Marcus Rashford out of the Ballon d’Or nomination. Were Álvarez and Muani really better?

Marcus Rashford had the season of his life. After the arrival of Erik ten Hag his performance went up sharply, especially after coming back from the World Cup the English winger was one of the best players in the world. But a Ballon d’Or nomination is out of the question.

Rashford and the whole of Manchester United didn’t exactly start last season well, the change only kicked off with a win against Liverpool and continued with another win against Arsenal. In those two games, the English winger scored 3 goals. He didn’t add many more goals before leaving for Qatar, so it looked like another average season.

The change of form was due to the December championship, where Rashford was starting from the bench, but his performance was superior to his colleagues from the starting eleven. It was the Red Devils winger who almost equalised in the quarter-final against France with a shot from a direct kick, which unfortunately for England flew inches from the top left corner.

Rashford ended up playing 61 games for the season, scoring 33 goals and 11 assists. His goals helped Manchester United to win the Carabao Cup, reach the Top 4 in the Premier League and the FA Cup final. Among other things, he also won the PFA fans’ vote for the best player in the most watched league in the world.

Amongst the nominees we can find the likes of Julian Álvarez from neighbouring Manchester City, who won the Troubles and added a World Cup win in Qatar, but in such a Premier League side he made 13 appearances from the start, in total he was on the pitch for 1452 minutes, that’s just over 15 games.

In cup duels it was no different and in key games at the end of the season he was completely absent from the pitch. Through all the team trophies this past season, he couldn’t match Rashford individually.

Another name whose nomination is unexpected is PSG’s new signing a few days ago, Randal Kolo Muani, who scored 23 goals in 46 games while still in a Frankfurt jersey and added 17 assists.

As already mentioned, Rashford won the League Cup with the Red Devils, while Muani did not win any trophy. It is hard to say why he was chosen ahead of the Manchester United England winger and other players.

The biggest favourite to win is, of course, Argentine legend Lionel Messi, who is seeking his eighth Ballon d’Or. His main rival is Erling Haaland. The fact that he managed to dominate the championship in Qatar with his country and was the main architect of the success for which the whole country had been waiting impatiently plays in the Argentine’s favour. He also added the obligatory win in Ligue 1.

For a change, the Norwegian cannonballer won the trouble with Manchester City. He was the main man in winning both the Premier League and the Champions League, breaking a long-standing record in the English league by scoring 36 goals. In the Champions League, he scored 12 goals in the 11 games he started. Moreover, Messi has now surpassed him in the award for the best player of the year by UEFA.

Then, for the first time since 2004, Cristiano Ronaldo is missing from the nomination, as he was in great form in Saudi Arabia, but last season was not a good one for him.

The winners will be announced on 30 October.

Source: Sky Sports