The Champions League victory was not enough for the Team of the Year selection.
Thibaut Courtois could not hide his disappointment after seeing the order of the Player of the Year nominees. However, the Belgian was awarded as the best goalkeeper in the world. EPA/AOP
Last Monday, the world’s best footballers gathered for the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony to watch who will win the coveted Ballon d’Or as the titans Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo they no longer own it among themselves.
In the end, the French striker from Real Madrid was voted the best male player in the world Karim Benzema, who played a big role in last spring’s Champions League games. The Ballon d’Or was Benzema’s first.
Before the winner was awarded, 24 other players who received votes were revealed. The second one was voted for who played in Liverpool and now plays for Bayern Munich Sadio Mane and Manchester City third Kevin De Bruyne.
The list of players also included players from Madrid Thibaut Courtois (7th), Vinicius Junior (8.) as well as Luka Modric (9th). Courtois, who made an incredible save in last spring’s Champions League final, was awarded as the goalkeeper of the year at the ceremony, but missing the Ballon d’Or for such a long time hurt the Belgian a lot.
– I am happy for Benzema. I’m not saying I should have won it, but I’m not even on the podium as a goalkeeper who won both LaLiga and the Champions League.
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Thibaut Courtois was the biggest hero of the Champions League final last spring. PDO
Courtois feels that goalkeepers are not appreciated in the selection of the best players.
– It seems that scoring a goal is better than preventing it. It’s a do-nothing place. When I understood the logic of it and how people vote, I know it’s impossible for me to win. I’m not sure if any goalkeeper can do more than what I did last season, commented the goalkeeper.
During the history of the award, only one goalkeeper has won the Ballon d’Or, Lev Yashin in 1963.
Eight years ago, there was one goalkeeper in the top three. Led Germany to the World Cup trophy Manuel Neuer was third in the 2014 vote, but in his defense it can be stated that Messi and Ronaldo, who were at the top of their careers, went ahead of him.
The anger in Real Madrid’s camp was also increased by the Team of the Year award going to Manchester City. The Premier League champion dominated the British courts last season, but was left out of the Champions League final precisely because of Real Madrid.
In addition to this, Real was wedged in front of Liverpool, who played in the Champions League final and won the league cup and the FA Cup in England. Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos asked fans on Twitter about the bronze medal.