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We are only a game away from the end of a stunning football season in Europe, and that game happens to be the all-important UEFA Champions League final. Two English clubs, Liverpool and Tottenham, will fight it out at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday to win the coveted trophy.
Earlier this week, Chelsea beat Arsenal to win the Europa League title. There was a time when two players, Messi and Ronaldo, owned the Ballon d'Or, but it all changed when Real Madrid's Luka Modric broke their dominance last year.
Though players like Sergio Aguero, Jadon Sancho, Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard, Robert Lewandowski, and Mo Salah had a good 2018/19 season, these five players stood above the rest and deserve a shot at the award.
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Without much ado, let's rank the current 5 favourites for the 2019 Ballon d'Or award.
#5 Sadio Mane, Liverpool
The Liverpool star has grown in stature in this season and when Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino struggled for goals, he stepped up and led Liverpool's attack. He single-handedly won games for Liverpool this season and was a threatening presence in the final third for Klopp.
The Senegalese attacker has scored 22 goals in the Premier League this season and won the Golden Boot, alongside teammate Mo Salah and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He has also scored four in the UEFA Champions League.
Though he is some way behind Messi and Mbappe in terms of goals and assists, his impact on this Liverpool side is invaluable. He will play the Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, and if he can lead them to the European title, he has a great chance to finish in the top three.
#4 Kylian Mbappe, PSG
The 20-year-old French sensation is arguably the most promising young player in world football at the moment. Ever since his record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe has gone up a notch, and has been brilliant for PSG and his national team France. He was an integral part of the France side that won the World Cup in 2018.
The boy wonder had an astonishing 2018/19 season, where he challenged Lionel Messi for the European Golden Shoe but agonisingly fell short. Mbappe ended the campaign with 33 Ligue 1 goals and four in the Champions League. He has also assisted 12 goals.
Despite his heroics, PSG were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United in the round of 16 and also lost the French Cup finals to Rennes where Mbappe was sent off. He is only 20 and has every chance to win the award sooner rather than later.
#3 Raheem Sterling, Manchester City
Manchester City created history as they become the first team to win a domestic treble of the Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Though they were ousted in the semifinals in the UEFA Champions League, they were brilliant domestically. Raheem Sterling, in particular, had a breakthrough season for City.
The 24-year-old played a huge role in City’s success and was consistent in front of goal. The Englishman scored 17 goals in the Premier League and added five more in the Champions League. He has also created 12 goals for his teammates.
Often criticised for his decision making and consistency in the past, Sterling has put everything aside, and has come up with a remarkable season for City. He was also named in the Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year 2019. If he keeps improving the way he has in the past couple of years, he could end up on top of the podium soon.
#2 Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona
Lionel Messi’s season has ended on a sour note. In their last game of the season, the Catalan giants were beaten in the Copa del Rey final by Valencia, and the dream of a yet another domestic double vanished.
Despite Barcelona’s mediocre 2018/19 campaign, one man stood apart from the rest, and it was none other than the Argentine magician. Lionel Messi was phenomenal throughout the season, and won quite a few games on his own.
Messi finished the season with 51 goals - 36 in LaLiga, 12 in the Champions League and 3 in Copa del Rey. He has also provided 16 assists in the league and the UCL.
The 31-year-old won his third successive Golden Shoe and also became the first player to lift the award six times. He also won the Pichichi trophy for his stunning exploits in LaLiga. Messi eventually claimed his 10th LaLiga title.
#1 Virgil van Dijk
#1 on this list is another player who will feature in the Champions League final on Saturday. In an era when defenders rarely get the credit they deserve, Virgil van Dijk has stood apart from the rest, and has made a difference to this Liverpool side. He has been sensational at the back for the Reds, and has been receiving praises from every nook and corner.
After his phenomenal 2018/19 season, the 27-year-old won the PFA Player of the Year. He also became the first defender since John Terry in 2005 to win the prestigious award. Liverpool conceded only 22 goals in the Premier League this season, which is the best defensive record for any team in Europe’s top flights.
Leadership skills and ability to read the game are two of his biggest virtues. He has completely changed this young Liverpool unit, and has made them a force to reckon with.
