5 players who can beat Lionel Messi to the Ballon d'Or this year

It is the second month of the new year, football is getting more intense than ever across Europe's top 5 leagues. All clubs are aiming to gather as much points as possible in order to meet their objectives for their campaigns. The Champions League league also returns next week for its Round of 16 encounters.

It is that time of the season when the top footballers lock horns in an intense battle to prove themselves as the best there is in the sport. Barcelona talisman, Lionel Messi emerged on top in this battle last year when he made history by claiming his sixth Ballon d'Or triumph.

This season though, he hasn't reached such a level. The Argentine is enduring a slow outing that has produced just 14 La Liga goals and two Champions League goals, which is a massive fall if you consider that he had 21 and 6 goals respectively at the stage last season.

That has given the opportunity to a number of players to move past him in the race for the prestigious accolade. With their amazing performances, they have shown that they mean business and oneof them could go all the way to pip the Argentine from claiming the Ballon d'Or this season. They are as follows:

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#5 Ciro Immobile

The striker is putting up incredible numbers

While discussing the players who could win the Ballon d'Or every season, the attention often goes to players from the top European clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Juventus. Nevertheless, the exploits of Ciro Immobile this season can't be ignored even though he doesn't play for any of these clubs.

The Lazio striker is without doubt, the hottest attacker across Europe's top 5 leagues at the moment. He currently leads the race for the European Golden Shoe with an incredible 25 goals and six assists to his name from 23 Serie A appearances. He's also scored twice from four games in the Europa League.

Having outscored the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo this season, it would be unfair to underrate his exploits. As a matter of fact, he looks set to give the duo and other elite finishers across Europe a run for their money this season. Who knows? His individual performances could earn him the chance to fight for the Ballon d'Or and probably win it.

#4 Robert Lewandowski

Another electric season for the Polish attacker

Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski is another player who also has a decent chance to outpace Lionel Messi in the race for the Ballon d'Or accolade this season - thanks to his amazing exploits in front of goal that has seen him bag double figures both at the domestic league front and in the Champions League.

The Polish sharpshooter has been a very terrific figure this season, tearing opposition defenses apart and finding the back of the net consistently as he keeps his record-breaking run moving steadily. The attacker has recorded 22 goals and three assists in 21 Bundesliga appearances so far this season, helping the Bavarians to move past the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach, RB Leipzig, and Borussia Dortmund to take up the top spot on the table.

Lewandowski also tops the top scorer's chart in the Champions League. He's bagged 10 goals in the European tournament and there's the chance to score even more before the end of the campaign. If he keeps going at this rate, he would increase his chances of going home with the Ballon d'Or this year.

#3 Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool's defensive powerhouse

It is rare to see defenders challenging for top football awards nowadays but it appears Liverpool center-back, Virgil van Dijk just won't leave the spotlight. The Dutchman deserves some praise for scaring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the battle for major awards last season and even managing to beat the iconic duo to the UEFA Best Player award.

He is not slowing down. He has returned with amazing performances this season, showing his class from the heart of the defense as Liverpool keep their eyes on making history in the Premier League. The Reds have conceded just 15 goals in the English top flight so far and they have van Dijk to thank for providing solidity at the back and raising the level of his co-defenders.

With Liverpool already having the look of champions in the Premier League and the Dutchman playing a pivotal role in the team's charge for success, he surely has a good chance to claim the Ballon d'Or this season. If they can manage to defend the Champions League, that chance would increase drastically.

#2 Sadio Mané

Mane has taken up from where he left off last season

When Sadio Mané finished outside the final three for the Ballon d'Or award last season, many quickly pointed out that he deserved better than a fourth-place finish and should have been on the podium during the award gala in December. Such was his contribution to Liverpool's success both domestically and in Europe.

Well, the Senegalese has come back to get what he truly deserves this season and he is doing a lot to win more hearts. The winger has bagged 11 goals and eight assists from 22 Premier League appearances so far this season, helping Jürgen Klopp's men to maintain their stand at the summit of the EPL table. He's also recorded two goals and two assists in six Champions League games.

Liverpool have a great chance to make an even more impressive history this season. They are yet to lose any match in the English top-flight and currently top second-placed Manchester City by 22 points after 25 games. The league title is destined for Anfield. If they can manage to pull a repeat of their European triumph this term, then, Mané could become the second African superstar to claim the Ballon d'Or after George Weah.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese is out to prove a point

When Lionel Messi dominated all the major awards last season, everyone expected a response from his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese has responded in a brilliant fashion this term with unbelievable performances and amazing records in front of goal as he leads Juventus charge for European glory once again.

Ronaldo is on an impressive run at the moment. He's found the back of the net in his last 10 Serie A games, with his momentum rising higher as we enter the decisive phase of the campaign. The attacker has bagged 20 Serie A goals for Juve this season, to go with two assists in 20 appearances. He's also scored twice and set up another one from six games in the Champions League.

Ronaldo's thirst for success and his determination to prove himself as the world's finest footballer is bringing the best out of him once again. At 35, the Portuguese still has plenty of fuel left in him. He's already moved past Messi in the battle for the Ballon d'Or at the moment and he will be keen to keep himself above his eternal rival till the end of the campaign in order to draw level with him on six triumphs.

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