We are about four months from finding out who will be named FIFA's World Player of the Year for 2015. The Golden Ball, or more accurately the "Ballon d'Or", is awarded to the single best player in the world each year in early January at the FIFA World Player Gala.
According to Mundo Deportivo, there exists a preliminary list of potential candidates. The proverbial list before the actual finalists list. On this list are four names of current Chelsea players along with 55 others. The Blues who have made this prestigious list are Eden Hazard (duh), Thibaut Courtois (duh), Diego Costa (okay), and Willian (wait...what?). Perhaps the most hilarious name on the list is Chelsea property and current Bournemouth player Christian Atsu, who has only played sparingly over the last two seasons.
To say this list is a bit generous in naming potential World Player of the Year candidates would be an understatement. The obvious names like Messi, Ronaldo, and Suarez are all there, but so are some very interesting, and somewhat hilarious ones.
QPR's Australian midfielder Massimo Luongo being on it makes this just a tad bit comical. How is he nominated over literally anyone from Chelsea's starting 11 from last season?
Here is the full list: