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There’s been a running theme in the Barcelona media this week about the Ballon d’Or. It will surprise nobody to learn that in Catalonia they would have preferred Lionel Messi to get the award, and believe it’s unfair Cristiano Ronaldo won.

But Catalan newspaper Sport also believe other footballers have missed out, and that’s where Everton manager Ronald Koeman comes in. Sport have compiled an eleven of former and current Barcelona players who deserve the highest recognition, but who have, for some reason, missed out.

Maybe they didn’t, or don’t, play in an exciting enough position, or perhaps their marketing isn’t great. The latter is another favourite for the Barcelona media, who believe Ronaldo won because he has better marketing.

Screen Shot 2016-12-14 at 16.36.40On the Everton manager, it’s explained his European Cup winning goal against Sampdoria will never be forgotten. Koeman’s strike at Wembley in 1992 secured the first premier European trophy for Barcelona.

Koeman didn’t even get in the top three for the award, with Marco van Basten winning in 1992 and Roberto Baggio in 1993.

Whilst the praise of Koeman may well be justified, and the Everton manager would surely agree, that Sport have placed Victor Valdes in the same team would only serve to weaken things.