Two Arsenal players were part of the final 30-man Ballon d’Or rankings last night, as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were recognised for their fine performances last season.
The pair were two of Arsenal’s best performers as they challenged for the Premier League, and Saka also impressed for England at the World Cup and throughout the Euro qualifying campaign.
They were both included in the PFA Team of the Year, with Aaron Ramsdale also being nominated for the Yashin Best Goalkeeper trophy, and the rankings were announced yesterday as Lionel Messi lifted his eighth Ballon d’Or.
Saka and Odegaard ranked in Ballon d’Or awards
Odegaard ranked in 29th place, ahead of Manchester City’s Ruben Dias, whilst Saka came in at 24th, ahead of Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala.
Although the pair weren’t as high up as some of their International teammates, Arsenal’s failure to win the title held them back from higher positions, but they can still be proud to be included in the list, as no Arsenal player had even been nominated since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2019.
Arsenal’s Ballon d’Or links
They ranked below Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in eighth place, after the Nigerian helped his side win a historic Serie A title, and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who was sold by Mikel Arteta in 2020, in 15th place after helping Argentina win the World Cup.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Osimhen, who could cost £150m, and his high ranking on the list highlights his status as one of the leading strikers in world football.
Martinez also beat Ramsdale to the Yashin trophy, despite Ramsdale beating him to a place in the Premier League Team of the Year, with the World Cup clearly having a huge swing in results.
Whilst Arsenal can be proud to have had a few links to the Ballon d’Or this year, the likes of William Saliba and Declan Rice will be eyeing up a place in the top 30 next year.
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