5 shocking omissions from the 2017 Ballon d'Or shortlist

5) Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea and Spain)

Cesar Azpilicueta was Chelsea's unsung hero in their Premier League title triumph

The Spanish international from Chelsea had yet another successful season at Stamford Bridge as they were crowned Premier League champions but he still went under the radar - probably due to his unassuming nature and ability to go about doing his job unnoticed.

Antonio Conte knew he had a diamond at the back, saying: "For a coach to have him is a dream. Last season Azpi was one of the most important players for us."

One of the primary reasons why Azpilicueta is so reliable is because of his versatility. The fact that he could play on either flank as a full-back, in a three-man defence or even as a wing-back were qualities that eased Conte's transition from a back-four to a back-three that eventually saw them go on a league-record-equaling winning run before winning the league title.

Not only that, he also played each and every minute of the season as Chelsea were crowned champions; a feat accomplished by only three other outfield players who became champions. In a league as demanding as the Premier League, Azpilicueta played every game from start to finish.

4 - C. Azpilicueta is the 4th outfield player to play every minute of a PL-winning season (Pallister 92/93, Terry 14/15, Morgan 15/16). Key. pic.twitter.com/xlOXDcMRCE

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 22, 2017

Apart from that, Azpiliceta also became the first player to complete more than 2,000 passes in the Premier League last season. The 28-year-old rarely gave the ball away with a pass percentage of 87.3%.

What more does he have to do to be rated among the best in the world?