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The 2018/19 season saw a rise of the power of the Premier League in Europe. Both the UEFA Europa League finals as well as the Champions League finals were contested between English teams. Chelsea won the Europa League, while Liverpool were the Champions League winners. Premier League, as such, ruled over both UEFA competitions and established its dominance over all of Europe.
It is, therefore, fitting to expect that there could be a similar dominance in the Ballon d'Or 2019 race as well. For it is the first time in over a decade that a Premier League player could actually win the coveted award.
On that note, we bring you the top 5 contenders for the Ballon d'Or 2019 from the Premier League.
#5 Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City)
The Argentine striker is already a Premier League legend and was at the peak of his form last season. Aguero was exceptional for City, as they won a domestic treble and saw off an inspired challenge from Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.
Perhaps the only low point in this season for the lethal goal-scorer was narrowly missing out on his second Premier League Golden Boot, by only a solitary goal. He finished the season with 30 goals from 45 games in all competitions for Manchester City and also registered nine assists.
Despite being 31 years of age, Aguero still is one of the deadliest finishers in world football. His turns and his ability to carve out spaces to shoot at goal make him dangerous in the box. The Argentine is also absolutely brilliant with his back to the goal and is also a master at keeping possession. Last season, Aguero showed time and again why Guardiola struck with him and picked him to lead the City juggernaut.
Aguero ended the season with the Premier League, the FA Cup as well as the League Cup. He is currently with the Argentina squad competing in the Copa America, where a good showing could sum up a fine season for City's leading goal scorer. As of now, Sergio Aguero is fifth among the top contenders for the 2019 Ballon d'Or, from the Premier League.
If looked at it in terms of consistency, Aguero is right on top. Another season - another 20-goal campaign for the forward.
#4 Sadio Mane (Senegal, Liverpool)
It is no surprise that Sadio Mane is among the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or from the Premier League this season. The Senegalese has been fantastic, so much so that he outshone Mohamed Salah to become Liverpool's most prudent attacker. Mane finished the season with 26 goals from 49 games in all competitions for Liverpool.
In the Premier League, the Senegalese was phenomenal in the left side of the front three. His speed and bag of tricks always kept the defenders on their toes, but Mane was also lethal with his finishing. He scored 22 times in the Premier League and won the Premier League Golden Boot, which he had to share with Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
It was also Mane's overall contribution which caught the eye. The Senegalese religiously tracked back to help out his defense and was versatile enough to ply across the front three. Even though Liverpool narrowly missed out on the Premier League title, Mane was crucial as Jurgen Klopp's side lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy.
The Senegalese will be next seen in the African Cup of Nations, and a stellar tournament could see him rise up the ranks among the contenders.
#3 Bernardo Silva (Portugal, Manchester City)
At the start of the season, reigning champions Manchester City were dealt a huge blow when their star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne was sidelined with injury. Up stepped Bernardo Silva and began running the show for his team while the Belgian recovered. Pretty soon, it was clear why Guardiola had bought the Portuguese; Bernardo Silva was so good that City never really missed de Bruyne at all.
With foot work and close control similar to David Silva, Bernardo weaved his magic for City all season. He was arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League, finishing the season with 13 goals and eight assists from 49 games in all competitions. He won the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup with City; and also won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal where he was adjudged the Player of the Tournament, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester City were blessed to have him in their ranks as they oversaw a relentless pursuit from Liverpool, and for all of the above, Bernardo Silva sits on third place among the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or from the Premier League.
#2 Raheem Sterling (England, Manchester City)
Sterling finished the season with 25 goals and 12 assists from 48 games in all competitions. He was the deserved winner of the PFA Young Player of the year for the 2018/19 season and was also selected as the FWA Footballer of the year. On current form, though, there are few players as good as the Englishman in his position.
Sterling combines speed with fantastic dribbling abilities to torment the opposition defense at will. The fact that he can play across the front three makes him even more dangerous.
The youngster has developed very well under the guidance of Pep Guardiola and taken his game to the next level. Whenever he has the ball at his feet, there is a general notion that something could happen.
Sterling has averaged 3.1 dribbles per game in the Champions League and 2.4 dribbles per game in the Premier League and has been one of the outstanding players in Europe this season. It is not a wonder, then, that he is ranked second in our list.
#1 Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands, Liverpool)
Despite the fact that the Netherlands lost in the finals of the inaugural UEFA Nations League, Virgil van Dijk's stocks continue to rise in the world of football. He is perhaps, the best central defender in the world right now, which makes him one of the contenders for the coveted award.
The Dutchman has already won the PFA Player of the Year and is a top contender for the 2019 Ballon d'Or. van Dijk's rise in the football world has been meteoric, but it is his impact at both club and country level that makes him the front-runner for the Ballon d'Or.
The Dutchman joined Liverpool in January 2018 and immediately made an impact in the team. The faulty Liverpool defense found a leader and a personality who changed the mentality of the team. On the field, van Dijk is as close to a perfect central defender as one can get. He is not rash yet stellar at the back, he has pace to burn and is dominating on the ground and in the air.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the last player from the Premier League to win the Ballon d'Or. Virgil van Dijk could repeat that feat this year and he certainly is the best bet that the league has had in over a decade.
