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The competition for the FIFA Ballon d’Or has been a two-horse race since 2008, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo taking turns to lay claim to the title of the best footballer of the year, on most occasions with consummate ease. However, competition for the crown has been intensifying in recent years, with a very strong possiblity of the trophy changing hands in the coming seasons.Here are the 10 players most likely to beat Messi and Ronaldo to the Ballon d’Or crown.
#10 Marco Reus
His career might have been blighted by injuries in recent times, but Marco Reus is undoubtedly one of the world’s most exciting talents when in prime fitness. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder familiarised himself with the world’s audience during the 2012 European Championships, and has thereafter grown in leaps and bounds to become one of the most desired attackers in Europe.
Expected to be on multiple shopping lists over the coming transfer seasons, Reus is a prime candidate for the Ballon d’Or if he can step up his game to the next level, with a possible move to a bigger club expected to help grow his stature and his chances.
#9 Manuel Neuer
The only goalkeeper in this list, Manuel Neuer has been proving for a couple of years how valuable a top quality custodian can be, even for a team that is rarely threatened at the back. Solid and extremely consistent, Neuer has won the Bundesliga, Champions League, Club World Cup, and the FIFA World Cup in the last two years, providing ample reason for consideration for a Ballon d’Or.
Known to be an adventurer, Neuer’s risk-taking sweeper-keeper antics have at times been questioned. However, his methods have yielded much success, leading to belief that if a goalkeeper is to win the award for the first time since Lev Yashin in 1963, then it will be the German national.
#8 Eden Hazard
After a three-way tussle for the Belgian’s services between the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea in 2012, the Blues were able to seal Eden Hazard’s signature, a move that has proved invaluable for the London club over the last couple of seasons. Still only 23, Hazard has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most influential players, and is likely to see success with a current Chelsea team stacked with talent.
Integral to the successes of both Chelsea and the Belgian national team, the winger is likely to start featuring in the Ballon d’Or shortlist on a regular basis in the coming years.
#7 James Rodriguez
It’s only early days in the career of the young James Rodriguez, but his performances over the last few seasons have helped convince many of his capabilities. A lack of continuity has hampered Rodriguez’s progress, with the attacker having now played for 3 clubs over the last two years, with transfer fees paid for the youngster in those years adding up to just shy of £100 million.
However, having joined Real Madrid over the summer, Rodriguez is expected to produce the goods for the La Liga giants in the coming years, and will do well to replicate the success he saw at the World Cup earlier this year, where he was awarded the Golden Boot.
#6 Thomas Muller
You might be fooled into thinking that Thomas Muller is enjoying his peak years, but at the age of 25, the German attacker could still be on an upward curve, and is expected to improve on his two consecutive 20+ goal seasons at Bayern Munich.
Winner of the World Cup Golden Boot in 2010 and runner-up in 2014, the striker is expected to benefit from playing at a star-studded Bayern Munich team, with his exploits with the German national team also expected to help his cause. He might not be the most flashy player, but consistency and efficiency could help Thomas Muller become the first German to win the Ballon d’Or since Matthias Sammer in 1996.
#5 Angel di Maria
Real Madrid players and fans complained in unison regarding the shock departure of Angel di Maria this summer, and with good reason as well, given the Argentine’s form for Los Blancos in recent seasons.
Now at Manchester United, Di Maria has already shown himself to be the catalyst for the Red Devils’ attack, and is expected to be a shoo-in for the Ballon d’Or if he can help the Premier League side get back to its glory days.
#4 Neymar
Pencilled in as the next big superstar of world football, Neymar has steadily grown his stock in world football, and started to show signs of settling at Barcelona towards the end of last season after what was a tricky start to life in Spain for the forward.
There is no denying the Brazilian’s ability and skills, and at only 22, Neymar is expected to be in the running for the Ballon d’Or sooner or later. However, the amount of talent surrounding at the club could work either as boon or bane for the Brazilian, as he attempts to lay claim to the tag of the best player in the world.
#3 Franck Ribery
Winner of the 2013 UEFA Best Player in Europe award and third behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the race to the Ballon d’Or, Franck Ribery has firmly established himself as one of the world’s best players, and will be looking to lay claim to the Ballon d’Or title before calling it a day.
The 31-year old has already started the 2014-15 season on a bright note, and will flourish in the fulcrum of the ever-strengthening Bayern Munich attack.
#2 Luis Suarez
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez could very easily have been one of the prime contenders for the Ballon d’Or this year, had he avoided the disciplinary troubles that have plagued the forward through the last season. The prime reason for Liverpool’s return to the UEFA Champions League, Suarez won the European Golden Shoe for the 2013-14 season, and shone in national colours during the World Cup before receiving his infamous ban.
Having moved to Barcelona over the summer, Suarez is expected to benefit from an improvement in service to him, given that he will be sharing space with the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Andres Iniesta. If he can keep up his goalscoring form and keep away the off-field antics, then a Ballon d’Or is a strong possibility for the 27-year old.
#1 Gareth Bale
After winning every possible individual honour in England with Tottenham Hotspur during the 2012-13 season, Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid in a deal that became the most expensive in football’s history. Many expected the Welshman to slow down and take time to bed in at the Spanish club, but Bale’s 22-goal haul, including winners in the Copa Del Rey and UEFA Champions League finals, proved otherwise.
Expected to keep improving at the La Liga club, and only 25 years of age, Gareth Bale is looking like one of the most likely players to dethrone the duopoly that Messi and Ronaldo have held on the Ballon d’Or.
