Ronaldo makes six-man PFA shortlist – but Son snubbed

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Cristiano Ronaldo is a shock inclusion on the PFA Players' Player of the Year shortlist – but Son Heung-min has failed to make the grade.

Ronaldo has enjoyed a fine solo season, netting 18 league goals in 30 games, but was unable to inspire a Manchester United who struggled all season long. Meanwhile, Son has been snubbed from the shortlist despite the fact that he topped the Premier League scoring charts.

The Tottenham striker notched 23 goals to bag a share of the Golden Boot award with Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah. Son also racked up a further nine assists and even won the playmaker for the year award but isn't one of the six contenders in the race to land the coveted prize.

Although Son failed to make the cut, his Tottenham team-mate, Harry Kane, is one of the contenders for the accolade.

The England captain was reborn under Antonio Conte and joins the likes of Ronaldo, Salah, Kevin de Bruyne and Virgil van Dijk on the star-studded shortlist for the gong.

Despite Son's snub, former Spurs and Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov insisted that the South Korean attacker had managed to outshine Kane this year – and backed Tottenham's deadly duo to reach even greater heights in the coming years.

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Berbatov told Betfair: "Son has been even better than Kane this season. Sometimes we overlook the player next to the star, but Son has produced unbelievable moments and goals. We need to give Son credit too for what he is doing. I'm so happy that he is stepping out of Kane's shadow. He has to be in the team of the season.

"I always go back to me and Robbie Keane when we were at Spurs – that was a great partnership – and now I'm so happy that they have Kane and Son. You can see there is no selfishness there, they both play for the team and spur each other on to greater achievements.

"For a great partnership to work, selfishness can't be in the equation, you have to be selfless when you play with a partner up front. You need to give him the ball when he is in a better position, there can be no jealousy and you want him to do well. He will return the favour and make you look good. This is what we are seeing now at Spurs with Kane and Son, just like was with me and Keano."

  • Manchester United FC
  • Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Premier League
  • Tottenham Hotspur FC

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