Is Premier League no longer 'best in the world'?

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Gyan - warming the Sunderland bench

Sky have repeatedly told me that I am paying to watch the best league in the world for more years than I care to remember. However, have the company's advertising men finally been forced to watch on as the last strand of credibility capable of backing up this claim disappears now that the Premier League has seen just three of its players included on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, and none of them English no less?!

Although the lack of English players on the list will, all too predictably, lead to accusations and outrageous claims from those looking at football betting tips concerning an anti-English bias, it is clearly the case that English football is not in the position it was a few years ago, despite the amount of money that has been spent on bringing the ‘top talent’ to the Premier League.

With Sunderland having their current reserve striker on the list, a man who missed perhaps one of the most high-profile penalties in World Cup history, it seems that it could be plausible that those voting for the shortlist could have made a few errors. However, it is undeniable that the Premier League's leading lights have not been at their best over the past year, especially when compared to the likes of Messi or Xavi, who have shone at a level Premier League fans can only dream of seeing on a regular basis.

Taking this into account, it seems that the Premier League’s physical nature has been at least partially responsible for players not wanting to cash in on the big bucks the league has to offer.

It now seems the case that the lure of the almighty pound is no longer enough to draw the top players to the Premier League and, with that in mind, it may well be that the Premier League sides of the near future will no longer be able to fight amongst the football betting odds for the top prizes in European football.