Since 2008 there have been only two players who have won the Ballon d’ Or, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. No player has been able to knock them off their perch ever since as Messi has won 5 and Ronaldo with 3.
Some have gone close but the votes have always been dominated by these two superstars. But former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes Gareth Bale could storm to the award this year.
The Welshman has been in superb form in 2016. At the Euros, he was his team’s top scorer as Wales surprised everyone by reaching the semi-finals, knocking out Belgium, the top-ranked team in the tournament in the quarters.
Bale has also been brilliant at the start of the La Liga season for Real Madrid. He already has two goals in two appearances, and Ronaldo is highly benefitting from his form as we saw on his comeback yesterday as Bale laid on the goal for Ronaldo.
Speaking to Dailymail he said, “I think he could do it this year. If he has a great Champions League, it's possible, if he can have a great run of games in it.” Redknapp also talked about his ability on the ball and the talent he possessed when at Tottenham.
“He could do amazing things on the training ground. He could go by someone and hit one in the top corner from 30 yards. Once he picked the ball up and ran with it, he was unstoppable, he was so fast.”
“He was a match-winner. It's that belief and personality that has come out in him now, to take the game by the scruff of the neck all the time. I would have thought he would be the best left back in the world.”
“We went to Benfica for a pre-season game (in 2010, Bale was 21) and I'd never seen anything like it in my life. The times he ran from the edge of his penalty box to their goal line and crossed balls was just amazing. He could have been a great left back or a great left wing back.”
After Messi and Ronaldo, Bale and Neymar have had a mini-rivalry. These two have been touted as the most likely to take the crown of best in the world, once Messi and Ronaldo stop producing incredible displays on a regular basis.
But Bale probably has the edge on Neymar on form at least. The Brazilian was crucial for Brazil in the Olympic games, but still showed signs of inconsistency.If Bale has a brilliant first half to the season he might have a shot at the Ballon d’Or.
