5 leading footballers who will be favorites to win the Ballon d'Or in 2030 

Pedri and Phil Foden have been named in the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist this year
Pedri and Phil Foden have been named in the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist this year

#3 Pedri

SL Benfica v FC Barcelona: Group E - UEFA Champions League
SL Benfica v FC Barcelona: Group E - UEFA Champions League

It's easy to mistake Pedri for a La Masia graduate. He plays in the centre of the park for Barcelona and his style of play is similar to the club's greatest midfielders like Xavi and Andres Iniesta. But Pedri was signed from Las Palmas in the summer of 2020.

Coming into the senior Barcelona side as an 18-year-old, Pedri did not take much time to become a mainstay in the starting lineup. His deft touches, movement, intelligence and eye for a pass soon made him undroppable. Pedri was also one of Spain's best players in their run to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 this summer.

He was named the Best Young Player of the Tournament. Like Foden, Pedri has also been named on the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or. It's insane that he is only going to turn 19 in the last week of November. He is already an elite midfielder and will only get better with the years.

#2 Kylian Mbappe

RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League
RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Kylian Mbappe has already had an illustrious career for both club and country and he is still just 22-years-old. Widely viewed as the heir apparent to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Mbappe has been absolutely world-class for at least four years now.

The Frenchman's blistering pace and trickery make him a nightmare to go up against for defenders. Once he gets past a defender and turns on the afterburners, there is no stopping him. Mbappe is also one of the most prolific goalscorers on the planet.

He scored 42 goals and provided 11 assists in 47 appearances for PSG in the 2020-21 season. A lack of major trophies has impeded him from being a favourite in this year's Ballon d'Or race. However, he is sure to dominate it in the years to come. Mbappe is widely tipped to go onto win multiple Ballon d'Or awards in his career.

#1 Erling Haaland

AFC Ajax v Borussia Dortmund: Group C - UEFA Champions League
AFC Ajax v Borussia Dortmund: Group C - UEFA Champions League

Like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland's talent belies his age. The Norwegian striker just turned 21 in July but is already the most sought-after striker in the world. Haaland's athleticism and incredible finishing ability has earned him the nickname 'The Terminator'.

He is an electric presence on the pitch and his movement is elite. Haaland is one of the best in the business when it comes to off-the-ball work in and around the final third. The Borussia Dortmund striker also seems unfazed by pressure and is extremely good at getting the better of the goalkeeper in one-on-one situations.

He can generate a great amount of power with his left-foot but he is also adept at serving up fizzing grounded finishes. In the 2020-21 season, Haaland scored 41 goals and provided 12 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund.

He is another player who is tipped to win multiple Ballon d'Or awards in the future. Next summer, there is going to be a bidding war among most of Europe's top clubs for the services of Erling Haaland.

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