Ballon d'Or 2020: Ranking the top 5 favourites - February 2020

While football is a team sport, individual accolades are often courted by the most decorated players in the world, as awards such as the Ballon d'Or ensures that they're remembered for years to come. Widely regarded as the most prestigious individual accolade in world football, the Ballon d'Or winner is decided by a combination of votes from journalists, national team captains and coaches and is handed out by France Football annually.

Since 1956, some of the biggest names to grace the game have picked up the award and it continues to grow in stature, as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have capped off a decade's dominance and won the prized accolade numerous times in the past decade. While the Ballon d'Or was limited only to Europeans till 1995, every player in world football is eligible to win the award since the criteria was mended in 2007, making it a global event watched by millions across the world.

Since Kaka scalped the prize in 2007, Messi and Ronaldo dominated the subsequent editions of the award and Luka Modric was the first player to break their duopoly, as he was crowned the best player in the world for his exploits with Real Madrid and Croatia in 2018. Messi, on the other hand, became the first player in history to win the Ballon d'Or for a record-breaking sixth time, as he pipped Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo to the award in December 2019.

Although a lot could change between now and the end of the year, the usual suspects are expected to be in the mix once again, as has been in the case in recent seasons. While we're several months away from finding out the winner of the 65th edition of the Ballon d'Or, we take a look at 5 of the leading candidates at this stage of the season.

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#5 Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)

Lionel Messi is all set to defend his Ballon d'Or crown

While it could be argued that Lionel Messi has become a victim of his own success, it wouldn't be going too far if we said that he has struggled to replicate his exploits from last season. The diminutive Argentinian has struggled with injuries this season and Barcelona's managerial situation coupled with the arrival of Antoine Griezmann, who occupies the same position as him on the pitch, has not helped his cause.

That said, the 31-year-old is still the best player in the world and that is likely to remain the case till the time he calls it quits on his career. Despite facing a spell on the sidelines, Messi has delivered the goods for the Catalan giants and has kept them in contention for the title, as the Blaugrana trail Real Madrid by 3 points in the La Liga summit.

In 23 appearances across all competitions for club and country, Messi has registered 19 goals and 9 assists, a tally that makes for superb reading considering his problems with injuries and Barcelona's poor form this season.

Quique Setien's appointment could turn out to be a blessing for the legendary Argentine and the Catalan giants could turn a corner and compete on all fronts, as they only trail Los Blancos by 3 points in the La Liga standings. Messi's form, however, is of paramount importance, even more so with Luis Suarez's long term injury absence.

Messi has won everything there is to be in his Barcelona career, both for his team and on a personal level, but the fact that the greatest player in the history of the game does not have an international trophy to his name is unsettling, to say the least. In the summer, however, the Argentine has an opportunity to make up for all the lost time, as the Copa America is set to take place after the conclusion of the league season.

By winning the tournament, Messi could not only cement his status as the greatest footballer to have ever lived but also emerge as the frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or, as he aims to defend his crown and win the prized accolade for the 7th time in his glittering career.

#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Portugal)

Cristiano Ronaldo has been in stunning form in recent weeks

Cristiano Ronaldo seems like a man on a mission lately, as the legendary Portuguese winger has seemingly rolled back the years and lead Juventus' title charge. Antonio Conte's appointment at Inter Milan coincided with Maurizio Sarri's arrival at the Old Lady, leading to one of the most exciting title races in recent Serie A history.

Ronaldo has been in the forefront, as Juventus find themselves 3 points clear of Inter in the Serie A summit. The Bianconeri are aiming to make it 9 Scudetto's on the bounce and a lot of it will depend on Ronaldo's form in front of goal, as they look to compete domestically as well as in Europe.

With 31 goals and 2 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions for club and country, the 34-year-old is still going strong and has produced matchwinning performances consistently this season, making him one of the leading candidates to win the Ballon d'Or. Lionel Messi made history last season by becoming the first player in the history of the game to win the award 6 times, an event that has seemingly motivated the former Manchester United man to match his arch-rival.

Juventus look well set to retain their Serie A crown have a winnable tie against Lyon to cater to in the UEFA Champions League. The 34-year-old is the most decorated goalscorer in the history of the competition and has a habit of showing up in the knockout stages, an event that is looking all the more inevitable considering how he's performed since the turn of the year.

Aside from his exploits for the Old Lady, Ronaldo is also set to lead Portugal in Euro 2020, as Fernando Santos' side head into the tournament as defending champions and A Selecao have a wonderfully well-rounded team to repeat their heroics from 2016.

Ronaldo has made it his mission to win at least one Ballon d'Or before he retires and only time will tell if he defies the odds and gets his hands on the coveted trophy once again.

#3 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)

Robert Lewandowski has been in stunning goalscoring form this season

In the modern era, not too many strikers have scored goals as consistently as Robert Lewandowski has for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Poland but the veteran striker has exceeded even his lofty standards this season. While the German outfit have had an underwhelming domestic season, Lewandowski has aged like fine wine and almost single-handedly kept the Bavarians in contention for the Bundesliga title.

The Poland captain has registered 39 goals and 3 assists in 39 appearances for club and country this season, which is staggeringly a goal every 90 minutes of football. Additionally, there have also been reports that Lewandowski has played through the pain barrier, as he was hampered by a groin problem earlier in the season but since then, he has undergone surgery and returned to peak physical condition.

Bayern are a point shy of RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga summit and a lot will depend on Lewandowski's form if they are to defend their domestic crown. The 31-year-old has showed no signs of slowing down and is in contention for the European Golden Shoe as well as the Bundesliga Golden Boot, with German striker Timo Werner also impressing with 20 Bundesliga goals to his name this season.

Lewandowski's Ballon d'Or credentials will largely depend on Bayern's form in the business end of the season and Poland's exploits in Euro 2020, where he set to lead from the front as captain and talisman.

#2 Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City/Belgium)

Kevin De Bruyne has dazzled for Manchester City this season

Kevin De Bruyne has reached new heights this season and has been on the top of his game for the reigning Premier League champions. The Belgian maestro struggled with injuries last season but has made up for all the lost time with a string of top-class performances for Manchester City, as they look to go all the way in the UEFA Champions League this time around.

The former Chelsea man is widely regarded as the best-attacking midfielder in world football and has multiple facets to his gameplay aside from his ability in the final third, as his work rate, eye for a pass and box to box ability has been lauded numerous times by Pep Guardiola.

With 7 goals and 15 assists in the league, De Bruyne is one of the most decisive players in England and has led from the front this season, as the likes of Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero have blown hot and cold. The 28-year-old also looks set to break the Premier League record for most assist registered in a single league season, with Thierry Henry's 20 assists in the 2002/03 the gold standard in that regard.

The Manchester City midfielder is one of the leading candidates for the PFA Player of the Year award and is set to play a pivotal role for club and country in the coming months and with the European championships also around the corner, he could be one of the leading candidates for the Ballon d'Or if things go as planned.

#1 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool/Netherlands)

Virgil van Dijk is amongst the frontrunners for the award once again

Virgil van Dijk has seen his stock rise exponentially since swapping the south coast for Merseyside and the towering Dutchman is not only the best defender in world football by a fair distance, but also one of the biggest matchwinners in the game currently. No player has transformed a team in the manner that he has in the Premier League era since Eric Cantona's contributions for Manchester United in the 90s and the 28-year-old has carried on from where he left off last season to lead Liverpool's title charge.

The Reds have registered a seemingly unassailable 19 point lead in the Premier League summit and look set to win their first league title in 30 years, with Van Dijk on the forefront of their title charge. The Netherlands captain has been an ever-present in the league this season and has played a pivotal role in keep things tight at the back, as Liverpool have conceded just 15 league goals in 24 Premier League games whilst also keeping most clean sheets of any side in the country (10).

Aside from his exploits at the back for Jurgen Klopp's team, the former Southampton has also been a major threat in front of goal. With 4 goals in 24 league appearances, including a match-winning brace against Brighton & Hove Albion in a 2-1 victory, Van Dijk is the complete package and the £75 million transfer fee looks increasingly like a bargain with every passing game.

The fact that he is the captain of the Netherlands adds weight to the claims that he could indeed become the first defender since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 to win the Ballon d'Or, as Ronald Koeman's side are set to enter the 2020 European championships as one of the contenders at the very least.

Liverpool have already added the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup to their trophy haul this season and with the Premier League title virtually sealed, the Dutchman is all set to attain legendary status at the club and is the leading candidate to win the Ballon d'Or this year, after narrowly losing out to Lionel Messi last time around.