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The 2019-20 European football season has been one of the most dramatic campaigns in the modern era due to the unprecedented circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, with most of the major leagues resuming after a three months hiatus, the race for the 2020 Ballon d'Or is set to heat up in the coming months.
Widely regarded as the most prestigious personal accolade in the history of the sport, the Ballon d'Or is a France Football showpiece and is decided by a combination of votes from journalists, national team captains and coaches in world football.
Evolution of the Ballon d'Or over the years
Since the inception of the Ballon d'Or in 1956, some of the most decorated players in history have been recipients to the award. On the contrary, a handful of them have also missed out on the prize, as the Ballon d'Or was limited to European footballers till 1995.
In December 2019, Lionel Messi became the first player in the history of the game to win the Ballon d'Or six times, a staggering achievement even for a player of his stature. The diminutive Argentine pipped Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk to the award and created a piece of history that could take some beating.
Half the year has passed and with the current campaign drawing to a dramatic climax, here are the Ballon d'Or power rankings for the month of July.
#10 Sadio Mane - Liverpool
Sadio Mane makes his way into the top 10, as he continues to cement his status as one of the most efficient attackers in world football. The Senegalese hitman has been in sublime form for Liverpool this season and made several noteworthy contributions, as the Reds broke their 30 years wait for a Premier League title in some style.
With 17 goals and eights assists across all competitions, Mane has produced matchwinning moments aplenty and looks set to finish the season strongly.
In 2019, the 29-year-old placed fourth in the Ballon d'Or, as the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah completed the rest of the top-five.
The explosive winger is set to be in contention for the Ballon d'Or once again and is unlikely to be the only Liverpool player on the list.
#9 Thomas Muller - Bayern Munich
Thomas Muller has rolled back the years and enjoyed a stunning Bundesliga campaign with Bayern Munich. The German was cast aside by former manager Niko Kovac, as he looked set to leave the club in the early days of the season.
However, since the appointment of Hansi Flick, Muller has been an indispensable member of Bayern Munich's title-winning side and made a name for himself as the assist king of the Bundesliga.
The 30-year-old also recorded 21 assists in the 2019-20 Bundesliga campaign, eclipsing Kevin de Bruyne's record of 20 in the 2014-15 campaign for Wolfsburg. Additionally, Muller has also scored 12 goals in all competitions to date, making him one of the most productive players in all of Europe.
With the DFB Pokal final and the business end of the Champions League season coming up, Muller could be in contention for the Ballon d'Or if he carries on performing like this.
#8 Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappe's astronomical rise has continued this season, as the Frenchman spearheaded PSG's title charge. Alongside new signing Mauro Icardi and Brazilian superstar Neymar, Mbappe produced several defining moments for Thomas Tuchel's side before the enforced break.
In 34 appearances across all competitions, Mbappe has notched up a stunning tally of 30 goals and nine assists and looks set to play a starring role for his side in the Champions League.
Mbappe is already a World Cup winner and has also won four league titles in France at the tender age of 21. The youngster looks set to dominate world football for a decade and looks well placed to win the Ballon d'Or several times in his career, provided he carries on performing like this.
PSG's premature coronation and the suspension of Ligue 1 could, however, prove to be detrimental to his Ballon d'Or hopes this year. The French top-flight was suspended in April, meaning Mbappe and the rest of the Ligue 1 stars will have fewer games to showcase their talents on the grandest stage.
#7 Neymar - Paris Saint-Germain
Much like his teammate Kylian Mbappe, Neymar has been one of the standout players in world football this season. The Mercurial Brazilian was linked with a controversial return to former club Barcelona last summer, but the move failed to materialize to due a variety of reasons.
Although the 28-year-old's season has been blighted by injuries, he produced the goods consistently whenever he took to the pitch and dazzled fans across the world with his skills on the ball.
Before the break, Neymar notched up 19 goals and eight assists in just over 1600 minutes of football, which amounts to a goal contribution every 61 minutes. The underlying numbers behind the former Barcelona star's season make him one of the leading contenders for the 2020 Ballon d'Or.
Neymar could yet add to his tally this season, as PSG prepare for the knockout stages of the Champions League in August.
#6 Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk has been an ever-present in Liverpool's historic Premier League title triumph and is on his way to cementing his status as one of the best defenders in the modern era. The Dutchman was pipped to the 2019 Ballon d'Or by Lionel Messi but is expected to be in contention again, as he continues to enhance his growing reputation.
Aside from his defensive dominance, the 28-year-old has also developed a knack of scoring important goals for the Merseyside giants. Having previously netted against Everton and Bayern Munich, Van Dijk got his name on the scoresheet against Manchester United in the Premier League this season.
The Netherlands captain has already added the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup to his trophy cabinet this season and looks set to get his hands on the Premier League trophy later this month.
Van Dijk will be aiming to become the first defender since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 to win the Ballon d'Or and it remains to be seen if he gets his hands on the prized accolade.
#5 Karim Benzema - Real Madrid
Karim Benzema has been Real Madrid's talisman since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure and has spearheaded his side to the top of the La Liga standings. The Frenchman has taken on Los Blancos' goalscoring burden single-handedly and produced the goods consistently for Zinedine Zidane.
Benzema's tally of 22 goals and nine assists across all competitions makes for impressive reading and the 32-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down. Real Madrid have their No. 9 to thank for their impressive league form, as he has been the only consistent member of their star-studded attack.
While the likes of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo have blown hot and cold, Eden Hazard has struggled in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu and Gareth Bale has seemingly fallen out with the manager.
The Frenchman's importance to Real Madrid cannot be overstated and his form will be crucial if Los Blancos are to win their first La Liga title since 2017.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus
Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo features on the list. The Portuguese hitman has been in red hot goalscoring form for Juventus since the turn of the year and has played a pivotal role in their Serie A title charge.
Earlier this year, Ronaldo equalled the Serie A record held by Fabio Quagliarella and Gabriel Batistuta of scoring in 11 successive games with a close-range finish against SPAL.
The 35-year-old has also raced off the blocks since the restart and netted thrice in the Italian top-flight for the Bianconeri, taking his tally up to 24 for the Serie A season. Ronaldo has aged like fine wine and looks set to carry on playing for the foreseeable future, as he continues to set the standard when it comes to goalscoring or fitness.
The former Real Madrid star could equal Lionel Messi's record of six Ballon d'Or awards later this year, provided he finishes the season strongly with Juventus.
#3 Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi is the current holder of the Ballon d'Or after he became the first player in the history of the game to win the award for the sixth time in 2019. The Argentine maestro has been the Blaugrana's saving grace this season and leads the La Liga charts for goals as well as assists.
The 32-year-old has notched up 27 goals and 20 assists across all competitions for the Barcelona this season and bailed them out of tricky situations several times in the Spanish top-flight.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players to grace the game, Messi has already cemented his legacy for Barcelona and will look to make it successive Ballon d'Or victories for the first time since 2012.
#2 Kevin de Bruyne - Manchester City
Kevin de Bruyne has been virtually unstoppable for Manchester City this season and his 2019-20 season could go down in the history books as one of the best by a midfielder in the Premier League era.
The Belgian maestro has been the bright spark in the Cityzens' faltering league season, as Pep Guardiola's side surrendered the title to Liverpool with seven games to spare.
With 13 goals and 19 assists across all competitions, De Bruyne's consistency levels this season cannot be overstated and the 29-year-old also has the Premier League assists record in sight.
Currently on 17 Premier League assists for the season, the Belgian needs just four more between now and the end of the season to break Thierry Henry's haul of 20 from the 2003-04 season.
Regardless of how the rest of the year pans out for De Bruyne, he is expected to be amongst the frontrunners for the Ballon d'Or later this year.
#1 Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski's 2019-20 campaign is sure to go down in the history books as one of the most prolific seasons by a Bundesliga player. The Polish international's astounding goalscoring exploits set the ball rolling for Bayern Munich, as they won the Bundesliga title for the eighth year in succession.
The 31-year-old finished the season with 34 goals to his name, as he became the highest non-German goalscorer in a single Bundesliga season. Lewandowski broke former teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's tally of 31 goals from the 2016-17 season, as he etched his name into Bundesliga folklore by breaking yet another record.
Lewandowski also crossed the 50 goal mark for the first time in his career when he slotted home a penalty in Bayern Munich's final Bundesliga game of the season against Wolfsburg.
The former Dortmund man is having the season of his life and could yet add to his tally in the coming weeks. Bayern Munich are chasing a historic treble and Lewandowski's form will be crucial if the Bavarian giants are to get their hands on the DFB Pokal and the Champions League.
