FIFA has unveiled a 23-man shortlist for the best team of the year, and while the stars are plentiful, some of these options have sparked controversy.
Starting with the goalkeeper, Allison and Mendy and Donnarumma were selected. They are undoubtedly the best goalkeepers in the world, especially Mendy in the Premier League and Champions League. The candidate for this position is still relatively reasonable.
There are as many as six full-backs in the list of defenders, with only two centre-backs, Bonucci and Ruben Díaz, which is somewhat unbalanced in numbers.
At right-back, along with Arnold was 38-year-old veteran Alves, a choice that was a bit confusing. The elderly player left São Paulo this summer to return to Barca due to portrait rights issues. Similar to him are James and Cancelo, who don't seem to be the best right-backs in Europe.
At left-back there are Alba and Alaba. Luke Shaw and Spinazzola, both players who reached the European Championship final, missed the squad after England and Italy had been debating who was the greatest left-back on Football Twitter. Robinson also regrettably lost the election. All three of these people should actually have a place.
The midfield position is divided into two aspects. First of all, there is not much controversy about the selection of Champions League champions Kante and Jorginho and Premier League champions De Brauyne. Based on his performances so far this season, B Fee's selection is a bit far-fetched, but he was in excellent form at the beginning of the year.
On the other hand, there are a number of Barça players who have been shortlisted. De Jong and Busquets pushed players such as Kimisi, Müller, Verratti and Barrera to be selected. The list of "snubbed" midfielders is hard to come by. With two veterans, Busquets and Alves, the squad looks more like the best squad in La Liga in 2012 than the list of players who have performed laudably in the last year. With a number of Barca midfielders selected, the defeat of Kopa Award winner Pedro is puzzling.
Finally, let's look at the striker. Neymar is the first frowning option, with the Brazilian making just 21 league appearances this year. Benzema, Levan, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were among the regulars of the various awards, followed by Mbappe, Haaland and Lukaku.
These strikers are among the best top scorers in the world, but there is an Egyptian player from the Reds who missed the roster. Salah this season can be said to be unstoppable, averaging one goal per 63 minutes. If he maintains the same number of games as last season, he will be involved in making 66 goals this season, an achievement that is difficult for any other player in world football today to do.
It was puzzling to see him excluded from the squad, and some of the players selected played a major role in the team's decline in performance, while others only played the equivalent of half a season.
Overall, 14 of the players shortlisted for the Golden Globes 30 are not among the candidates for this Team of the Year. In the face of many controversies, FIFA should adjust its thinking and be more "in line with the times".
FIFA Squad of the Year 23-Man Shortlist:
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Donnaruma, Mendy
Defenders: Alaba, Alba, Alves, Arnold, Bonucci, Díaz
Midfielders: Busquets, De Bruyne, Franchi De Jong, B Fee, Jorginho, Kante
Forwards: Benzema, Haaland, Levan, Lukaku, Mbappe, Messi, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo