Talk about the cream rising to the top. This year’s FIFA World Cup has turned into a potential Ballon d’Or decider, with almost all the leading contenders shining on the world’s biggest footballing stage (it’s almost unprecedented). So, I thought it would fun to do a power ranking of the current Ballon d’Or contenders, considering both their club exertions and World Cup performance.
8. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
The Georgian Messi will be praying that Paraguay can go all the way this year. In all seriousness, the Champions League Player of the Season really needed all the big dogs to underwhelm if he stood any chance of becoming the unlikeliest Ballon d’Or recipient in some time. That’s unfortunately the price you pay for representing minnows on the international stage (it’s why Ryan Giggs was never in the Ballon d’Or shakeup during his United glory days).
7. Lamine Yamal (Spain)
You feel that La Liga Player of the Season Lamine Yamal was always playing catchup in the Ballon d’Or stakes. The mesmerising teenage winger doesn’t quite possess the type of mindboggling numbers that have become the currency of the realm these days (injury played a part in that). He also hasn’t popped into World Cup life in quite the same way as some of his adversaries, scoring just one goal in his Group Stage matches.
6. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Argentina must win the FIFA World Cup should Messi stand any chance of winning his 9th Ballon d’Or crown. Sure, he was an integral part of Inter Miami’s MLS Cup winning campaign, named MLS Cup MVP for his efforts. But I don’t think that MLS is much of a needle-mover (even with Messi). However, guiding Argentina to a 2nd straight World Cup crown as a 39-year-old might sway a very pro-Messi awards body. He has been the heartbeat of Argentina’s title defence, smashing Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record with six Group Stage goals.
5. Erling Haaland (Norway)
The longer Norway can cling to their World Cup dreams; the longer I can entertain Haaland as an outside Ballon d’Or threat. Haaland wasn’t at his supreme best for City this season, scoring a paltry 27 league goals in 35 appearances (which was still good enough for a 3rd straight Golden Boot). But he still managed to claim a domestic cup double. And he has been instrumental in Norway’s World Cup run, scoring five goals to send the rabid Norwegian fans into a rowing frenzy. Haaland’s goals have been of the tap-in, scavenger variety (he hasn’t been setting the tempo for his side). But you can’t deny his presence on and off the field (he has become a real social media darling during the tournament).
4. Ousmane Dembelle (France)
Only ten players have won the Triple Crown of footballing honours (World Cup, Champions League and Ballon d’Or). If France were to win the World Cup and Dembelle won the Ballon d’Or, he would become the first man in history to win all those honours twice. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner had an inconsistent, injury-interrupted campaign for PSG. But he managed to strike at crucial junctures, scoring eight Champions League goals as PSG won their 2nd successive European crown. He has managed to steal some of Mbappe and Olise’s World Cup stardust, scoring four goals and creating two assists as part of arguably the greatest front-three in the history of the competition. A few more key goals and he could catapult himself above his famed compatriots.
3. Kylian Mbappe (France)
It’s kind of crazy that Kylian Mbappe is yet to claim a Ballon d’Or victory. The undoubted king of World Cup football, Mbappe has flattered to deceive during a chaotic club career. He couldn’t power PSG to European glory and has somehow failed to win a trophy since his mega-money move to Real Madrid. He still bagged for Real, collecting a 2nd successive Pichichi Trophy. But he has looked like a different man for Le Bleus, transforming into the all-conquering beast that has dominated this competition since first setting foot in it. He has six goals and two assists thus far, showing a more mature, team-orientated persona.
2. Harry Kane (England)
Harry Kane has a feeling of inevitability right now (even if England haven’t quite been hitting their straps). Kane is coming off a career-campaign that saw him break all manner of Bundesliga goal-scoring records, propelling Bayern Munich to their 14th domestic double. And last night he wrote himself even further into English folklore, scoring an amazing brace to pull the Three Lions back from the precipice of an embarrassing World Cup exit. He has now scored five goals in this year’s World Cup, taking him to within striking distance of both Messi and Mbappe. Kane has scored 72 goals for club and country this season. Only Messi- who scored 82 goals for Barca and Argentina in the 2011/2012 campaign- has scored more in a single season. That’s what the Ballon d’Or is made for.
1. Michael Olise (France)
But my No.1 pick, perhaps controversially, is virtuosic playmaker Michael Olsie. The winger/No.10 was the creative hub of Bayern’s formidable attacking unit, scoring 19 goals and creating 20 assists across all competitions. He terrorized defences whether playing off the right or moving centrally, using his blistering pace and panoramic vision to dictate the tempo of play. He performed so well that he pipped Harry Kane to Bundesliga Player of the Season honours. Olise has brought that joie de vivre to the World Cup, becoming the architect of France’s successful run with five assists (some of them being absolute blinders).
