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The 2019-20 season is well underway and teams across Europe have their work cut out for them in the coming weeks, as the business end of the season edges closer. After a gruelling festive period in December where games arrived thick and fast, particularly in the Premier League, January promises to be another challenge as managers look to fine-tune their squad to realize their objectives for the season.
While Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are well on course to retaining their domestic crowns, Manchester City and Bayern Munich look like they could be dethroned in the summit, after starting the season in underwhelming fashion by their lofty standards. The Parisian club are expected to win yet another Ligue 1 title after starting the season in stunning style, but there remains a possibility that 4 out 5 of Europe's top-five leagues could have a different league winner from last season, a startling example of the change of landscape in Europe recently.
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The Ballon d'Or is the pinnacle of individual honours in club football and is awarded to the most dominant player in Europe annually. In December 2019, Lionel Messi became the first player in the history of the game to win the prized accolade for a record-breaking sixth time, a monumental achievement even for a player blessed with such outrageous ability.
In doing so, the diminutive Argentinian moved ahead of arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo and could well add to his tally this year, after starting the season in scintillating fashion despite being sidelined for a brief period owing to an injury. Liverpool and Manchester City's rise in recent season has led to their players being praised globally, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane, Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah enhancing their superstar status in the last 18 months or so.
While predicting the Ballon d'Or winner in January could prove to be a shot in the dark, it is only logical to assume that last years nominees coupled with their recent fortunes could play a pivotal role in deciding who wins the award in December. On that note, let's look at the Ballon d'Or power rankings for January 2020.
10. Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe is the youngest player on the list and Frenchman is not only the most exciting young player in world football but also amongst the finest players in his position currently. Since making a name for himself at Monaco and spearheading the Principality outfit to the Ligue 1 title, Mbappe's stock has continued to grow exponentially, as he's established himself as an indispensable member for PSG as well as the French national team.
Blessed with natural ability in abundance and composure well beyond his year, Mbappe looks set to rule the 2020s and it could be argued that there's hardly another player in world football who has achieved as much as the youngster at such a tender age.
The 20-year-old has registered 18 goals and 9 assists in 19 appearances this season and looks set to continue his heroics well beyond the new year, as the Parisian club look to win yet another league title and make their presence felt in Europe.
9. Jamie Vardy - Leicester City
Jamie Vardy's rise from non-league football to the rags and riches of the Premier League is a sporting tale for the ages. The Englishman, who spearheaded Leicester City to an unlikely Premier League triumph in 2015/16, has aged like fine wine and has lead the line to devastating effect for the Foxes this season.
Brendan Rodgers' side are second only to Liverpool in the league standings in the halfway point and a large part of their success is due to the form of their talisman, who has lead from the front with a staggering 17 goals and 4 assists to his name so far this season. At the age of 32, Vardy has shown no signs of slowing down and his record against the top-six makes for stunning reading, as he's established himself as one of the biggest big-game players in Premier League history.
Liverpool seem to have registered what looks like an unassailable lead in the Premier League summit but Vardy's side will look to be hot on their heels, as they aim to secure Champions League football for only the second time in the club's history.
Despite being a late bloomer, Vardy has shown staggering levels of consistency in the English top-flight and his decision to hang up his boots prematurely for England seems to be paying dividends. The fact that a Leicester City player features on the list of potential Ballon d'Or winners typifies Vardy perfectly, as the veteran striker continues to defy odds and expectations at this stage of his career.
8. Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
Mohamed Salah's rise to stardom since returning to Liverpool has been eventful, to say the least. The Egyptian arrived in Merseyside for a sum believed to be in the region of £36 million, a club record fee at the time and he took virtually no time to hit the ground running. Liverpool failed to win a trophy at the end of the 2017-18 season but individually, Salah was at the peak of his powers as he broke the long-standing Premier League record of most goals scored in a 38-game league season, with a staggering 32 goals to his name.
The 27-year-old ability to combine technique and doggedness with incredible elegance makes him the complete package and his record in front of goal is astounding. Despite joining the 6-time European champions in 2017, Salah is Liverpool's all-time top scorer of the decade with 84 goals and 2 Premier League Golden Boots to his name and in his time at the club, Jurgen Klopp's side have won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
With 13 goals and 7 assists to his name so far this season, Salah has delivered the goods consistently for the Reds as they look to end their 30-year wait for a league title. The Egyptian maestro has become a global superstar in recent season and he could well attain legendary status at Anfield if he spearheads the Merseyside giants to their maiden Premier League title.
7. Raheem Sterling - Manchester City
When Raheem Sterling sealed a £50 million switch from Liverpool to Manchester City in 2015, it was believed that the Cityzens got the short end of the stick as the fee seemed ludicrous and didn't reflect the player's ability. 5 years later, the Englishman is not only one of the best players in Europe, but also one of the most influential sportsmen in the world currently.
Sterling was the biggest beneficiary of the change of regime in 2016, as Manchester City made a change in the managerial hot-seat by parting company with Manuel Pellegrini in favour of Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard's appointment coincided with an upturn of fortunes for the then 22-year-old, who began to produce the goods consistently and finally realize his true potential.
The former Liverpool man is an indispensable member of Guardiola's set up and played a pivotal role as the Cityzens won back to back Premier League titles whilst breaking a handful of long-standing records. Sterling was also one of the frontrunners for the PFA Player of the Year award in 2019 but narrowly missed out to Virgil van Dijk, who bagged the prize after a historic season with Liverpool.
At the age of 25, Sterling is continuing to scale new heights and has been one of City's best players this season, with 20 goals and 6 assists across 28 appearances in all competitions. The Englishman has been one of the most potent attackers in world football under Guardiola's tutelage and is a big part of the future for Manchester City as well as England.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus
Despite claims that he is past his best, Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the most decisive players in world football and could be in contention for the Ballon d'Or at the end of the year, if Juventus manage to make their presence felt in the UEFA Champions League. The legendary winger could also bag world football's biggest individual honour if he plays a starring role in Euro 2020, a tournament Portugal will enter as defending champions after their heroics in 2016.
While the 34-year-old may not be at the peak of his powers, his instict in front of goal is as good as it's ever been and on his day, he is still one of the biggest matchwinners in world football. Ronaldo's record in big games in unbelievable to say the least and his record over the years for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and the national team will shed light on the fact that he is one of the game's most clutch players.
The former Real Madrid man has 12 goals and 2 assists to his name in all competitions this season and could come alive in the business end of the season, particularly in the knockout stages of the Champions League, as he always does.
5. Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski has been one of Bayern Munich's few bright sparks this season in an otherwise lacklustre campaign for the Bavarian giants. As the record Bundesliga champions look to register another domestic crown, Lewandowski has led from the front and scored goals at an astounding rate, as he continues to defy the odds at the age of 31.
With a staggering 30 goals and 2 assists in all competitions this season, the Pole leads the race for the European Golden Shoe and could do the unthinkable of beating Lionel Messi to the award. Lewandowski also made Bundesliga history as he became the first player in the history of the German top flight to score in the first 13 games of a league season, a record that could take some beating.
The former Borussia Dortmund man has shown no signs of slowing down and his form will be crucial if Bayern are to dethrone RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga summit.
4. Sadio Mane - Liverpool
Since moving to Liverpool in the summer of 2016, Sadio Mane made a name for himself as one of the most explosive attackers in the Premier League but the in the 2018-19 season, his gameplay elevated to another level altogether. Alongside Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, Mane is part of one of the most terrorizing trios in world football and the Senegalese international was at the top of his game for Liverpool last season, as the Reds registered a rrecord-breakingtally of 97 points in the Premier League and won the Champions League.
With 21 goals to his name, Mane shared the Golden Boot with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and teammate Salah last season and has carried on from where he left off. Jurgen Klopp's side have opened up a 10 point lead in the Premier League summit with a game in hand and Mane has played a pivotal role in their push for the title this season, with 14 goals and 11 assist in all competitions this season.
In the 2019 edition of the Ballon d'Or, the 27-year-old was voted as the 4th best player in the world behind Lionel Messi, Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo, a sensational achievement for someone who was plying his trade with Southampton in 2016.
3. Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne has been in the form of his life for Manchester City this season and has come big for his side on numerous occasions, as they look to dethrone Liverpool in the Premier League summit and retain their crown. Blessed with technical ability in abundance, de Bruyne's eye for a pass is second to none in the English top-flight and his ability to strike the ball with both feet makes him the complete package in midfield.
Aside from his ability in the final third, the Belgian international also works his socks off for his side and leads by example, as he's firmly established himself as an indispensable member of Pep Guardiola's side. With 7 goals and 14 assists in all competitions this season, the former Chelsea man could well break Thierry Henry's record of 20 assists in a single Premier League season, the most startling example yet of his ability to pick out his teammates.
De Bruyne's playing some of the best football of his career and on his day, there is hardly a better midfielder player in world football. His crossing prowess, in particular, goes far beyond his assist tally as he's got several variations in his locker. The Belgian's form will be crucial if Manchester City are to compete on all fronts this season and the Cityzens will be hoping to have their midfield maestro fit and firing for the business end of the season.
2. Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool
Since swapping the South Coast for Merseyside in January 2018 for a then record-breaking fee of £75 million, Virgil van Dijk has become one of the most influential players in world football and has transformed the Liverpool backline. In his time at the club, the Reds' rearguard have undergone a transformation of sorts and become one of the meanest defensive units across Europe's top five leagues, in stark contrast to what was the case early in Jurgen Klopp's tenure at the club.
Known for his calmness on the ball and impeccable sense of positioning, van Dijk is one of the most complete defenders in world football and has no glaring weaknesses to his game. The Dutchman was rewarded for his exemplary showing in the 2018-19 season, as he became the first defender since John Terry in 2005 to win the PFA Player of the Year award and capped off a sensational year by being named Man of the Match, as Liverpool were crowned champions of Europe for the sixth time in their history after a 2-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur.
van Dijk also came within a few votes of becoming the first defender to win the Ballon d'Or since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, as he narrowly lost out to Lionel Messi in 2019. As Liverpool covet domestic glory that has eluded them for 30 years now, the 28-year-old's form will be crucial if they are to be crowned champions at the end of the season.
1. Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Lionel Messi cemented his status as one of the greatest players to grace the game, as he became the only player in history to win the Ballon d'Or for a record-breaking sixth time in 2019. The 32-year-old is the kind of player who comes by once in a generation and has shown no signs of slowing down despite entering his 30s, as he continues to carry Barcelona on his back.
Despite being injured for a substantial period of the current season, Messi has managed to register 15 goals and 9 assists across 18 appearances in all competitions, a startling example of the level he operates at. The diminutive Argentinian enjoyed one of the most successful years of his career in 2019 even by his lofty standards, as he won a handful of personal accolades including the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Best Men's Player of the Year.
Messi has carried on from where he left off last season and could spearhead Barcelona to yet another league title, as he aims to add to his growing collection of trophies. The Champions League has eluded Barcelona since 2015 and the legendary attacker will look to get his hands on club football's biggest prize once again, as he aims to win the competition for the fifth time in his career.
