10 Players You Forgot Were Nominated For Ballon d'Or
7. Tim Cahill (Everton) - 2006
A Ballon dOr conducted post-international tournament can throw up some very flimsy results. As shown earlier, half the Greek and Cameroon sides of previous years found their way onto lists of this nature in the past, and it appears that it was Tim Cahills creditable showing in Germany during the 2006 World Cup which elevated him into higher echelons of footballing awards. With the the rankings crammed with players who performed well at the competition, with Italys talismanic Fabio Cannavaro ultimately claiming the prize, one would have to imagine World Cup fever took place over judgement when Evertons Tim Cahill was thrown into the mix. The Australian midfielder bagged two goals against Japan and produced several other credible displays before the Aussies bowed out in the last 16 against Italy. Ultimately, it wasnt enough to engineer any votes for the Everton midfielder, but it was still the highest honour bestowed on a footballer who never tasted the fruits of Champions League football during a long and distinguished career.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
