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The Ballon d'Or is without doubt the most prestigious individual award in football. Only the very best in the business have been able to wrap their hands around the prize. It is an honour that has eluded some great footballers as well.
In the past 13 years, we have only had three Ballon d'Or winners. Lionel Messi has won six of those while Cristiano Ronaldo has won five. Luka Modric broke their duopoly and won it in 2018. The Ballon d'Or was canceled in 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now that Messi and Ronaldo are on the wrong side of 30 and are walking into the twilight of their careers, it is time for new stars to take up the mantle. We have seen several incredible footballers break onto the scene in recent years. But do they have what it takes to be recognized as the best in the game?
Without further ado, let's take a look at five players who can win multiple Ballon d'Or awards in the future.
#5 Pedri - Spain/Barcelona
The diminutive Barcelona midfielder Pedri has already been likened to Xavi and Andres Iniesta, who are two of the greatest midfielders in the history of the game. The 18-year-old has already become a regular feature in Barcelona's starting lineup.
He made 52 appearances for the Catalans across all competitions in the 2020-21 season, scoring four goals and providing six assists. Pedri has all the qualities to be a vital cog in Barcelona's possession-based system.
He is just 18-years-old but boasts impeccable technique with his sharp turns and deft touches aiding him in navigating tight spaces in midfield. Pedri is also a great passer of the ball and he will only improve further from here.
The youngster was one of Spain's best players in their run to the semifinals of the recently concluded Euro 2020. Pedri was chosen as the Young Player of the Tournament at the continental competitions.
In a few years, he could go on to become one of Barcelona's best players and he has enough quality to dominate the game by the time he hits his peak. Pedri could most definitely go on to win multiple Ballons d'Or in the future.
#4 Kevin De Bruyne - Belgium/Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne has arguably been the best midfielder in Europe for several seasons now. The Belgian's astounding passing range and ability to orchestrate play from midfield has helped the Cityzens assert their dominance in the Premier League.
In the 2020-21 season, De Bruyne won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award. In 40 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season for Manchester City, the 30-year-old scored 10 goals and provided 18 assists.
De Bruyne was also a standout performer for Belgium in their run to the quarter-finals. He is a technically proficient player who looks set to have several more years of playing at the top level. De Bruyne has been clocking incredible numbers for several seasons now.
In the 2019-20 season, he matched Thierry Henry's record for most assists in a Premier League season by setting up 20 goals for his side. If he consistently replicates those numbers in the coming seasons, KDB will become a top contender in the Ballon d'Or race.
#3 Neymar Jr. - Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain
There is an argument that Neymar could have gone on to achieve way more recognition had he just stayed put at Barcelona. However, since copping a move to Paris Saint-Germain, the Brazilian has truly helped transform the Ligue 1 giants into a dominant force in Europe.
He has always been touted as the immediate successor to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. A few injury issues have stopped him from featuring as regularly for his side as he would have liked to in recent seasons. But there are few footballers who are as exciting to watch as Neymar is.
In the 2020-21 season, he scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in 31 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain across all competitions. He was also one of Brazil's best players as they made it to the final of the 2021 Copa America, scoring two goals and providing three assists for the Selecao.
Although he is 29, Neymar has enough quality to still go on to win multiple Ballons d'Or as he was expected to when he first broke onto the scene.
#2 Erling Haaland - Norway/Borussia Dortmund
The athletic and relentless Erling Haaland is already an immaculate finisher and he has just turned 21. He is already the most sought-after striker in the world but Borussia Dortmund are not willing to part with him.
The Norwegian international scored 41 goals and provided 12 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund in the 2020-21 season. Haaland has made a huge impact at Borussia Dortmund and has gone from strength to strength ever since he joined from RB Salzburg.
He was already scoring goals for fun whilst at RB Salzburg. 'The Terminator' as he is lovingly called by his admirers, Haaland is physically dominant and showcases great composure in front of goal.
He is one of the most prolific strikers in the business and will only get better. Haaland is expected to be a top contender in the Ballon d'Or race for years to come.
#1 Kylian Mbappe - France/Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappe had a rather underwhelming outing at Euro 2020. He didn't score in four games and managed to muster just a single assist. He also missed a crucial penalty in the shootout as France crashed out in the Round of 16 against Switzerland.
But that is not a fair reflection of how phenomenal Mbappe has been over the past several seasons. If Paris Saint-Germain had gone on to win major trophies in the 2020-21 season, Mbappe would be a top contender for the Ballon d'Or this year.
In the 2020-21 season, Mbappe scored 42 goals and provided 11 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for Paris Saint-Germain. He is unstoppable on his day with his pace, trickery, tactical intelligence and maturity constantly causing big problems for the opposition.
Real Madrid are being heavily linked with Mbappe and whether or not his future lies away from PSG is anyone's guess at the moment. But the World Cup winner is already one of the biggest stars in football. It will be nearly impossible to displace him from the Ballon d'Or podium in the years to come.
