Why has Alex Dujshebaev never been voted the best player in the world?

• Chronicle Bronze in handball: this generation could only leave on the podium

In the corridors of the Yoyogi National Stadium, the most beautiful pavilion of the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, the farewells of illustrious nationals such as

or

were still being mourned when a player approached the journalists in mixed zone and pointed to the future.

"I'm not leaving, huh,"

and it was a joke, yes, and at the same time something else.

Although a generation is over, Spain has a leader for years and more years.

And that leader is among the best players in the world despite how much it has cost to be recognized.

To give an example, last year, when he already had two European Championships, a bronze in the World Cup and a bronze in the Olympic Games, he was nominated for the IHF Player of the Year for the first time in his life -something like the Ball of Gold-, although goalkeeper

won .

Why did the first nomination come so late?

It is the criteria of those who vote, I do not know.

There were many years in which I was at a good level and it was not recognized as much, but I do not get into the criteria of each one.

Last year I suppose the medal at the Olympic Games had an influence.

Although it is unfair, the great moments are mainly valued and some seasons I have lacked to fight more for the title in the Champions League.

And, beyond the influence that France or Germany have in these awards, here is the question.

Dujshebaev has been managing the national team for several years, but with his current club, Polish Kielce, glory eludes him.

In the four seasons prior to this, he was among the top 10 scorers in the Champions League -in 2019 he became Pichichi-, but only once did he play in the Final Four, that 2019, and that time he lost in the semifinals.

This weekend he returns.

This Saturday (3:15 p.m., DAZN), against the same rival as on that occasion, the Hungarian Veszprem, they will seek the final on Sunday and if they reach it, they will meet Barça or the German Kiel (their semifinal is at 6:00 p.m.).

«This season we have finally achieved regularity.

In the first phase, we had the most difficult group that I have seen in my life and we managed to finish first.

That gave us a lot of confidence for the qualifiers, ”explains in a telephone conversation with EL MUNDO the eldest of the Dujshebaev who shares experience with his father,

, his coach in the Polish team, and with his little brother,

, pillar in defense of the Kielce.

A joint, family celebration would be the best closure for one of the most difficult years of his career.

Until the Games he was forcing his left shoulder to be able to play and then he endured, endured and endured until the crack.

He missed the European in January.

But he came back fast.

This year he has been more tired than others. I am physically and mentally tired, really.

The suspension of the Olympic Games due to the pandemic has led us to be two years without rest and this season I have had bad moments.

I feel exhausted from having played so many games, from having to compete continuously.

Now I want to try to give everything in this Final Four and then take advantage of the first break in a long time.

In 2017, when he was still playing for Macedonian Vardar, Álex Dujshebaev already won a Champions League, but then his role in the team was not as decisive as it is now.

Today, a few months after being a father for the second time, his moment is before him, a huge opportunity.

At 29 years old, the highest European title would raise him to the place he has deserved for several courses.

A Spaniard, another, finally, ready to win the IFH Player of the Year that his father Talant (1994 and 1996) and

(1999) won more than two decades ago.

Why hasn't he been chosen as the best player in the world?

The reasons don't matter.

With the cup in his hands that position will already be indisputable.

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