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The season is coming to an end and it's the time for players to start concentrating on the World Cup. All the top players in the world right now are going to be heading to Russia next months with their respective national teams and got us all excited!
However, there is one thing all players are eyeing more than the World Cup and other club lever trophies – Ballon d'Or. It the dream of every single footballer to get his hands on a Ballon d'Or.
This month's rankings have seen some dramatic changes. Neymar is not in the Top 4, we have a new entry and the have a big shuffle at the top of the table too!
Without much ado, here are the rankings:
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#10 – Keylor Navas
Replacing Neymar in our Ballon d'Or power rankings is Keylor Navas. The Real Madrid shot-stopper has been in stunning form and is one of the main reasons why Los Blancos are in the Champions League finals for the 4th time in 5 years.
He might have conceded 3 goals at Bernabeu vs Juventus, but the Costa Rican was making left right and centre that day too. It was the defenders' failure to help him that led to the goals.
Zidane would want to continue this run in the Champions League final vs Liverpool as well. With Mo Salah, Firmino and Mane in blistering form, Navas will have a tough time in goal.
#9 – Ter Stegen
For the first time in our power rankings, we have two goalkeepers! Ter Stegen has been in such form that he just can't be taken out of the top 10.
AS Roma did get 3 past him and that knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League but his individual performance has been brilliant throughout this season. He has been consistent and has given Valverde no chance to drop him for Cillessen at any point.
His efforts at the post have not gone in vain. They have helped the Catalan side to a domestic double and the German should be happy with it.
That has also all but guaranteed him a starting role at the World Cup for Germany as well. Manuel Neuer is just back in training and it would be a big gamble to pick him ahead of the in-form Barcelona man.
#8 – Luis Suarez
Next up on our list is Luis Suarez. The Barcelona striker remains at 8th in our list as Harry Kane is back in form and has overtaken him once again.
The Uruguayan has been concentrating on assisting Messi more than scoring these days and that is one of the main reasons for him to remain at the same place.
With the World Cup coming up, Suarez will be leading Uruguay's attack alongside Edinson Cavani and it will be brilliant to watch the two combine. Both of them have been scoring at will this season.
#7 – Harry Kane
After an injury set back, Harry Kane is back among the goals. His form sees him rise 3 places to 7th – the same position he was in March.
The Tottenham str in the news for claiming THAT goal of Christen Eriksen and a lot has been said and done about it. But that should not make you forget the fact that he has helped Spurs get into the top 4 yet again.
England's World Cup dreams are all on this man and it will be interesting to see how he fares in Russia.
#6 – Edinson Cavani
With Neymar injured, Cavani has been spearheading PSG's attack. The Uruguayan has been in stunning form this season and has been making sure that the Ligue 1 title is back at Parc des Princes.
If the striker will be at the club next season or not is still a big question but that has not stopped him from performing well. His incredible form sees him rise from 7th to 6th this month.
The World Cup is only going to help him get up the rankings even more. Uruguay are more like to make it further in the World Cup than Poland and Lewandowski is bound to come down in rankings.
#5 – Kevin de Bruyne
April was not a month to remember for Kevin de Bruyne. Manchester City did seal the title but they also got knocked out of the Champions League and Mo Salah ran away with the PFA Player of the year award.
Despite all that, the Belgian has not had a change in his rankings. The individual performance of the midfielder was still on the same level and that has helped him cement his place at the 5th spot.
World Cup will be something special for de Bruyne. He's going to be linking up with Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku – both of them are in stunning form and their help will help him go up in the rankings.
#4 – Robert Lewandowski
April was not a memorable month for Robert Lewandowski. He scored 4 goals in 6 games but was unable to help Bayern Munich get one past Real Madrid.
The Polish striker will have to make the most of the next game he plays as it will be the final one in the Bundesliga season. He needs to get a hat-trick to have any chance of maintaining his place in the Top 5 of the Ballon d'Or Power Rankings.
The World Cup isn't going to help him either. Poland have a tough group and it's almost impossible for them to make it to the next round. While all the other players in this ranking are all but guaranteed a place in the next round of the World Cup.
#3 – Lionel Messi
After Neymar, it's Messi who has suffered the biggest fall in this month's rankings. The Argentine star has done nothing wrong to go down to 3rd in the rankings but it's just that Ronaldo and Mo Salah have been that good in the last 30-45 days.
Messi scored 7 goals in 7 games last month and also had 2 assists to his name. However, when Barcelona needed him the most, against AS Roma, he was unable to deliver.
The World Cup can help Messi jump up in rankings once again but will need the help of all his Argentine teammates. That is something that has been missing in the qualifiers.
#2 – Cristiano Ronaldo
When the Ballon d'Or 2018 rankings started, Ronaldo was not even in the Top 10. He then made a huge jump and came 4th in the March rankings.
His performances earned got him to 3rd last month and now he's 2nd. There is no stopping the Portuguese international and it's going to take a lot from Salah and Messi to stop him from winning the Ballon d'Or for the 6th time.
World Cup starts next month and Ronaldo would be hoping that Portugal can repeat what they did in Euro 2016. As long as he performs well and his side go further than Argentina and Egypt, he will be #1 in the rankings next month!
#1 – Mohamed Salah
'Signing of the season', 'Signing of the decade', 'Liverpool's best signing since Suarez' – a few things that Mo Salah has been called and every single thing is apt.
Salah guided Liverpool to the Champions League final and won the PFA Player of the year award for his performances this season. He's been the most impactful player in the Top 5 European leagues and it's a well deserved for him to be on top of the rankings.
Just like Liverpool, Salah inspired Egypt to reach the World Cup for the first time and he would be hoping that his teammates give more than 100% in every single game they play. Real Madrid may or may not sign him in the summer but if he continues to perform like this, he will be the one to break the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly.
