After the 30-member shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or was announced, football fans across the globe were shocked to not find Brazilian superstar Neymar’s name in it. While there were may other high-profile footballers who were left out, the Paris Saint-Germain player, though, drew the most attention.
However, his absence from the list of candidates was explained by the France Football magazine which gives the coveted award and organizes the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
On Tuesday, the magazine justified Neymar’s omission from the list by saying the season of 2018-19 was the footballer’s “année noire” (black year). This is the first time since 2010 that the Ballon d’Or shortlist doesn’t consist his name.
Last year saw the 28-year-old picking up too many injuries which resulted in him missing important games for his club and country, including Brazil’s Copa America title run and PSG’s Champions League Round of 16 exit against Manchester United last season.
He was also handed a two-match ban for the first two group games of Champions League after abusing the match officials in their last season’s match against United when the English club were awarded a decisive stoppage-time penalty.
Taking to their official Twitter, the France Football magazine said, “An absence that hurts for #Neymar. But the Brazilian really lived a very complicated 2019 year. With injuries, of course, but not only …”
Une absence qui fait mal pour #Neymar. Mais le Brésilien a véritablement vécu une année 2019 très compliquée. Avec des blessures, bien sûr, mais pas que…
👉 Voici pourquoi son absence s’explique : https://t.co/JMKRv6Slt3#BallondOr pic.twitter.com/GF2byIWXtu
— #BallondOr (@francefootball) October 22, 2019
The Paris-based magazine was also seen criticizing the former Barcelona footballer’s transfer hullabaloo before the start of this season when he tried to force a move from PSG to his old club. The magazine termed the entire episode as Neymar’s “summer soap opera” on their official statement.
The footballer has never won the prestigious award but managed a third-place finish in 2015 and 2017.
Meanwhile, Neymar’s former clubmate and Barcelona veteran Lionel Messi and Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo are again being touted as the frontrunners alongside Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk to win the 2019 edition of Ballon d’Or.