Ivan Rakitić snubbed for UEFA Team of the Year

Barcelona had 2 players selected for the UEFA Team of the Year

7 players from Barcelona were nominated for the UEFA Team of the Year, but just 2 players could make it into the final eleven. They have been undoubtedly some of the best performers in Europe, but some of their teammates also deserved a spot.

Marc-André ter Stegen and Lionel Messi have been selected for the UEFA Team of the Year, while Gerard Piqué, Samuel Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitić and Luis Suárez missed out. Among these players, Rakitić’s exclusion is the most undeserved.

Alba arguably produced some of the best performances of his career last season, and has got off to a great start this season. Samuel Umtiti also did really well. But the decision to exclude Gerard Piqué and Luis Suárez from the Team of the Year is understandable.

But the best season of Ivan Rakitić’s career was undoubtedly the 2017/18 season. Along with Leo Messi, the 30-year old Croatian playmaker was the best performer for the club. After the end of the season, he had an excellent campaign in Russia, picking up a World Cup runners-up medal.

N’Golo Kanté and Eden Hazard clearly got into the UEFA Team of the Year on the basis of their performance in the World Cup, considering that Chelsea endured a mediocre season under Antonio Conte. And even if Kanté’s place is justified due to France’s World Cup win, Hazard’s is not.

In fact, Eden Hazard is out of position in midfield. The only argument that can be made in favour of the 29-year old Belgian superstar is his brilliant start to the season under Maurizio Sarri. But Ivan Rakitić was consistently good throughout 2018, for both club and country.

Rakitić’s snub is very surprising, and totally unwarranted. He deserves a spot in the UEFA Team of the Year ahead of Eden Hazard. But Marc-André ter Stegen should be very happy, making his debut in the Team of the Year, while Leo Messi is a constant every year.