Alexis Sanchez’s epic Instagram reply after Ballon d’Or snub
Oct 27, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Arsenal fans were left bemused when the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist was announced earlier this week.
Not only was there no place for Mesut Ozil; Alexis Sanchez also failed to make the cut.
The 27-year-old scored 17 goals in 42 appearances for the Gunners last season, helping his side secure second place in the Premier League in the process, but it was his contribution for Chile at the Copa America which made his omission puzzling.
Sanchez scored three goals in the United States and inspired his national team to a second successive Copa America title.
Despite the fact Eduardo Vargas scored six goals, it was Alexis who was named as the tournament’s best player.
This was pointed out by someone on Instagram alongside a photo of the Chilean holding the Copa America trophy.
And eagle-eyed Arsenal fans noticed that Sanchez had liked the post.
He can be forgiven if he did feel a little disappointed not to make the final 30.
His international teammate Arturo Vidal made the cut – presumably because he also won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich – while the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Andres Iniesta, and Rui Patricio also feature on the shortlist.
Are they more deserving of a place in the final 30 over Alexis Sanchez?
2016 BALLON D’OR SHORTLIST
Here’s the 2016 Ballon d’Or shortlist in full…
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Neymar (Barcelona), Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Pepe (Real Madrid), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich).
Cristiano Ronaldo is the overwhelming favorite to win the prestigious individual accolade for the fourth time in his career.