'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Left Forward: Eden Hazard
It seems Real Madrid took a wrong decision when they allowed Hazard to pass under their radar in the summer and the Spanish Giants must be ruing their judgement now. Hazard was brilliant last season and took his game a notch higher up in the summer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, powering Belgium to the semifinals.
Trending
The arrival of Sarri seems to have improved him further now, as he is currently leading the race to the Premier League Golden boots with 7 goals so far already. Under Sarri, Hazard has found an edge in his attacking and his goalscoring form.
There are few better players in the world in that left side right now and as such, Hazard gets the nod as the Left Forward in the Ballon d’Or XI. His understanding with De Bruyne will help him in the team, but Hazard deserves to be among the best right now.
Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo
Perhaps the greatest goalscorer in the World right now, Cristiano Ronaldo ended his long association with Real Madrid with another Champions League trophy and Club World Cup trophy last season.
He represented Portugal in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, had a disappointing run but still managed to score 4 goals. Over the summer, the Portuguese superstar made the move to Serie A giants Juventus and after a tough start to life in Turin, seems to have settled in finally. He has also found the back of the net in Italy and seems ready to take the country by storm.
Ronaldo’s hunger for goal and his successful transformation into a clinical striker sees him beat all the other strikers in the list to make it to the Ballon d’Or XI. With 44 goals from 44 games in all competitions last season, there are few players in the world who can score more goals than him right now.
Right Forward: Lionel Messi
The player who completes every World XI, Lionel Messi, starts in his preferred position as a right forward in the Ballon d’Or XI as well. The only player who comes close to competing with Messi for that position right now is Mbappe, but the teenager still has a lot of ground to make to even reach the Argentinean’s levels.
Messi had another fantastic season with Barcelona last year, scoring 45 goals from 54 games, registering 18 assists, and winning the LaLiga title and the Copa Del Rey trophy. The World Cup was a disappointment, again, but the Barcelona Skipper has started the new season on fire, already scoring 11 goals from 11 games so far.
Contrary to the popular belief, Messi would fit in just fine in a team with Ronaldo and he would bring the perfect top up of magic that the players around him would require. As such, Lionel Messi completes the Ballon d’Or XI, as the team deserves to have the Best Player in the World playing for them.
