Who will take home the most coveted individual accolade in world football? (photo credit: Chistophe Ena/ AP).
Who’s taking home the Ballon d’Or?
By Jacob Tanswell
December 3rd marks the date where esteemed individuals of the footballing world gather to find out who is the top football player voted by the key figures within the game. From international journalists to national team coaches, they all get a say on the often heated debate; who is the best?
After the 30 man shortlist was released, debate has been ignited on who should scoop the annual award. Since Cristiano Ronaldo collected his first award in 2008, there has been a decade of dominance on the trophy between himself and Lionel Messi who, combined, have won every single award up from that point.
The Favourites:
Luka Modric:
This year perhaps may bring an end to the control of the Messi-Ronaldo hold on the Ballon d’Or. After being crowned FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year and winning the World Cup Golden Ball, Luka Modric is viewed as the betting favourite.
Establishing himself as one of the most influential midfielders in modern football, the Croatian has received high praise from supporters and pundits alike. It is quite feasible to comprehend that a success for Luka Modric may change the landscape of how the award is decided, and open up the competition for years ahead.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
An awards ceremony wouldn’t be the same without mentioning this man would it? After securing his fifth Champions League title in Kyiv earlier this year, it is no surprise to see Ronaldo as one of the favourites for the coveted prize. Never shy of stepping up in a crucial moment, as his magnificent World Cup hat-trick against Spain, capped off with a magnificent injury-time free-kick, highlighted.
Ronaldo has showed no signs of slowing down just yet, could he claim his sixth Ballon d’Or in December?
Lionel Messi:
Of course, you cannot include Ronaldo without mentioning Lionel Messi the sentence after. Running out of superlatives to describe the Argentinian, Messi has once again, smashed an array of long standing records, culminating in a glittering year.
With 34 goals, winning his fifth Pichichi and the European Golden Boot in the 2017/2018 season, the Barca magician is surprisingly, for him, just outside the favourites. Many within the game feel Argentina’s failure at the World Cup could hinder any chance of him regaining the Ballon d’Or.
Kylian Mbappe:
The teenage sensation has simply been a revelation since he burst on the scene at the age of just 16 at Monaco. Considered by many as the world’s best young player, Kylian Mbappe lit up the World Cup in Russia through some stunning goals and sublime moments. Heavily contributing to France’s World Cup win, Kylian Mbappe is a dark horse to take home the golden ball trophy.
At club level the Paris Saint-Germain star continues to excel and, say it quietly, is outshining Brazilian teammate Neymar.
The Outsiders:
Neymar:
Oddly enough and perhaps rare, the Brazilian is seen as a firm outsider for this year’s award. After an abysmal World Cup, where the amount of time he spent on the floor was privy to most analysis, it might have to take something staggering to imagine the PSG man going up on stage to collect the prize.
Harry Kane:
The Spurs and England talisman has emerged as an outside contender after having another outstanding year at Spurs and most notably, winning the Golden Boot in Russia after netting six goals in the tournament as England went to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990. However with no silverware under his belt, his chances are slim for capturing his first Ballon d’Or.
Mohamed Salah:
After quite a sensational first season at Anfield, where he bagged the 2017/2018 best Premier League Player, the Golden Boot and the Puskas Award for the best goal, the Egyptian has crashed the Ballon d’Or scene for the first time in his career.
Although many believe Salah’s unfortunate injury, harming his brief World Cup campaign, may hamper the Egyptian to collect another major individual award to add to a trophy cabinet. At least on a personal level.
