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The Ballon d'Or is widely regarded as the most prestigious personal accolade in world football, with fans across the globe waiting eagerly to see who picks up the award in 2019, as the winner is set to be announced on 2nd December in a glamours awards ceremony in Theatre du Chatelet, Paris, France.
By winning the award in 2018 after a sensational season for club and country, Luka Modric broke Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's duopoly this decade, as the Croatian became the first player other than the pair to be named France Football's Player of the Year since Kaka in 2007.
Several players across Europe's top-five leagues have enhanced their reputation in the calendar year and it could be argued that as many as five players have a legitimate claim to the award this time around. Aside from the usual suspects, Virgil van Dijk is amongst the frontrunners for the award after making a name for himself as one of the most dominant defenders in world football.
The Netherlands captain played a key role, as Liverpool topped up their stunning league form by sealing their sixth Champions League crown in May and also led his country to the UEFA Nations League final, as they lost out to reigning European champions Portugal.
Messi is tipped to edge Ronaldo once again, as he did so last season and the Barcelona talisman could become the first player in the history of the game to win the award for the sixth time, a staggering return even by his lofty standards.
As the coronation edges ever so close, let's take a look at the Ballon d'Or Power Rankings for November 2019.
10. Eden Hazard - Chelsea/Real Madrid
Eden Hazard is the only player on the list to have represented more than one club in the period, as the Belgian genius finally realised his childhood dream of moving to Real Madrid this summer. Chelsea finished third in the Premier League standings and registered a comprehensive 5-1 victory against arch-rivals Arsenal in Europa League final, a victory that was inspired by their talisman himself.
Hazard was responsible for more than 50% of the Blues' goals in all competitions last season and was nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award for his exemplary performances domestically. Despite a failed move to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2017, Hazard refused to throw a tantrum and remained with Chelsea, as produced one of the greatest individual seasons in his professional career.
The Belgium captain finished the 2018-19 season with 21 goals and 17 assists in all competitions but he has struggled with injuries at his new club, as he's only managed a goal and 4 assists so far this season. On his day, the Belgian is a serial matchwinner and makes the list by virtue of his performances for Chelsea last season.
Also check out: Champions league top scorers EPL table La liga table 2019-20
9. Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain
Although it feels like Kylian Mbappe has been around for a while now, its easy to forget that he's only 20 years of age and has his prime ahead of him. The youngster, who is already a 3-time Ligue 1 winner and a World Cup winner with France, is widely regarded as the most exciting young player in world football currently and is streets ahead of other players who belong to his age group.
With a staggering tally of 39 goals and 17 assists in all competitions last season, Mbappe played a pivotal role as Paris Saint-Germain won yet another league title and has seemingly carried on from where he left off, with 10 goals and 4 assists so far this season. The 20-year-old has scored more than 100 goals for club and country at such a tender age and it would be going too far if he said that he's expected to retire with multiple Ballons d'Or to his name.
Mbappe spearheaded the Parisian club last season in Neymar's absence and the fact that a 20-year-old makes the list is quite frightening to say the least, as he is nowhere close to his peak, both physically as well as in terms of ability.
8. Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
Mohamed Salah's record-breaking 32-goal haul in his debut season with the Reds ensured that he became part of Premier League folklore, but the fact that he topped off a stunning season with yet another Golden Boot is conclusive proof that he is amongst the best players in world football currently.
The Egyptian maestro has been Jurgen Klopp's goalscoring sensation since joining the Merseyside club in the summer of 2017 and also scored the opening goal of the game, as the Reds won the Champions League for the sixth time in the club's history. With 27 goals and 13 assists in all competitions last season, Salah's goals to game ratio at Liverpool makes for stunning reading and statistically, he is amongst the most potent attackers to ever grace the Premier League.
Despite struggling with an ankle problem this season, Salah has registered 9 goals and 5 assists so far this season and looks set to play a pivotal role for Liverpool in the coming months, as they covet domestic glory that has eluded them for 30 years now.
7. Alisson Becker - Liverpool
After Loris Karius' horror show against Real Madrid in the Champions League final in 2018, Liverpool wasted no time as they broke the bank for a pedigreed goalkeeper. Since arriving in Merseyside 18 months ago, Alisson Becker made the Reds challengers on all fronts and came big for them numerous times in crucial moments, as his first season at the club went down as an unwavering success.
The 27-year-old was in sublime form between the sticks as Liverpool registered 21 clean sheets domestically, on their way to amassing 97 points in the Premier League. Alisson also played a key role as he made a handful of stunning saves in the Champions League final, as Liverpool won club football's most coveted prize in his first season at the club.
Aside from his performances for Liverpool, Alisson capped off a historic season as Brazil beat Peru in the final to win the Copa America. In winning the Golden Glove for his country, the Brazilian shot-stopper became the first goalkeeper in the history of the game to win three Golden Glove awards in the same season, a stunning stat considering the competition in world football currently.
Alisson is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and it remains to be seen how high he finished in the final Ballon d'Or standings.
6. Raheem Sterling - Manchester City
Raheem Sterling's talent was unquestionable but the Englishman has made a name for himself as one of the most devastating attackers in world football, under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola. Since making the controversial switch from Liverpool, Sterling has been one of the most reliable performers in the Premier League and in recent months, he has also become England's goalscoring sensation alongside Harry Kane, indicating that he is finally coming of age.
Despite losing out to Virgil van Dijk, Sterling came eerily close to winning the PFA Player of the Year award and capped off a sensational treble-winning season with the Cityzens with 25 goals and 18 assists in all competitions. The Englishman has started the season in stunning fashion, as his tally of 14 goals and 5 assists in November makes for impressive reading.
Sterling has become one of the most influential players in world football and the fact that he's already one of the best players in the world at the age of 24 is a frightening proposition, as the former Liverpool man has his prime well ahead of him.
5. Bernardo Silva - Manchester City
For a team that boast the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling amongst others, Bernardo Silva managed to produce stellar performances as he established himself as an indispensable member of Pep Guardiola's treble-winning side last season.
The crafty Portuguese international combines doggedness and technique with incredible elegance and aside from the fact that he's one of the most aesthetically pleasing players in world football, his ability to pick out a killer ball in the final third makes him a key asset for the Cityzens.
The former Monaco man was in the running for the PFA Player of the Year award and although he lost out to Virgil van Dijk eventually, the fact that a player of his profile was nominated for the award is the clearest indication yet that he is one of the most efficient players in world football.
Aside from his heroics with the Cityzens, Bernardo Silva was named Player of the Tournament, as he played an instrumental role in Portugal's UEFA Nations League triumph. Silva is virtually indispensable for club and country and is rightly being recognized for his stellar performances.
4. Sadio Mane - Liverpool
Sadio Mane, since the turn of the year, has been one of the most potent attackers in world football and he was a vital cog of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool team that won the European Cup and amassed 97 points in the league last season. Mane has carried on from where he left off and it could be argued that he's leading Liverpool's title charge this season, as he's continued to score important goals for the Reds.
Although he shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and teammate Mohamed Salah last season, Mane scored the most non penalty league goals as he took his tally up to 21 goals for Liverpool. Mane already has 12 goals and 5 assists to his name this season and since the turn of the year, only Jamie Vardy has scored more Premier League goals than the Senegalese hitman.
Aside from his exploits with Liverpool, Mane came within touching distance of AFCON glory with Senegal, as his side came up short against Algeria in the final. The 27-year-old is one of the most explosive attackers in world football and will deservedly be recognised for his performances this year, as he makes the top-ten quite comfortably.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus
A lot has been said about Cristiano Ronaldo over the past year but the fact remains that the Portuguese international is still one of the best players around. After sealing an unprecedented hattrick of Champions League titles with Real Madrid and making a name for himself as one of the greatest players in the club's illustrious history, Ronaldo expressed his desire to take up a new challenge and made the move to Juventus at the aged 34.
Aside from winning the Serie A and captaining Portugal to the UEFA Nations League crown, Ronaldo has continued to come big for his side and his reputation as one of the game's biggest clutch players was enhanced further last season, as he scored a stunning second-leg hattrick to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid in a Champions League Round of 16 tie.
Ronaldo has started the season in rather lukewarm fashion and although his tally of 6 goals and 2 assists in all competitions does not set the world alight, his 28 goal haul from the previous season coupled with his ability to decide big games puts him in contention for the Ballon d'Or
2. Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool
Since sealing a world-record move to Liverpool in January 2018, Virgil van Dijk has not only been one of the most dominant defenders in world football, he has established himself as an indispensable member for club and country.
Known for his positional sense and nonchalance on the ball, the Dutchman produced one of the greatest individual seasons by a defender in the Premier League era and was rewarded for his consistent displays, as he became the first defender since John Terry in 2005 to pick up the PFA Player of the Year award last season.
The 28-year-old capped off a sensational season by spearheading Liverpool to their sixth European Cup, as they overcame Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final and the fact that he was named Man of the Match in the final was the icing on the cake.
Added to the fact that he was the mainstay of the Liverpool side that registered 21 clean sheets, no player in the English top-flight managed to dribble past the Dutchman domestically, a stat that is enhanced by the fact that some of the most potent attackers in world football are currently plying their trade in the Premier League.
Under his leadership, the Netherlands are a force to be reckoned with once again and came within a goal of winning the inaugural edition of the UEFA Nations League, as Ronald Koeman's side lost out to Portugal in the final.
Van Dijk has won numerous personal accolades this season but his crowning moment came when he pipped Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award, a startling example of how much he's developed since his £75 million switch from Southampton. Although Messi is widely tipped to be the frontrunner for the award, the Dutchman could become the first player since Fabio Cannavo in 2006 to win the Ballon d'Or.
1. Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Lionel Messi has been in a league of his own this year, even by the standards he's set for himself in recent years and the Argentine is tipped to win the Ballon d'Or for a record-breaking sixth time The Barcelona talisman has been virtually unstoppable since the turn of the year and has spearheaded the Catalan giants to yet another league title, as he won the Pichichi by scoring a staggering 15 goals more than his closest competitor.
The legendary attacker's numbers from the 2018/19 season bordered on absurdity, as he registered 51 goals and 22 assists in all competitions last season. Despite being injured for a sizable period this season, Messi has returned to his brilliant best in recent weeks and his tally of 10 goals and 8 assists at this stage of the season makes him the front-runner for the award.
Since his record-breaking 91 goal haul in 2011, this has been his most productive year in terms of numbers and the fact that he's continued to produce the goods at the age of 32 is conclusive proof that Messi has aged like fine wine. The diminutive Argentinian is on the verge of making history and if he were to pick up the prestigious award in December, he'd stamp his status as one of the greatest players to grace the game.
Messi was already named FIFA Men's Best Player of the Year for his all-round brilliance earlier this year and it remains to be seen if he adds yet another Ballon d'Or to his growing trophy cabinet.
