A large number of Liverpool supporters have been raging on social media after Roberto Firmino missed out on the FIFPro World XI shortlist.
Twenty attackers were chosen by their fellow players, and three of them will eventually be selected for the official World XI team. Firmino’s Liverpool team mates Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were both on the list, but the Brazilian was absent.
Reds fans have been left baffled by the news, with many failing to understand how a forward who netted 27 goals and plundered 17 assists last season failed to make the shortlist.
This is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below.
Benzema and Lukaku getting into the 55-man shortlist for the 2018 FIFPro World XI ahead of Firmino is a complete farce.
— Liam ?? (@LFCLiamG) September 10, 2018
Hard to believe Firmino overlooked.
— Big Kev (@kevinsere) September 10, 2018
Firmino > Mandzukic, Benzema, Lukaku. https://t.co/9np2euQ9P4
— #??2??6?? (@_Nachopool) September 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/MercurialSoul22/status/1039125378428817410
https://twitter.com/RedMasonG/status/1039124032812187648
https://twitter.com/sa3p9h/status/1039122171422015491
Yep Firmino is still massively underrated even when he scores goals. https://t.co/doMlKgHmQi
— M (@FutbolMoe) September 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/jplfc_/status/1039121679673376769
Sick of the Firmino agenda now. The man is sensational but an ageing Benzema is rated above him? LMAO
— Joe Allen (@JAIIen10) September 10, 2018
OPINION
It’s hard to argue with Liverpool fans’ viewpoint here. Firmino had an unbelievable season last year, contributing massively in goals and assists as well as his overall play. For him not to be recognised, when both of his attacking colleagues are, is a bit of a kick in the teeth for the Brazilian. To see people like Karim Benzema and Mario Mandzukic on the list ahead of him is borderline criminal, and makes you wonder what some of these footballers voting watched last campaign. Some fans have taken issue with Romelu Lukaku’s selection ahead of the 26-year-old, but that might be misguided. Lukaku produced an equally good club season as Firmino last term, but had a far superior showing at this summer’s World Cup in Russia. Having said that, there should have been space for Firmino somewhere on the list, and Reds fans are right to feel frustrated.
