Roy Hodgson picks Javier Mascherano: The internet reacts to bizarre Ballon d'Or choice from the England manager

Hodgson had three picks and not one of them went to Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo

Roy Hodgson and Javier Mascherano (GETTY IMAGES)

Cristiano Ronaldo being named the winner of the Fifa Ballon d'Or wasn't much of a surprise, but our very own Roy Hodgson did manage to spring a shock last night.

Details on who voted for who quickly emerged following the Real Madrid striker's triumph in Zurich and those picked by the England manager were perhaps the most surprising of the lot.

The manager, captain and one journalist from each Fifa nation had three picks each, in order of first to last. Tactical voting was to be expected - for example neither Messi or Ronaldo voted for one another and their team-mates tended to only pick the one they play with.

But what Hodgson was thinking as he wrote down the players who had caught his eye over the previous 12 months is anyone's guess; The two players almost undisputedly regarded as the best on the planet were not in his mind for a start.

Instead, the player Hodgson thought was the best in the world during 2014 was Javier Mascherano - yep, the Barcelona scrapper. His other picks were Germany duo Philipp Lahm and Manuel Neuer.

Unsurprisingly, Hodgson's selections have caused something of a stir on Twitter, here we take a look at the reaction...

Messi came second in the voting for last night's award, only just ahead of Neuer.