5 snubs from FIFA's Player of the Year finalists

The finalists for FIFA’s Player of the Year award obviously feature some of the sport’s most talented footballers, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi leading the charge.

While few can argue with the inclusion of the 24 finalists, who’ll each hope to take home the prize from an October ceremony in London, a handful of other players made a convincing case for the shortlist with strong campaigns last term.

Here’s a look at the biggest snubs:

Isco – Real Madrid

The buzz around stadiums is unmistakable when the ball’s at Isco’s feet, yet the excitement he generates in the stands didn’t necessarily catch the attention of the decision-makers in Zurich, Switzerdland.

The Real Madrid midfielder, 25, is rapidly evolving into one of the game’s prominent generals in the heart of the pitch. His ability to pull the strings in the middle of the park and his otherworldly vision stand out, and should earn Isco some recognition if he’s able to produce a season similar to his 2016-17 campaign.

Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City

Few would describe Kevin De Bruyne’s season as disappointing following a campaign in which he produced a Premier League-leading 18 assists. But Manchester City’s shortcomings last season – including the club’s failure to win a single trophy – may have cost the gifted midfielder his chance to become the first Belgian to win FIFA’s Player of the Year award.

De Bruyne doesn’t necessarily need to score more goals to change his fortunes, but lifting silverware could garner some extra attention.

Edinson Cavani – PSG

Winning the top scoring honour in France apparently wasn’t enough for Edinson Cavani to be recognised as one of football’s top 24 players.

Yet, after a season in which he starred for the capital-city side with 35 goals, there’s seemingly not much more the Uruguayan can do other than lead Paris Saint-Germain to glory in the Champions League. Even then, his efforts could be overshadowed by a guy called Neymar.

Kylian Mbappe – Monaco

If the second half of last term was enough to qualify, AS Monaco wunderkind Kylian Mbappe would have had a chance to compete with the Ronaldo and Messi for the individual honour.

Instead, the coveted 18-year-old likely needs to replicate his dominant display over the course of a full season if he wants to truly elevate his status as one of the world’s best.

Whether he does it in a Monaco shirt, however, remains to be seen.

Gonzalo Higuain – Juventus

Surrounding himself with an improved cast of teammates could have cost Gonzalo Higuain a chance at some individual hardware following his debut season with Juventus.

The Argentine, who led all Serie A scorers during the 2015-16 term with Napoli, likely won’t complain after a season that saw him lift the league and domestic cup trophies, as well as appear in the Champions League final.

Despite seemingly giving up the chance to be the face of a club in order to win trophies, Higuain’s tremendous scoring rate shows no signs of slowing down after banging in 24 league goals in his first season in Turin.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)