Ballon d'Or: A glance at the younger generation destined to lift the prestigious honour after the Messi-Ronaldo era

#3 Matthijs De Ligt

Matthijs de Ligt: Adding steel to the silk of AFC Ajax.

Matthijs de Ligt is the name on the lips of every football follower these days. The central defender is the youngest player to captain a side in the Champions League semi-final. He also led his team's defense to a Europa League final at 17 years or age.

De Ligt's concrete performances for AFC Ajax at their heart of defence has attracted European powerhouses for his services. The Dutch player shows the maturity of a veteran defender, organising the shape of his team and showcasing calmness in his defensive duties.

The fundamental of a young footballer's schooling is to abide by the basics of their role and implement them well. Matthijs is the epitome of that education as he occupies perfect positions in the back-line and reads the game aptly to provide crucial shot-blockages and pass interceptions.

The Ballon d'Or jury focuses on the contributions made by the attacking players and seldom shortlists a defender for the award. But, De Ligt's compatriot, Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool, won the PFA Player of the Year 2019. The Ajax captain lifted the Golden Boy award in 2018 due to his immense potential.

Recent trend change might allow Matthijs De Ligt to be in the contention of the Ballon d'Or. He is the prime candidate from his department to obtain the prestigious recognition since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.