Ballon d'Or Power Rankings: April 2018

First things first. We'll let you in on a few jaw-dropping details before we get right into the thick of it.

There have been gargantuan changes in our power rankings from last month which saw Sergio Aguero on No. 10, Harry Kane on No. 7, Cristiano Ronaldo on No. 4, Neymar Jr. on No. 3 and Messi taking the top spot.

Things are going to look drastically different after a hectic month of March which saw some stocks rise and others plummet, as you read on..

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#10 Harry Kane

The month of March hurt Kane

The month of March has been particularly inauspicious for the leading top scorer in England in the last two seasons.

Kane limped out of Spurs’ 4-1 win over Bournemouth on March 11 with damaged ligaments in his right ankle, missing an FA Cup quarter-final tie with Swansea and England’s international friendlies.

The Englishman has dropped way down the ranking owing to his continued absence for both club and country but has already made a return to the Tottenham squad against Chelsea in the Spurs' first win in the month of April.

Although Spurs' haven't really missed their main man, in all honesty, Kane will be itching to get back in the game so that he can catch up with Salah who's sped away in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot.

Here's hoping the month of April brings better luck for Tottenham's own.

#9 Marc-Andre Ter Stegen

Ter Stegen has been Barcelona's impregnable wall this season

Not what you expected? A keeper!?

Let us explain ourselves and also ease you into some more disheartening news. The Barca shot-stopper isn't only making an entry into the top 10 in our Power Rankings for April but is doing so at the expense of a striker who has been among the highest echelons of the world game but has still failed to land any major recognition or accolade - Sergio Aguero.

The Argentine's pain is the German's moment of opportunity!

There is no denying that Ter Stegen has been a driving force behind Barcelona's surreal unbeaten run in the campaign - both in the league and in Europe.

The shot-stopping ability of the German is second to none. None!

He has sharp reflexes and has repeatedly pulled out blinders to help his side inch towards glory.

The German has been overshadowed by his senior in the German team - Manuel Neuer - who has similarly overshadowed every keeper since his entry onto the world stage.

We'd always hear talk about how the man with the gloves for Barcelona was the next big thing in Germany, but no one else in the world was bothered; all this back when Ter Stegen was with his beloved Borrusia Moenchengladbach.

It took a horrific injury to Neuer for the world to finally take notice of the amazing skills that his junior in the national side has as a goalkeeper.

The German has been in blinding form this season, saving Barcelona on innumerable occasions, and has literally had no moments of uncertainty in 38 appearances for them this season.

He has only let in two (from five) in the Champions League thus far and somehow has an even better record in the league, which also happens to be the best in Europe.

Just 15 conceded in 29 fixtures with a staggering 18 clean sheets. That makes it just 22 conceded in total, whereas the number of clean sheets add upto 23.

More clean sheets than goals conceded. Let that sink in for a moment...

#8 Luis Suarez

Has the Uruguayan managed to find his form?

Suarez has risen one spot from last month on our power rankings, not particularly due to his blistering form which we're so used to but mostly as a result of Kane dropping down the rankings from seventh to tenth.

Although the rise in the rankings for the Uruguayan isn't completely unmerited.

After a disappointing month of February Suarez has managed to find some of the scoring form that eluded him the month before.

Apart from scoring a late stunner on the 31st that galvanised Barca's come-back against Sevilla, the Uruguayan has scored in the league win against Malaga.

His abysmal goal-scoring record in this year's Champions League continues though, which is why he is languishing in eighth place on our power rankings.

He did manage to play in Messi twice for his brace Chelsea in the round of sixteen, which is some solace we reckon.

But the Uruguayan needs to get back to his best, after falling behind Ronaldo in the Pichichi standings, if he is to have any legitimate shot at glory with the most prestigious individual award in football - Ballon d'Or.

#7 Edinson Cavani

Edinson recently overtook Zlatan to become PSG's all-time leading scorer

Edi Cavani has won the battle between the two Uruguayans on the list, marginally edging out Suarez based on the number of goals for the season.

Cavani has only managed one goal compared to Suarez's two in March, after scoring against Monaco in the French League Cup, despite missing out on most of the league fixtures (two out of four) due to suspension.

The PSG man has 33 goals and five assists in all competitions this season for the French side, finding the net on seven occasions in Europe compared to his compatriot's 24 in total - drawing a blank in Europe's most elite competition.

Accounting for the disappointment of exit from the Champions League at the hands of Madrid, the all-time leading goal-scorer for the Parisians has still had a phenomenal campaign and merits his spot on No. 7 in our Power Rankings.

#6 Neymar Jr.

Neymar was at his mesmerising best before being stretchered-off against Marseille

The Brazilian is one of the hottest properties in world football despite not being in contention to start a game for the next three weeks or so, which is basically the rest of the season.

That is why he has dropped three spots in our power rankings since last month but still features on the list.

Mostly because the wonder-kid from Brazil can turn it all around in Russia with his national side being touted as one of the favourites to win the biggest prize in the game.

And in that event occurring, Neymar Jr. playing a starring role is almost a certainty.

The event in Russia is all that the PSG man has to look forward to and see if he can claim the Ballon d'Or.

But he does have the edge, considering he is in a better position - owing to the geographic location of his birth-place - than both Ronaldo and Messi to lift the World Cup.

In conclusion, Neymar could make a late run for the Ballon d'Or by going all the way in Russia with Brazil.

#5 Kevin De Bruyne

The Belgian has already handed Manchester City the Premier League title

The undisputed king of assists this season has been Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian has been playing like it's nobody's business and has already handed the League title to Manchester City with his sublime ability to never err with a pass.

Having moved from Wolfsburg for close to £40 million, he has seen his value sky-rocket to three times that number and is currently one of the most exciting talents in world football.

The former Chelsea star has raised the bar as far as playmaking in the Premier League is concerned, making the likes of Ozil, Pogba and Fabregas seem out of touch.

When Pep Guardiola raised the Belgian's profile after taking over, stating that he is the best player in the side despite Toure, Silva, Kompany and Aguero in the same team, few could fathom what it was that made the Spaniard make such a claim.

Two years on, we all know. De Bruyne always seems to be three, four, five steps ahead of his opponents who fail to cope with the standards set by him, and he doesn't require any time on the ball to play 'that killer-pass'.

Apart from scoring some sumptuous goals this season (seven in the league) the Belgian has also provided an assist every other game in 30 appearances.

He has charmed Europe too taking his total tally to 11 goals and 19 assists.

This sees him sit pretty at No. 5 on our list and we're certain no one's arguing!

#4 Robert Lewandowski

With it being a World Cup year, the odds looked stacked against the Polish international

Robert Lewandowski has been among the top three world strikers for the best part of the last decade.

He is the most prolific striker on this list as well, which is saying something, considering the abnormal wealth of talent on here.

Let's run you through the numbers real quick.

The Bayern man has been on a goal-scoring crusade this season as well: 35 goals in 38 matches. Unbelievable numbers.

The captain of the Poland national team also scored a hat-trick against bitter rivals Dortmund in Bayern's last league engagement.

Two hat-tricks in the month of March see him jump up two spots in the power rankings and, to be honest, could easily have broken into the top three for April.

The glaring obstacle, for Lewandowski, to the pinnacle of individual footballing success is the competition in the summer- the World Cup.

With Poland not really expected to upstage the big boys in Russia, we don't see how the striker could be crowned the best footballer of the year.

But as long as you've got Lewa in your side, you're in with a shot!

Here's a reminder why

#3 Mohamed Salah

No one has been able to catch the Premier League top-scorer

Everyone in the world has been waiting on this Egyptian to fizzle out for some time, except the Reds of course and all of Egypt, but the stellar form of Liverpool's most valuable player is continuing unhindered.

In fact, Salah has carried his glorious touch into international fixtures as well, scoring the only goal for his side in the friendly against Portugal, before you-know-who scored two in stoppage time to hand Egypt a heartbreaking loss.

His best work though still continues to come in that shirt with the Liverpool badge.

The diminutive magician has moved five clear of Tottenham's main man in the goal-scoring charts for the Premier League.

He has 29 now, also notching up 10 assists in just 31 appearances this season. For perspective, that's more assists than Mesut Ozil has conjured up in the campaign.

The real worth of Salah for the Reds was evident in their last fixture of the month when he dragged his team from a goal down to win all three points by scoring a winner in the 85th minute.

He looked out of pace in the game but still managed to make his tremendous form count. Again.

We think all this justifies his retaining a spot in the top three for April as well!

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo is gunning for his sixth Ballon d'Or

We thought we were supposed to witness the demise of the career of the most recognised footballer on the planet. 33 years old and still top quality?

Never a moment's doubt!

The Real Madrid goal machine has been in scintillating touch for both club and country this past month, carrying on his rampage ever since the turn of the year.

The current holder of the prestigious award isn't giving up his crown of the best player in the world without a fair fight.

People were writing up obituaries for his career after a dismal start to the campaign, which saw him score only four times till December.

It probably rilled up the Portuguese who now has 22 goals in 23 matches with another five assists to his name.

That's what you call silencing your critics and no one knows how to do that better than the all-time leading goal-scorer for Los Blancos.

He is now just 68 behind his nemesis Messi is the all-time leading goalscoring charts in La Liga having played 123 fewer games.

The Champions League is firmly his patch and the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has already lodged 12 goals in this year's edition alone.

In the month of March, Ronaldo has wreaked havoc by scoring a goal in Europe against PSG and has two braces and put four past Girona in his last involvement for the month of March.

That makes it nine goals in four matches for March despite being rested for Madrid's latest league outing against Las Palmas.

#1 Lionel Messi

Yes Leo, you're still No.1

Despite the Portuguese megastar biting at the ankles of the Argentine, Messi has managed to reclaim top spot in our power rankings for the month of April.

The Barcelona talisman has not seen as much football as his adversary in March, having missed out on both international friendlies for Argentina due to injury, as well as the first hour against Sevilla on the last day of March.

But the little time he was on the pitch was enough to leave his competitors baffled in a trail of sensational "out of this world" football.

He started off the month by scoring in a 1-1 draw against Las Palmas to keep Barca's unbeaten run intact. He followed that up with an unbelievable free-kick against Atletico to win all three points.

He was left out of the side against Malaga but came back in the team to score in a win against Athletic Bilbao.

Amidst all this, he also managed to secure qualification to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in a 3-0 win over Chelsea at the Camp Nou. Messi was chief-tormentor with a brace and an assist.

But the moment that saw him clinch top spot, yet again, came in the spectacular come-back, master-minded by the Argentine, against Sevilla on the eve of the start of April.

Messi was left on the bench by Valverde and as a result, saw his team fall two goals behind.

Messi came off the bench around the hour mark to inspire his side to score two goals in the final two minutes which included a Messi Special from the edge of the box - similar to the one he got at the Bernabeu to beat Madrid with the last kick of the game.

How do you keep this man out of the game? He literally was out of the game but still managed to affect it with his oozing brilliance in the last minute of the game to keep his side on track for the ultimate prize - going unbeaten throughout the season.