined goals (16) and assists (a league-high 15), and a major factor in our final third-place finish.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Messi has another 12 months to celebrate but again found the game’s top prizes out of his reach. Barcelona won La Liga once again as Messi was the top scorer across Europe and provided the most assists in Spain’s top flight.
However, a semi-final second-leg collapse at Anfield saw Barca miss out in the Champions League once again as Liverpool scored 4-0 to seal a remarkable 4-3 aggregate win.
On the international stage, Messi suffered another semi-final exit as Argentina lost 2-0 to Brazil in the Copa America in July before beating Chile in the third-place play-off.
Mbappé
The France international was a key player for Paris Saint Germain last season as his goals played a vital part in ensuring that the team won the Ligue 1 title.
Mbappe pace, dribbles and energy was a handful for most defenders in the French league.
Cristiano Ronaldo
After nine years at Real Madrid, Ronaldo moved to Juventus last summer in a deal worth £100million looking for a new challenge at the age of 33 and was named Serie A’s most valuable player 10 months later after winning the Scudetto.
Ronaldo finished as club’s top scorer in every domestic competition he competed in before leading Portugal to Uefa Nations League glory over the summer.
The forward scored a hat-trick in the semi-final win over Switzerland before captaining the final win over Netherlands in Porto.
