Antonio Rüdiger nominated for German national team Player of the Year

Antonio Rüdiger has been nominated for the German national team’s Player of the Year award. The Chelsea defender is one of 11 nominees on the ballot available for selection on the federation’s official website.

It was the year of the German fringe players as Die Mannschaft won the 2017 Confederations Cup with a host of reserve players, proving once again they are the dominant national team in world football. Rüdiger was an integral part of that victorious side, starting four of the team’s five matches and only conceding four goals during them.

He took full advantage of his opportunity on the big stage. That coupled with his strong play for Chelsea this season has made him a contender to win a spot on the Germany World Cup squad this summer.

It was just days after that Confederations Cup in Russia that Chelsea announced they had signed the 24-year-old. While his performances for Roma were stellar, you have to believe his play on the international stage was also a factor in catching the Blues’ eye.

Here is the full list of candidates for the award: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea), Jonas Hector (FC Koln), Julian Draxler (PSG), Emre Can (Liverpool), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig), Lars Stindl (Borussia Monchengladbach)