10 Players You Forgot Were Nominated For Ballon d'Or
5. Seol Ki-Hyeon (Anderlecht) - 2002
Seol Ki-Hyeons resumé reads like a whos who? of wacky companies, from Pohang Steelers to Incheon United. During his time in the Premier League, where he spent six years, he played for the modest outfits of Wolves, Reading and Fulham. There was nothing ever spectacular about the South Korean winger, despite his 82 caps, which begs the question - how on earth was he ever nominated for a Ballon dOr? The answer is quite simple - international tournaments confuse everybody. Not only did the 2002 World Cup introduce a host of African flops - hailed as the next best thing since sliced bread - into the Premier League, but host country South Koreas impressive surge to the semi-finals resulted in Seol Ki-Hyeons inclusion in the shortlist. Then an exciting winger at Belgian side Anderlecht, big things were expected of the 23 year old following his impressive showing at the World Cup. 16 goals in 136 appearances in England, including a stint in the Championship, made sure that his Ballon dOr nomination was but a blip in a spectacularly mediocre 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.
