Ballon d'Or Power Rankings: July 2018

#2 Lionel Messi (Argentina) 🡹

Lionel Messi dragged Argentina to the Round of 16

Last month, Messi was ranked at no.3 in the Power Rankings. However, Salah's fall down the ladder has seen Messi move up despite not having to do much. His performances have only staved off the chasing pack for now.

Argentina were never going to win the World Cup - that much was known as soon as the squad was announced. It was too top-heavy and they were poor at the back. The draw with Iceland and the humiliating loss to Croatia proved that much.

However, Messi took it upon himself to lead La Albiceleste to the Round of 16 with a goal to remember against Nigeria. Desperately needing a win, the captain led from the front both on and off the pitch (where he reportedly told Jorge Sampaoli who to pick in the starting lineup).

But the curse of failing to score in the knockout stages continued for Messi in his fourth World Cup. The Barcelona man has failed to score in 8 knockout matches now since 2006.

Although he did manage two assists in the tournament (including the one to reduce the deficit against France and put them under pressure), it wasn't enough to carry this unbalanced squad any further.

4 - Lionel Messi is the only player to have delivered an assist in each of the last four World Cups. Divine. pic.twitter.com/5fkk1GVZ3z

— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) June 30, 2018

Nevertheless, it is the 45 goals for Barcelona and the European Golden Shoe that helped the Catalan club win La Liga that has kept him in the hunt for now.