Since Ricardo Kaka won the Ballon d’Or back in 2007, it has been an era of unprecedented dominance in world football by two men. So assertive has been the grip on the most prestigious individual award in world football by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the past decade, a whole generation of world-class footballers has slipped under the radar.
In the 10 years, before Cristiano Ronaldo won the award for the first time in 2008, there were 10 different winners including Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo de Lima, Michael Owen, Pavel Nedved, Luis Figo and Fabio Cannavaro - the Italian being the only defender to have won it in the last 20 years.
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Since 2008 though, the scenario has been starkly contrasting. The likes of Wesley Sneijder, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon, Frank Ribery and Manuel Neuer – all legends of the modern game with trophies to back that up – haven’t been able to secure the individual award that their talent and achievements command.
This list includes 10 players of the current generation, with the talent and ability to secure the coveted prize in the next five years. All the selected players are younger than the aforementioned duo, who’ve dominated world football over the last decade.
#1 Neymar (25 - Barcelona, Brazil)
As the next big hope of the most football frenzy nation in the world, Neymar had a lot to live up to. And, he has done just that.
Already a Ballon d’Or finalist, Neymar is well on track to be the first player to break the Messi-Ronaldo jinx on the elusive trophy. He’s just 25 and has already scored an astounding 52 goals for Brazil. It is almost a certainty that by the time he hangs up his boots, he would have taken over from the great Pele (who has 77 international goals), the title of Brazil’s highest goal scorer.
This in itself is a testament to the legacy he is creating for himself in world football.
As the heir apparent to Leo Messi at Barcelona, his club career is not that shabby either. With the best years of his career still ahead of him, it is almost guaranteed that Neymar will win a Ballon d’Or in the next 5 years. Sky is the limit for this flamboyant Brazilian.
#2 Gareth Bale (27 – Real Madrid, Wales)
Blessed with an amazing physique, technique and blistering pace (legends say Marc Barta is still running), Gareth Bale seems like the perfect long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. Slowly, but surely he is living up to that reputation.
There are many who believe that Bale deserved to be on the podium of Ballon d’Or in 2016 after he almost single-handedly took Wales to the semi-finals of the Euros. The tournament proved that he can dominate on any stage and is capable of creating a goal at will and at any point in time.
Although Ronaldo is not showing any signs of slowing down and is still the King of Santiago Bernabeu, Bale who’s in his prime now will definitely take over that title in the coming years.
#3 Eden Hazard (26 – Chelsea, Belgium)
The summer of 2012 saw most of the elite clubs in Europe vying for a 21-year-old Belgian, who won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award for two successive seasons. The kid chose to join Chelsea, the then defending European Champions. Since signing for Chelsea, Eden Hazard has taken the Premier League by storm.
Hazard has bounced back in brilliant fashion from an awful last season and is back to his best again. The pint-sized Belgian has been the best dribbler not only in the League but also in Europe over the past year.
He is also captaining the golden generation of the Belgium national side which is destined for greatness in the future. And at 26, Hazard is at his prime and ready to conquer world football.
#4 Paulo Dybala (23 – Juventus, Argentina)
Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini, in a recent interview, said that he feels Paulo Dybala has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and be the best player in the world. And after seeing his recent performances for Juventus in the Serie A and Champions League, where they put Barcelona to the sword, you can see why Zamparini rated him so highly.
Thanks to his clever positional play off the ball and remarkable technical ability, he can play in a number of positions. Moreover, Dybala is quick, agile, skilful, and has an incredible ability to score goals.
He is also seen by many as the heir apparent to Messi in the Argentine national team and help the national side end its enduring trophy drought. Still only 23, Dybala is yet to reach his prime and there is no limit to what he can achieve.
#5 Antoine Griezmann (26 - Atletico Madrid, France)
Antoine Griezmann’s steady rise to the top of world football has garnered a lot of attention. He is enjoying another stellar season with Atletico on the backdrop of a scintillating display at the Euros.
Technically and positionally brilliant, and intellectually sharp, the Frenchman has performed exceptionally well over the past couple of years and seems to be not too far away from challenging for the most coveted individual prize in world football. He is scoring a plethora of goals too.
A move to a more creative side will surely help him score even more and can help him establish himself as one of the very best forwards in world football.
#6 Paul Pogba (24 – Manchester United, France)
Since his world record transfer back to Manchester United, Paul Pogba’s every move has been viewed under a microscope. Many pundits have ridiculed the extravagant amount of money involved in the move. But, let’s not forget that there are few other players in world football as complete as the mercurial Frenchman.
Pogba can pass, dribble, shoot, run and defend with equal proficiency and there is simply no other footballer in the world who can match him in all these areas. Hence it is clear that there is an abundance of talent and it all depends on how Jose Mourinho and Manchester United wish to use him.
Being the part of a young and exciting French side, there would be no shortage of chances to win international trophies too. The fact that he is still only 24 and can improve even further is a scary prospect for teams around the world.
#7 Kylian Mbappe (18 – Monaco, France)
The young French sensation, touted as the new Thierry Henry, has taken world football by storm this season by scoring an incredible 23 goals in 38 appearances for the Ligue 1 table-toppers. At just 18 years old, the world is at the feet of this prolific young forward.
Mbappe’s achievements have not gone unnoticed as almost all the European elites are monitoring his progress at Stade Louis II and are willing to spend a fortune for his signature. His performances, especially in some key Champions League matches, have earned him the adulation of fans all around the globe.
Considering his age and the fact that this is just his second season as a professional footballer, there seems to be no limit to the dizzying heights this lad can reach. His is another case of when rather than if he can win a Ballon d’Or.
#8 Alexis Sanchez (28 – Arsenal, Chile)
Alexis Sánchez has been one of the most consistent performers in Europe over the past few seasons and this season, he seems to have taken his game to a whole different level. His record speaks for itself. The Chilean has contributed an astonishing 36 goals (24 goals and 12 assists) in all competitions this season.
These stats are all the more impressive when you take into consideration that Arsenal are not having the best of seasons and he has been the lone ray of hope for them. If the Gunners miss out on a Champions League spot for the first time in several years, Sanchez is highly likely to move on to a club which regularly challenges for all the top honours.
Such a move can definitely take the game to a whole other level for El Niño Maravilla and make him one of the leading candidates for the Ballon d’Or.
#9 Kevin de Bruyne (25 – Manchester City, Belgium)
Another one who was given away by an elite club for well below his value and is back with their fierce rivals to make them rue the decision. It is hard to believe that Jose Mourinho was unable to see the incredible talent and abilities of Kevin De Bruyne. It seems so palpable today.
The £55 million that Manchester City paid Wolfsburg seems to be a bargain now, given the player’s ability to turn a match on its head. His technical ability, pace, passing range and shooting prowess make him a complete attacking midfielder.
Given that he is playing under Pep Guardiola now, there is every chance that he’ll improve even further. That’s indeed a scary prospect for defenders around the world. On the national front too, De Bruyne will be challenging for titles in the coming years with a supremely talented Belgian side.
#10 Dele Alli (21 - Tottenham Hotspur, England)
It is hard to fathom how well Dele Alli has progressed over the past two years. The former MK Dons youngster is now England’s big hope along with his Tottenham Hotspur teammate Harry Kane.
At the tender age of 21, Alli is clearly ahead of the Premier League’s midfield icons like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and David Beckham. A simple stat stands testament to this – Alli has been involved in as many Premier League goals (40) before turning 21 as Frank Lampard (15), Steven Gerrard (13) and David Beckham (12) combined.
He is now a permanent fixture in the Spurs line-up as well as the English national team. With two successive PFA young player of the year awards under his belt now, Dele will look to challenge for even bigger honours in the future. Given his age and stellar abilities, there is no frontier that he can’t triumph over.
