FIFA's best prize: The 5 biggest omissions from this year's list of male players

Emerging as an alternative to the France Football Gold Ball in 2016, The Best FIFA Football Awards are still in their infancy.

But the decision last year to award the Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modrić with the trophy – Cristiano Ronaldo won his first two titles – showed that the greatest football awards could get away from what many think is a popularity contest.

But while the price could No need to count players' social media, the FIFA nominees for this year's trophy count a few notable absentees.

Here are a handful of stars that could have (and probably should) be featured on their official list of 10 men before the award ceremony in Milan on September 23rd.

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Neymar – Paris Saint-Germain

It's a popularity contest after all, right?

Anyone who has watched European football in the last 12 months is well aware that Neymar, the Paris Saint-Germain poster, does not deserve to be on the list of FIFA candidates, much less to argue the price.

At 27, he was absent due to an injury or suspension at crucial matches for Parisians last season, while he also missed all of Brazil Copa America Campaign.

Appearances: 28

goals: 23

aid: 13

Major Honors: League 1 & Champions Trophy.

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Dušan Tadić – AFC Ajax

Two Ajax players found themselves in the top list, but there were two notable absentees among all Amsterdam players.

Hakim Ziyech, player of the season at Ajax, could certainly have ended up on the list of finalists, but perhaps more surprising was the absence of the top scorer of last season Dušan Tadić.

The 30-year-old played a crucial role in the success of the Champions League last season and scored decisive goals against S.L. Benfica, Bayern Munich and more particularly real Madrid.

Appearances: 58

goals: 38

aid: 24

Major Honors: Eredivisie KNVB Beker & Johan Cruyff Shield.

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Raheem Sterling – Manchester City

For those who have not seen the list of 10 players selected by FIFA, the highest level of professional football have estimated that Harry Kane Tottenham had a better season than Raheem Sterling, winner of the Premier League, the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

But as Kane has the same trophy cabinet as anyone who has never even kicked a football, would it be safe to badume that he has at least scored more goals than Sterling last season?

False. Kane scored 24 goals in all competitions for Tottenham, while Sterling got a bigger position to really help Manchester City win many trophies.

Appearances: 51

goals: 25

aid: 18

Major Honors: Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Community Shield.

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Alisson Becker – Liverpool

Manuel Neuer was the last goalkeeper to have a serious chance of winning a major individual prize – he finished third in the 2014 Golden Ball – while he did not win the ball since the Soviet legend Lev Yashin in 1963.

But Alisson Becker could have been as close as any goalkeeper in recent years after helping transform Liverpool in the last 12 months. The Reds have racked up a Premier League point record, while being crowned champions of Europe.

He was also ubiquitous during Brazil's win this summer. Copa America.

Appearances: 51

Goals conceded: 38

Clean sheets: 27

Major Honors: Champions League & Copa America

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Bernardo Silva – Manchester City

Up there with Wesley Sneijder and Franck Ribéry is absent from the Ballon d'Or in 2010 and 2013 respectively, a real failure of the European football awards system, the talisman of Manchester City Bernardo Silva It's not even in contention for this year's FIFA The Best.

The Portuguese international has been at the heart of the city's triple season and has even been voted player of the season by the club. The Selecção das Quinas won the first League of the UEFA Nations.

Many expected it to be a slam dunk that Silva at least As a result of being listed on the FIFA list of 10 candidates, its absence unsurprisingly left fans wondering about the legitimacy (not for the first time) of the decision-making process of the governing body.

Appearances: 51

goals: 13

aid: 14

Major Honors: Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Nations League.

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