The Best FIFA Men's Player 2019: Top 5 contenders for the award - July 2019

The race to the FIFA Best Men's Player of 2019 is heating up
The race to the FIFA Best Men's Player of 2019 is heating up

Hello and welcome back to our assessment of the top contenders for the Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the year 2019 at the start of July 2019. There has been some significant changes in our rankings since our last assessment in May and the race is heating up well so far.

Also Read: Top Contenders of the Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year - June 2019

June saw players compete in the UEFA Nations League in Europe, while the Copa America 2019 also saw a host of top players compete for the big prize. While Portugal defeated the Netherlands to lift the inaugural Nations League, Brazil and Peru will battle it out in the final of the 2019 Copa America. As a result, there has been a few changes in this list as well.

Today we bring you the top five players in the world at this moment. But who makes the cut and who is left out? Read on to find out more.


Also see : Manchester united Transfer News, Arsenal Transfer News, EPL Transfer News.


#5 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Juventus)

Ronaldo was on fire for Portugal in the UEFA Nations League Semi Final
Ronaldo was on fire for Portugal in the UEFA Nations League Semi Final

The Portguese had a decent debut season in the Serie A, where he scored 21 goals from 31 appearances. However, he failed to win the Serie A Golden Boot and help Juventus win the Champions League.

Ronaldo finished the season with a decent 28 goals in all competition, however, it was average by his standards. He did end the season with the Supercoppa Italiana as well as the Serie A title, but it wasn't enough to guarantee him a top contender spot in the race to the Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the year 2019 at the start of June.

However, all that changed in the UEFA Nations League. Ronaldo did not play a part in the league stage of the tournament, but was recalled to the team as his country reached the semi-final. He was reinstated in the starting eleven against Switzerland in the semifinals and the Juventus striker responded in style.

Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 25th minute to give his team the lead, but Switzerland equalized through Ricardo Rodriguez in the 57th minute. In the 88th minute of the game, the Portuguese superstar made it 2-1, giving his team the lead again. In the 90th minute, Ronaldo completed his hattrick, virtually killing off any chance of a Swiss comeback and fired his team into the finals.

The Portuguese had a quiet final, but Portugal still managed to win the UEFA Nations League and became the first champions of the tournament. As a result, Ronaldo has stormed back into the race to the Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the year 2019 and is fifth among the top contenders at the start of July.

#4 Raheem Sterling (England, Manchester City)

Sterling and England bowed out of the Nations League in the semifinals
Sterling and England bowed out of the Nations League in the semifinals

Raheem Sterling continues to be among the top contenders for the Best FIFA Men's Player Award, after a fantastic season with Manchester City.

Sterling was one of the players of the season and won both the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the year as well as the Football Writers' Association Player of the year.

He was outstanding for Manchester City, where under Pep Guardiola's guidance, the Englishman has turned into one of the most lethal attacking players in the world.

Sterling would have been hoping to carry that form into the UEFA Nations League with his country, however, it was not to be.

The Manchester City winger had scored twice in four games to help England reach the semi finals, where, against a formidable Netherlands side, the Three Lions came up short. Sterling could not have a defining impact in the game and England lost 1-3.

They did salvage a little pride in the third place draw, beating Switzerland 6-5 on penalties. Sterling was among the six England players who converted their spot kicks successfully.

His failure in the Nations League might have hurt his chances, as Raheem Sterling has dropped one place to fourth among the top contenders for the Best FIFA Men's Player Award for 2019.

#3 Bernardo Silva (Portugal, Manchester City)

Bernardo Silva was adjudged the UEFA Nations League Player of the tournament
Bernardo Silva was adjudged the UEFA Nations League Player of the tournament

Talk about having an impact. Bernardo Silva was brought to Manchester City as an understudy to David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne.

The Portuguese, though, only needed a chance to show his expertise with the ball and that arrived last season. When Kevin de Bruyne, easily City's midfield maestro from the previous season, was injured in the very first game of the 2018/19 season, the future looked dark for Pep Guardiola's team.

Up stepped Bernardo Silva and by the end of the season, City would have forgotten about de Bruyne.

The Portuguese was easily City's player of the season and he had a defining impact both from the midfield as well as a part of the front three in attack. Silva was key as City defending their title from a fierce onslaught from Liverpool and also completed a domestic treble.

But Bernardo Silva was not the one to rest on his laurels. After the end of the season, he carried forward his form in the UEFA Nations League and guided Portugal to glory.

Such was his impact that he was selected as the Player of the Tournament ahead of Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

As a result of his recent form, Bernardo Silva enters this list for the first time and is third among the top contenders for the Best FIFA Men's Player Award at the start of July.

#2 Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands, Liverpool)

Virgil van Dijk failed to win the UEFA Nations League with the Ne
Virgil van Dijk failed to win the UEFA Nations League with the Ne

The Dutchman was clearly one of the favourites to win the Best FIFA Men's Player Award after he guided Liverpool to the UEFA Champions League triumph.

All Virgil van Dijk had to do was win the UEFA Nations League to be declared the outright favourite. Unfortunately for him, Netherlands came up short in front of a shrewd Portugal side.

Van Dijk was instrumental for his country as they reached the semi final of the UEFA Nations League.

In the semis, the Netherlands faced an inspired England side, but were hardly troubled. England did win a penalty after Rashford was fouled by De Ligt, but apart from that, the Dutch defence, marshaled by Van Dijk, were hardly troubled. They won the game 3-1 and progressed into the final to meet Portugal.

Neither side were clear favourites, but this was a battle between Ronaldo and Van Dijk. The Dutchman was successful in keeping the fiery Portuguese quiet, but Portugal won the game 1-0 thanks to a goal from Goncalo Guedes in the 60th minute.

The defeat at the hands of Portugal means that Virgil van Dijk is still 2nd among the top contenders for the Best FIFA Men's Player Award at the start of July.

#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)

Messi failed to impress at the Copa America Brazil 2019
Messi failed to impress at the Copa America Brazil 2019

Lionel Messi had the chance to strengthen his claim for the Best FIFA Men's Player Award when Argentina traveled to Brazil to take part in the 2019 Copa America. La Albeceleste even managed to reach the Semi Finals, but were defeated by Brazil 2-0.

Messi ended the tournament with just one goal - from the spot, and was largely an isolated figure. He did hit the woodwork a couple of times, but failed to impress in the colours of his country yet again.

The Argentinean would have dropped down the list, but Messi still is the No. 1 contender for the 2019 Best FIFA Men's Player Award because none of the competition managed to have a better month.

Messi won the La Liga as well as a record sixth European Golden Boot and the Pichichi Trophy. He was also the top scorer in the Champions League.

As such, despite having a month to forget, Messi still leads the race to the 2019 Best FIFA Men's Player Award, but by a small margin.

The Argentinean will need to start the new season on fire to ensure he stays at the top of the pile.

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Edited by Alan John