By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – In what might be perceived, somewhat controversially, as a sign that Lionel Messi is losing his lustre, millions of fans have bizarrely left the Barcelona and Argentine superstar out of UEFA’s team of the year.
Messi, who lost his World Player of the Year crown to Cristiano Ronaldo this week, failed to make the team chosen by users of UEFA’s website.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo were picked as forwards in a side dominated by players from the Bundesliga and La Liga and including Gareth Bale, the world’s most expensive player.
UEFA said that 6.3 million people cast votes in the poll, which showed Paris St Germain’s Brazilian Thiago Silva as the only non-European. European champions Bayern Munich were best represented with four players: goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defensive duo Philipp Lahm and David Alaba and winger Franck Ribery who came third on Monday in FIFA’s Ballon d’Or award behind Ronaldo and Messi.
It is the first time since 2007 that Messi has not made the team while not a single Serie A player was chosen, a possible pointer to Italy’s declining status. Only one player from the Premier League made the side even though eight were nominated.
UEFA Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), David Alaba (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Germain)
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