This is basically trolling Cristiano Ronaldo.
The readers of Marca, the Spanish national daily sports newspaper, voted for the best players in the world during 2015, and it makes for interesting reading.
After a stunning calender year, Barcelona’s front three deservedly take the podium places. The Catalan club won five trophies in 12 months, and played some spectacular football.
Lionel Messi, just as he will in the upcoming Ballon d’Or award, takes first place, Neymar is second and their pal Luis Suarez is third. As on the pitch, Andreas Iniesta is just behind them, taking fourth spot.
You’re probably wondering at this point where Cristiano Ronaldo placed. The Real Madrid superstar has, in the past few years, either finished just behind or ahead of Messi in such votes.
Don’t tell him, but he’s in eighth position.
Behind a goalkeeper and a defensive midfielder.
That’s right, Marca readers consider Claudio Bravo to have performed better during 2015.
In fairness, the Barcelona and Chile ‘keeper has had a brilliant year. Bravo won five trophies with Barca and was captain as Chile won their first ever Copa America title.
Meanwhile Ronaldo, by his own lofty standards, has had something of a sub-par year, despite, once again, being in contention for the Ballon d’Or.
However, we can’t imagine Ronaldo will be happy to have finished behind Bravo and his teammate Sergio Busquets.
Here’s the list in full:
10. Paul Pogba (Juventus)
9. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
8. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
7. Claudio Bravo (Barcelona)
6. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
5. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
4. Anders Iniesta (Barcelona)
3. Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
2. Neymar (Barcelona)
1. Leo Messi (Barcelona)
