In a star-studded team featuring the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, it is easy for a player such as Georginio Wijnaldum to go under the radar.
After all, who wins games, the 20-goal wide man or the midfielder who scores less than five goals a season?
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That, however, did not stop Wijnaldum from gaining recognition at this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. Wijnaldum ranked 26th in the battle for the Ballon d’Or accolade, and it is hard to argue against the 29-year-old’s finish.
2019, of course, saw Wijnaldum win the Champions League alongside his Liverpool team-mates. And while he was only able to conjure up five goals in all competitions in the 2018/19 campaign, he still proved to be a key figure for Jurgen Klopp.
“We needed a player between the lines who is good enough to keep the ball, pass the ball,” Klopp said when speaking about the Netherlands international’s inclusion against Barcelona last term (via Liverpool Echo), highlighting what he can bring to the team.
Finishing 26th in the Ballon d’Or rankings is no mean feat, and Liverpool fans have since taken to Twitter to praise Wijnaldum for that achievement…
My midfielder
— . (@FourRoIe) December 2, 2019
Yessss what a beautiful man. pic.twitter.com/9OVElh4KB5
— (@ChrisvLFC) December 2, 2019
Proud @GWijnaldum
— Ben₂₉ (@FTGini) December 2, 2019
Hero
— Spennie 6 times (@unrealxherdan) December 2, 2019
If there was an award for most underrated player Gini would win that hands down
— Tim Mahoney (@Tice_Mahoney) December 2, 2019
Gini you are a legend forever at this club for what you’ve done in the CL. And still so much more possible things to come. Isn’t that amazing?
— Julian (@Julian_01m) December 2, 2019
