FIFA Team Of The Year: 11 Overlooked Players Who Deserved Inclusion

Defence

10. Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City & Argentina)

While he may be a slightly surprising choice to represent the Premier League in the World XI, there can be few better right backs to challenge Dani Alves' slot in the FIFPro team than Pablo Zabaleta. If the Premier League went by calendar year, as these awards do, then Man City would be champions by some margin, while their impressive win against Bayern Munich in December shows that they can beat anyone. While some may point to the defensive solidity of Kompany, the quality of Yaya Toure in the middle, or the attacking prowess of "Kun" Aguero, it is Zabaleta who has most consistently impressed during this period. Despite finishing league and cup runners up for 2012-13, Zabaleta was City's only representative in the PFA Team of the Year and won the club's own Player of the Year award. Had he not been sent off in the Cup Final, the Citizens might not have ended the year trophy-less. This year Zabaleta, often the stand-in captain in the absence of Kompany, has impressed greatly, both flying forward and tracking back, having already picked up five Premier League assists, his best ever total in just half the season and delivering a superb performance in the 6-3 demolition of league leaders Arsenal. Meanwhile, for Argentina Zabaleta has fought back from being excluded completely from Diego Maradona's 2010 squad to become a fixture in, and occasional captain of, a team that comfortably won the South American qualifying section and must be many people's favourites to triumph in Brazil next summer.