'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Ballon d'Or award which is the most prestigious individual award a player could receive is fast approaching and many players have impressed the footballing world throughout the previous season and in the World Cup 2018.
However, 4 players have stood out above the rest. Here is the list of their names, and we shall be ranking them according to their performances last season as well as in the World Cup 2018.
#4 Lionel Messi - Barcelona
The Argentine and FC Barcelona star has dazzled the football world throughout the last decade or so and still continues to do so. What he does with the ball at his feet is simply magnificent and therefore he is widely considered as one of the greatest players to have ever played this sport.
But despite all of this, Messi only manages to find the 4th spot on our list due to a poor World Cup campaign, as well as a disappointing Champions League exit. Messi failed to light up the World Cup as he and his team went crashing out to France in the round of 16.
Although Messi and Barcelona had a remarkable LaLiga campaign, their shocking exit to Roma in the quarter-finals of the Champions League further tarnished Messi's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or this year.
#3 Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
What an amazing year it has been for the Egyptian international. He not only helped Liverpool reach the Champions League final, but also helped the Egyptian national football team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time since 1990!
Salah had a breakout season last season when he scored 44 goals in 52 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions. He also won the EPL Golden Boot. Due to his performances, he was awarded the PFA player of the year while also being nominated for the UEFA Champions League player of the year.
All stats via transfermarkt
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus
Cristiano never fails to amaze us, and this year was not any different. Having started the season on poor form, Cristiano picked up his game from the start of the Champions League. He became the first person to score in all the six games of the group stage.
Once again he finished the Champions League season as the top scorer, and helped his previous team (Real Madrid) to win their 13th champions league title, and their 3rd title in a row.
Besides this, he also performed well for Portugal in the World Cup 2018. Who can forget that hat-trick against Spain in the group stage? So the question is, will Cristiano win his 6th Ballon d'Or?
#1 Luka Modric - Real Madrid
Perhaps a shock to everyone, as for years either Ronaldo or Messi have bagged this prize, but so spectacular was the performance of the Croat that he deserves to be in the number one spot on our list this year.
Modric was instrumental in Madrid's 13th Champions League title, which was also their third in a row! He was also the main man in Croatia's historic run to the final of FIFA World Cup 2018.
He was also awarded the World Cup Golden Ball, the trophy given to the best player in the competition for his performances. Also, he was chosen as the UEFA Player of the Season this year, one should not be surprised if he wins the Ballon d'Or this time around.
