Memphis Depay ignored in the Ballon d’Or list despite sensational numbers

The Ballon d’Or has lost a lot of its credibility over the years, and probably rightly so. It’s become an award where journalists vote for their favourite players, coaches for those they have trained, and players vote for their friends.

Well, it seems one man who appears to be entirely out of favour from his coaches and fellow players despite an absolutely brilliant year is Memphis Depay.

Memphis has enjoyed inarguably his best year in professional football and registered some bizarre numbers. In fact, he has the third-highest direct goal contributions in 2021 with 49 — only behind Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.

Players with the most direct goal contributions (goals + assists) in 2021:

Lewandowski – 58
Messi – 52
Memphis – 49
Halaand – 48
Mbappe – 48
Benzema – 46

Memphis is the only one not in the list for a Ballon D’or nomination. pic.twitter.com/S2rLCyLwBo

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) October 11, 2021

He registered two goals and two assists which took him clear of Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Karim Benzema last night.

This brilliant run of form has been vital for the Netherlands in the World Cup qualifiers. Memphis has scored nine goals and assisted eight in a mere eight games in the qualifiers.

Memphis Depay in the World Cup qualifiers for the Netherlands:

– 8 matches
– 9 goals
– 8 assists pic.twitter.com/XXp5lp9q7U

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) October 11, 2021

This run of form has extended to Barcelona as well, for whom he has registered three goals and an assist in the league.

One can reason that he was not part of the Champions League last season with Olympique Lyonnais and has not scored yet for Barça in the competition, but his brilliant year deserved to be commended with a top-30 nomination at the very least.