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

4. Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid & Wales)

There was a bit of an odd backlash against Gareth Bale after his world record transfer to Real Madrid - a suggestion that the Southampton Academy graduate was in no way deserving of being the world's most valuable player, that he was overrated and overexposed. However, it doesn't take much observation of the quality of his performances throughout the year for both Tottenham and Real to disprove that. With the former left back gradually moving further and further up the pitch, 2012-13 saw a player who had never previously hit double figures for Premier League goals in a season score 21 in 33 games, easily more than Spurs' recognised strikers. These weren't ordinary tap ins either, with multiple Goal of the Month awards a testament to Bale's ability to carve goals out of situations that other players couldn't. Only his new team-mate and Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo had previously won the PFA Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and the FWA Player of the Year awards all in the same season. Any further need for indication of just how single handedly he was responsible for Spurs' form last season is clear in how, despite spending an inordinate amount trying to replace him, they have struggled this season. Bale, meanwhile, has impressively set about proving the doubters wrong in Madrid. His hat-trick against Real Valladolid featured goals with both feet and his head, something of a counter argument to those who view him as too one-footed. Now with 10 goals in 20 games for the Meringues, Bale is continuing to impress as 2014 begins.