Tonight, the red carpet will be rolled out for football’s elite at the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Multi-million-pound PR machines will whir into gear, and the game’s superstars like Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal will all smile for the cameras. It all feels a million miles away from the current reality of Everton.

Yet 20 years ago, among the biggest names in world football, there was a familiar face for Evertonians: Tim Cahill.

No flashy Champions League winner’s medal. No corporate backing. Just a blue shirt, a number four on the back, and one of the finest vertical leaps the game has ever seen.

He was a hugely popular player at Goodison Park and in 2006, the Australian was something of a surprise inclusion on the shortlist of best players in the world at that time.

And we now look back on why he managed to make it.

Why Tim Cahill deserved his moment

When Tim Cahill arrived at Goodison Park from Millwall in the summer of 2004, few could have predicted just how important he’d become for Everton.

Signed for a relatively modest fee of about £2 million, he quickly established himself as a key figure in David Moyes’ side, bringing energy, relentless work rate and an impressive knack for arriving in the penalty area at exactly the right moment.

Cahill wasn’t someone who dominated possession to influence a game. His movement, aerial ability and eye for goal made him a constant threat, particularly when he arrived late in the box.

His nine Premier League goals in his debut season helped Everton to finish fourth and seal Champions League qualification. This cemented his status as one of Moyes’ most astute signings. By the time 2006 rolled around, Cahill became one of the defining figures of an Everton side that refused to be overlooked. In the 2005/06 season, he scored six and made three assists.

Cahill’s reputation grew further at the 2006 World Cup, where he helped Australia reach the knockout stages for the first time in 32 years. After coming off the bench against Japan, he scored twice in a dramatic 3-1 comeback win, becoming the first Aussie to score at a men’s World Cup.

His performances in Germany helped raise his profile internationally, adding another dimension to an already impressive period at Everton. Later that year, Cahill received recognition few Everton players had enjoyed for almost two decades.

Ballon d’Or shortlist

In October 2006, Cahill made the 50-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, seeing him rub shoulders with some of the biggest stars in the game.

Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane were among those in contention that year. Cahill didn’t actually receive any votes in the final ranking, but it was still a significant achievement.

It had been 18 years since an Everton player had featured on the shortlist. Legendary goalkeeper Neville Southall was the last to earn that recognition in 1988. For a club with Everton’s history and tradition, the wait was certainly a long one.

Cahill’s nomination was therefore about more than individual recognition. It was a genuine moment of pride for the Toffees, underlining the Australian’s growing reputation and putting an Everton player back among football’s elite.

Sadly, he remains the last Everton player to make the shortlist. The fact that no Toffees player has featured on the shortlist since only adds to the significance of Cahill’s achievement.

Cahill’s place in Everton folklore secure

20 years on, Cahill’s inclusion on the 2006 Ballon d’Or shortlist remains a reminder of a special period for Everton and a fitting acknowledgement of a player who gave everything for the shirt.

He may not have received a vote, but that was never really the point. To see an Everton midfielder recognised alongside the biggest names in world football, after 18 years without a Blue on the shortlist, was an achievement worth celebrating in its own right.

Cahill went on to become a Goodison Park cult hero, remembered for his goals, passion and unwavering commitment. The Ballon d’Or may have passed him by, but his place in Everton folklore was already secure.