Andres Iniesta has been a perennial contender for the Ballon d'Or this year. However, for the first time in a long time, the former Best Player in Europe could be out of the race.
Iniesta has had a terrific year that has included a Spanish League trophy and a solid performance in the Confederations Cup for Spain this past summer. However, there are no individual honors this year for Iniesta as there were in years past and some embarrassing results have left him and the team he represents with a sour taste in the mouth of most soccer fans and experts around the world.
In 2012, Spain and Barcelona were arguably the two greatest soccer teams in world. Spain won the Euro Cup and while Barcelona failed to win any major trophies aside from the Copa del Rey, there was little doubt that this team was still a major contender for everything.
That changed at the start of 2013 as the entire Barcelona style of play was called into question when the team was annihilated 7-0 over two legs against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Iniesta and his countrymen bounced back with a few dominant performances in the group stage of the Confederations Cup but a stalemate against Italy and 3-0 beat down at the hands of Brazil brought the team down in the eyes of many pundits.
Both clubs have regained their composure this fall, but the aura invisibility has vanished. Iniesta has been terrific, but the likelihood of him being chosen above such superstars as Franck Ribery, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Lionel Messi are unlikely.
Prediction: Iniesta ends up in the top 15 but not top three.