5 in-form players that might not win the Ballon d'Or this year

Modified Oct 10, 2018 11:56 GMT

#4 Kylian Mbappe

The attacker was a big revelation in the FIFA World Cup

The competition for the Ballon d'Or accolade will be really intense this term due to the fact that many superstars performed at extraordinary levels and reached new milestones in their respective careers during the year.

Paris Saint Germain superstar, Kylian Mbappe is also on the list of spectacular superstars who could miss out on the prestigious award this term despite having a brilliant year at both club and international levels.

Mbappe was one of the brightest players in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup in Russia, tormenting opposition defenders in the tournament and recording 4 goals to his name as France ran riot and ended up winning the prestigious trophy for the second time.

At club level, the 19-year-old also played an influential role in Paris Saint Germain's success last season, bagging an incredible 21 goals and 15 assists in 46 appearances to help the Ligue 1 outfit complete a domestic treble. However, the Ballon d'Or award could go beyond his reach this term, considering that there are other superstars who have emerged as stronger candidates to claim the honour.

About the author

Jidonu is a European and international football news writer at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and has around 7 years of previous experience working with the likes of Tribuna and SportRaba, Jidonu has a good eye for detail and has the ability to created cohesive articles, and reporting exploits have also led him to exclusively cover the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the past.

Jidonu’s tryst with football started after watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, being mesmerized by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Barcelona philosophy and approach towards the game under Pep Guardiola further fueled the burgeoning love for the sport, and he has been a Culer ever since.

Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi is his favorite player and is the one true GOAT for him over Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final, where Messi's brace led to La Albiceleste lifting the cup left a lasting impact on him. His love for Messi also sees him follow Major League Soccer apart from Europe’s top five leagues.

In his free time, Jidonu raps and produces music, and also enjoys reading and swimming.

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Edited by Sripad