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We have already witnessed the UEFA Awards gala this year, where Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric defeated both Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah to scoop the top prize. The FIFA Best Award has also taken a step forward, with the football governing body releasing their final shortlist for the Player Of The Year award recently.
Very soon, the Ballon d'Or award will also move ahead to name its final nominees for the year as top footballers continue to earn recognition for their incredible performances and achievements during the year.
For the first time in as many years, the race for the Ballon d'Or award has reached an extremely competitive level, with many superstars emerging as strong contenders to claim the prize. As a matter of fact, many players deserve to go home with the coveted accolade this term - courtesy of their amazing displays and achievements both at the club and international levels during the year.
However, since there can only be one winner, it is quite certain that many superstars will miss out on the prestigious prize this term despite their incredible performances and accomplishments during the year. Below, we take a look at 5 of them:
#5 Raphael Varane
Real Madrid superstar Raphael Varane is one of the few players who could miss out on the Ballon d'Or award this term despite his incredible displays and achievements. The defender has had his most successful year so far, raising his game to an extraordinary level and earning a lot of plaudits for his eye-catching performances.
Varane played a key role in Real Madrid's European campaign this year, producing a couple of electrifying displays to help Los Blancos win their third consecutive Champions League title before coming back to lead his nation to claim the prestigious World Cup trophy in Russia recently.
Having tasted success both at European and international levels, the Frenchman has emerged as one of the contenders to win the Ballon d'Or award this year. However, he could end up missing out on the accolade considering the level of competition involved - with the likes of Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo emerging as the favorites to clinch the award at the moment.
#4 Kylian Mbappe
The competition for the Ballon d'Or accolade will be really intense this term due to the fact that many superstars performed at extraordinary levels and reached new milestones in their respective careers during the year.
Paris Saint Germain superstar, Kylian Mbappe is also on the list of spectacular superstars who could miss out on the prestigious award this term despite having a brilliant year at both club and international levels.
Mbappe was one of the brightest players in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in Russia, tormenting opposition defenders in the tournament and recording 4 goals to his name as France ran riot and ended up winning the prestigious trophy for the second time.
At club level, the 19-year-old also played an influential role in Paris Saint Germain's success last season, bagging an incredible 21 goals and 15 assists in 46 appearances to help the Ligue 1 outfit complete a domestic treble. However, the Ballon d'Or award could go beyond his reach this term, considering that there are other superstars who have emerged as stronger candidates to claim the honour.
#3. Antoine Griezmann
Atletico Madrid sharpshooter Antoine Griezmann has had the most successful year in his football career so far, raising his game to a great level, putting up a lot of extraordinary performances and recording a number of incredible achievements to his name.
But despite bagging a whopping 29 goals and 15 assists in all competitions and helping the Rojiblancos to claim the Europa League last season as well as finding the back of the net on 4 occasions to lead France to the FIFA World Cup triumph recently - it is quite obvious that Griezmann could miss out on the Ballon d'Or award this year due to the level of competition involved in the race for the accolade.
Even though making it into the final shortlist looks like a realistic target for the Atletico Madrid superstar, claiming the ultimate prize does not - with Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his former teammate Luka Modric still considered as the strongest candidates to win the award this year.
#2 Mohamed Salah
The English Premier League witnessed the explosive rise of another superstar last season when Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah left Roma to join Liverpool and quickly established himself in the division - scoring plenty of goals, breaking records upon records and shocking football fans and pundits alike with his impressive performances.
The attacker bagged an incredible 32 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League last term, ending up as the top scorer of the division as well as claiming both the PFA and FWA Player Of The Year awards. He also led Liverpool to the final of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over 10 years, scoring an impressive 10 goals in the tournament as well as finishing the campaign with 43 goals and 16 assists in all competitions.
By virtue of his unbelievable performances, the winger has also emerged as a contender for the Ballon d'Or award this term. However, having failed to win any major trophy both at the club and international levels, Salah could also miss out on the prestigious prize this year.
#1 Lionel Messi
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi is also one of the few amazing superstars that could miss out on the Ballon d'Or award this term despite his scintillating performances and accomplishments during the year.
The attacker had a very great domestic campaign with Barcelona last season, producing a lot of extraordinary displays and single-handedly leading the Catalan giants to claim both the La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey trophy.
He finished the campaign with a whopping 44 goals and 18 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions as well as claiming both the European Golden Shoe and the Pichichi trophy.
However, just as he missed out on the UEFA Player Of The Year award and the FIFA Best Award final shortlist recently, Lionel Messi could also miss out on the Ballon d'Or accolade this term, with domestic success and consistency being underrated at the moment.
