'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The upcoming Ballon d'Or gala is the talk in town at the moment, with football enthusiasts from all the four corners of the world coming out on social media to express immense support for their favorite superstars as they fight for the chance to be recognized as the best player on the planet.
The award, whose gala will hold on the 3rd of December will be presented to the most impressive superstar during the year by France Football and the hosts have taken a huge step towards the event by releasing a list of 30 contenders recently - with a lot of regular names resurfacing on it.
While the focus is currently fixed on the battle between the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe in the race for the prestigious accolade, it should not be forgotten that there are still a couple of fantastic superstars out there who also enjoyed a spectacular year for club and country.
Therefore, we decided to move away from the favorite names mentioned above and we have come up with a list of 5 outsiders for the Ballon d'Or award this term, ranking them in relation to their performances and achievements during the year. They are as follows:
#5 Neymar
Brazilian International Neymar Junior decided to quit FC Barcelona for Paris Saint Germain during the summer of 2017 with the aim to step out of Lionel Messi's shadow at the Nou Camp and establish himself on top of the football world.
The winger had a successful debut campaign in the Ligue 1, linking up with French wonderkid Kylian Mbappe and fellow South American forward Edinson Cavani to form a deadly attacking trio that shocked the football world with their incredible exploits in front of goal during the previous campaign.
Neymar bagged an incredible 28 goals and 16 assists in 30 appearances for the Parisians across all competitions last season and he was highly influential as the Ligue 1 outfit strolled to a fantastic domestic treble during the term. He was nominated for the Ballon d'Or award this year and he made our ranking for the top 5 outsiders to claim the accolade.
#4 Kevin De Bruyne
The heartbeat of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side that ran riot on their way to claiming the coveted English Premier League title last season, Kevin De Bruyne also deserves a lot of recognition for his incredible performances and brilliant achievements during the year.
The Belgian International was arguably the most efficient superstar in the English top flight last term, finishing the domestic campaign with an impressive 8 goals and 16 assists in 37 appearances as well as guiding the Citizens to claim both the league title and the Carling Cup.
He also scored once and assisted 4 in the UEFA Champions League before coming back to play influential roles as his nation finished third during the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in Russia, recording a goal and 2 impressive assists to his name in the process.
#3. Harry Kane
Tottenham Hotspur superstar Harry Kane is also one of the outsiders that could claim the coveted Ballon d'Or award this year - courtesy of his unbelievable achievements and impressive performances for both club and country during the course of the term.
The striker was one of the most impressive attackers in the English Premier League last season, grabbing a whopping 30 goals and 3 assists in 37 appearances for the London outfit as well as taking his tally to an impressive 41 goals and 5 assists in 48 games across all competitions during the campaign.
Kane finished as the top scorer in the FIFA World Cup tournament that took place in Russia recently, recording an amazing 6 efforts to his name as well claiming the prestigious FIFA Golden Shoe for his incredible exploits in front of goal during the tournament.
#2 Mohamed Salah
Liverpool sharpshooter, Mohamed Salah was one of the top performers on the European soil last season, taking his game to an unbelievable height after leaving Seria A outfit, Roma to join the Premier League giants during the summer of 2017.
The attacker was a big revelation throughout the campaign, producing a lot of impressive displays and breaking records upon records in the English top flight.
Salah outscored every attacker in the Premier League during the term, bagging a whopping 32 goals and 11 assists in 36 appearances as well as leading Liverpool to the final of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade - notching an amazing 10 goals and 5 assists in the process.
The Egyptian won both the FWA and PFA Player Of The Year awards, the Premier League Golden Boot as well as making it into the final shortlist for both the UEFA and FIFA awards recently and he also stands a chance to win the Ballon d'Or award this year.
#1 Raphael Varane
We are in a generation where the attackers get a massive percentage of the plaudits, yet Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane deserves a lot of recognition for his explosive performances and achievements during the year.
The French International was instrumental in Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League campaign last season, forming a solid rock alongside Sergio Ramos at the heart of the defense and putting up a couple of strong performances as the Spanish giants conquered Europe for the third year in a row.
Varane was also one of the most impressive defenders during the FIFA World Cup tournament recently, proving his incredible abilities once again as France cruised to the coveted trophy in Russia. Having conquered both Europe (UEFA Champions League) and the World (FIFA World Cup), the 25-year-old also has the chance to make the Ballon d'Or award his own this year.
