5 defenders in the current era who deserve the Ballon d'Or

#3 - Philipp Lahm:

Germany v Argentina: 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final

Philipp Lahm may have retired with the end of the 2016/2017 season, but he remains as underrated as a player could ever get, as well as one of the most consistent performers that we have witnessed in our current era.

There is a reason why Pep Guardiola described the 33-year old as the most intelligent player he has ever managed. A fascinating compliment from one of the most reputable managers in activity.

Lahm has been a key figure for Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich in the last 12 years, where they dominated local competitions. After losing two of the previous three finals against Internazionale and Chelsea in 2010 and 2012 respectively, the Bavarians were finally able to claim the Champions League title after beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1, in the 2013 final.

Following a serious of upsets with Germany's national team in between 2006 and 2012, where Lahm and his teammates were so close, yet so far from achieving silverware, the Nationalmannschaft's captain was finally rewarded in 2014, as he claimed the FIFA World Cup and consequently brought a glorious end to his international career.

When you look back at it in 10 years time, it's hard to understand how an all-time great of his caliber was never even considered as a Ballon d'Or candidate, not even in 2014.