September 4th 2024.
Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka, who left the Emirates in July 2023 to join Bayer Leverkusen, has recently been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award. This came as a surprise to many, as Xhaka's seven-year stay in north London was marked by some turbulent moments. In 2019, he was booed off by Arsenal supporters and responded angrily, leading to him being stripped of his captaincy by then-manager Unai Emery.
However, Xhaka's career took a turn for the better under current manager Mikel Arteta. He became a key player in the Gunners' squad, even going head-to-head with Manchester City in the 2022/23 season. Since joining Bayer Leverkusen, Xhaka has continued to flourish and was a crucial part of their team that went unbeaten to win the Bundesliga, German Cup, and German Super Cup. He also captained Switzerland to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
As a result of his impressive performances, Xhaka has now received his first Ballon d'Or nomination. He is joined on the 30-man shortlist by his Leverkusen teammates Alejandro Grimaldo and Florian Wirtz. Meanwhile, six players from the England national team, including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Harry Kane, also made the cut.
The full shortlist for the men's Ballon d'Or includes players from top clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich. Notably, this year's list does not feature Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, the two players who have dominated the award for the past two decades.
The official awards ceremony is scheduled for Monday, October 28th. In the meantime, Xhaka and his fellow nominees will continue to work hard and strive for success on the field. It's a great achievement for the former Arsenal captain, and his inclusion on this list serves as a testament to his talent and hard work.
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