Absences and surprises on The Best's list: Hazard, Neymar, Thiago …

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the top of the list and then the rest. For decades the individual prizes were distributed like this and the Portuguese and the Argentine are still there in 2020 (Cristiano won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008) bidding, although giving more option to his rivals after the hegemony broken by Modric after the World Cup in Russia .

FIFA announced this Wednesday the candidates for The Best where they appear, along with Juventus and Culé, De Bruyne (City), Lewandowski (Bayern), Mané (Liverpool), Mbappé (PSG), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Salah (Liverpool ), Van Dijk (Liverpool), Neymar (PSG) and Thiago Alcántara (Bayern / Liverpool). As always, the names change and leave notable surprises and absences.

Surprises: Neymar returns to the podium, Thiago enters with the chosen ones …

Neymar seemed the great heir to the throne of Messi and Cristiano but the reign is lasting much longer than expected. The Brazilian has had injury problems that prevented him from shining all that was expected in Paris but, finally, he did it in the final phase of the Champions League. From his performance in the round of 16 to come back against Dortmund to his quarterfinal and semi-final matches against RB Leizpig and Atalanta. The 10 has been confirmed as a total player and returns to this list in its own right. He lacked winning the Champions League in Paris to become a great favorite for the award, a place occupied by Robert Lewandowski.

In this list, the entry of Thiago Alcántara is surprising. Lisbon and the final phase to get the Orejona was the jump to the next level. The Spaniard masterfully led the European champion to show them that not trusting him could be a mistake. He went to Liverpool with a falling price and now, he wants to start in the Premier successfully under Klopp. It is already among the best. Now, it's time to stay. Less surprising is the presence of De Bruyne, the best player in the Premier without winning the title, those of Liverpool's trident together with Van Dijk or that of several members of Bayern European champions, where more presence is missed.

Among the coaches, there is also a big surprise. Flick, champion of everything with Bayern, is the favorite along with Klopp, winner of the Premier breaking a historic badge for Liverpool, Zidane, who won LaLiga for Real Madrid and Lopetegui, who won another Europa League for Sevilla. All accompanied by Marcelo Bielsa, who achieved promotion to the Premier with Leeds and that FIFA has considered putting into these awards.

Absences: More Bayern, Hazard, the Ajax society, a Kane who returns …

The most notable absence from the list from previous years is Eden Hazard. In 2019, the Belgian was important for Sarri's Chelsea, with whom he was bored training, but in which he shone in the Premier and was decisive in the last blows of the Europa League to win the title. Since his arrival in Madrid, Hazard has not reached the expected level due to multiple injuries that have not given him the necessary continuity. In search of his best form, he is tasked with returning to this list in 2021 dressed in white.

In Ajax they fascinated Europe but in their new destinations things have changed. Neither De Ligt nor De Jong repeat on this list after leaving Amsterdam for Turin and Barcelona. Neither of the two Dutchmen have returned to their best level and fall off the list. After shining together, they are struggling on their separate adventure. Both have career and level to return.

Another who has taken the injuries is Harry Kane. The English striker was out for much of the season with a femur injury. 24 goals in 34 games are a good mark but maybe not enough to reach this select club. This 2020 is back and almost better than ever with 13 goals, just 15 games when we did not even touch the halfway point of the season. If it continues like this, it seems difficult for it to come out in 2021.

Bayern adds candidates but could well put some more in a team that shone more as a block than individually. So, Joshua Kimmich could well have a place in these awards and even Thomas Müller, who lives a second youth with Flick. In social networks, some fans even claimed Erling Haaland. The cyborg will also have to wait.