Ballon d'Or 2020: Ranking the top 5 favourites - March 2020

The Ballon d'Or is the pinnacle of the individual accolades in world football and is awarded at the end of the year to the best player in the world. In 2019, Lionel Messi became the first player in the history of the game to win the award for the sixth time, as the Argentinian pipped the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane to the award.

The France Football showpiece is set to be awarded in December 2020 and the usual suspects are set to be in contention for the same once again, as van Dijk aims to become the first defender since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 to win the award.

Every footballer across the world is eligible to win the award and a combination of votes from journalists, coaches and national team captains will decide the winner for the same. On that note, here are the Ballon d'Or power rankings for the month of March.

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#5 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)

Tottenham Hotspur v Bayern Muenchen: Group B - UEFA Champions League

Robert Lewandowski has been one of the most potent goalscorers in the modern era and the veteran striker has been in scintillating form this season, as he has spearheaded the Bayern Munich's title charge and their push for a first UEFA Champions League crown since the days of Jupp Heynckes.

With 39 goals and five assists across 33 appearances in all competitions, the Polish hitman has led from the front and kept Bayern in contention of retaining their Bundesliga crown, despite the reigning champions blowing hot and cold at the start of the season under Niko Kovac. Since then, the Croatian tactician has been replaced by former academy manager Hansi Flick in the managerial hot-seat and Bayern have returned to their brilliant best, with Lewandowski in the forefront of it all.

Having been pitted against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie, Bayern smelt blood and were courting revenge for the final at the Allianz Arena in 2012 and Lewandowski delivered when it mattered the most. With a goal and 2 assists to his name in a blistering second-half spell, the Bavarians sealed a stunning 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge to put the tie beyond reasonable doubt, as the 31-year-old produced a clinical showing away from home.

Lewandowski is injured currently but Bayern will hope for their talisman to rehabilitate and return in peak physical condition for the business end of the season, as he looks set to be in contention for the Ballon d'Or and the European Golden Boot.

#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Portugal)

Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur - 2019 International Champions Cup

After Juventus' 2-1 victory against SPAL in the Serie A last weekend, Cristiano Ronaldo spoke to the media in the wake of his 1000th appearance as a senior pro, as the Portuguese hitman claimed that he has no intention of stopping and could carry on for years to come. In many ways, he has done exactly what he claimed, as he has spearheaded the Bianconeri's title charge alongside Paulo Dybala.

With 25 goals and three assists across 31 appearances in all competitions for the Old Lady this season, Ronaldo has rolled back the years and produced consistently for Juventus, as they look to pip Inter Milan and Lazio to the Serie A title.

Since Maurizio Sarri's arrival, Juve have not been convincing, to say the least, but Ronaldo has saved them almost single-handedly at times, as he aims to win the Ballon d'Or for the sixth time in his career, thereby equalling Lionel Messi's tally.

Aside from his exploits at club level, Ronaldo is also set to lead the line for Portugal in the European Championships later this year, a tournament Portugal will enter as defending champions.

#3 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool/Netherlands)

Liverpool FC v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League

Virgil van Dijk's inclusion in the list should come as no surprise, as the Liverpool defender has been on the top of his game since making the move to the Merseyside from Southampton for a world record fee in 2018. The Netherlands captain, widely regarded as the best defender in world football, has spearheaded Liverpool's title charge, as the Reds look set to win their first league title in 30 years.

Having placed second in the Ballon d'Or in 2019 behind Lionel Messi, van Dijk is sure to be in the mix this season, as he plays more often than not when fit. The reigning winner of the PFA Player of the Year award is also well set to retain his award, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Jamie Vardy also in the mix for the coveted prize.

Aside from his exploits defensively, van Dijk has also been crucial on the other end of the pitch, as he contributed four goals and an assist in all competitions for the Reds. The 28-year-old is also set to captain the Netherlands in Euro 2020, as Ronald Koeman's side are set to contest in their first major tournament since the 2014 edition of the FIFA World Cup.

#2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)

FC Barcelona v RC Celta de Vigo - La Liga

As long as Lionel Messi is playing, it should come as no surprise that he is in contention for the Ballon d'Or, as the Argentine maestro looks set to break his own record and win the coveted prize for a staggering seventh time in his career, two more than any player in the history of the game.

Despite being injured at the start of the season, Messi has registered a staggering 23 goals and 16 assists across all competitions for Barcelona, as he had led from the front and spearheaded their title charge. Quique Setien has replaced Ernesto Valverde in the managerial hot-seat but Messi has carried on from where he left off under the former Athletic Bilbao boss, as he looks set to win yet another La Liga Golden Boot and retain the European Golden Shoe.

Recently, Messi scored four goals against Eibar, as he single-handedly secured the victory for his side to put them in pole position in the La Liga summit. Messi is also set to represent Argentina in the Copa America in the summer, as he looks to break his international trophy drought and cement his status as one of the greatest players to grace the game.

#1 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Belgium)

Real Madrid v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg

Kevin De Bruyne has been the standout player in the Premier League this season and the attacking midfielder has produced exemplary numbers from the centre of the park, as he has Manchester City's leading man despite trailing Liverpool by 22 points in the Premier League summit.

With nine goals and 20 assists across all competitions for Manchester City this season, De Bruyne has combined technique and work-rate impeccably this season and looks all set to break Thierry Henry's PL assist record from the 2002-03 season, as the legendary Frenchman recorded 20 assists in that season.

The Cityzens were pitted against 13-time Champions League winners Real Madrid in the Round of 16 of the tournament and the Belgian international was in the thick of the action, as he produced a Man of the Match performance to help his side to a stunning 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg.

De Bruyne is the frontrunner for the PFA Player of the Year award and is sure to be in contention for the Ballon d'Or at the end of the year, as he looks set to play a starring role for Manchester City in the business end of the tournament and represent Belgium in the European Championships.