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The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual prize in football. It is awarded by French news magazine France Football to the best performing footballer in a calendar year. Lionel Messi picked up his record seventh Ballon d'Or last year, edging out Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho and Karim Benzema to the award.
The 2022 Ballon d'Or race could be the most unpredictable in recent times
The Ballon d'Or winner is chosen on the basis of a combination of votes from journalists, national team captains and coaches. With the usual suspects Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo failing to hit the heights of their prime years, it is likely that we'll have a new winner this year.
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Without further ado, let's take a look at the Ballon d'Or Power Rankings for the month of February 2022.
#10 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Manchester United)
Cristiano Ronaldo showcased great form in the first half of the 2021-22 season. He produced multiple rescue acts for Manchester United in the Champions League and there was an air of inevitability about him.
However, the Portuguese international has not been able to escape the tribulations that come with being a part of a struggling side like Manchester United. Ronaldo's form has dipped in recent weeks but going by history, he should be able to bounce back before the end of the season.
In 30 appearances across all competitions for Manchester United, Ronaldo has scored 15 goals and provided three assists so far. He is the kind of player who can single-handedly inspire above-average sides to do extraordinary things. So it wouldn't be wise to write him off in the race for the 2022 Ballon d'Or just yet.
#9 Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi has not been at his best in the 2021-22 season. The Argentinian international failed to hit the ground running at PSG after joining them from Barcelona last summer. Messi was able to assert himself in the Champions League but it took him a while to settle down in Ligue 1.
Messi has performed significantly better since the turn of the year. But he will have to remarkably up his game if he is to outperform his own teammate Kylian Mbappe and pip him to the Ballon d'Or this time around.
In 22 appearances across all competitions this term, Messi has scored seven goals and provided nine assists. The 34-year-old is certain to win trophies this term with PSG and that should hugely boost his credentials in the race for the most prestigious individual prize in football.
#8 Sebastian Haller (Ivory Coast/Ajax)
Sebastian Haller has been excellent for Ajax since joining them from West Ham United in January 2021. Ajax have been in wonderful form this season. They are presently at the top of the Eredivisie table after 23 gameweeks and have scored at a rate of three goals per game.
Ajax have also won all six of their Champions League group stage matches. Haller has been phenomenal as their markman this season. He is currently the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 11 goals from seven appearances.
In 29 appearances across all competitions, the Ivory Coast international has scored 29 goals and provided nine assists. He is one of the darkhorses in the race for this year's Ballon d'Or.
#7 Erling Haaland (Norway/Borussia Dortmund)
Erling Haaland has been prolific in front of goal for Borussia Dortmund once again this season. The 21-year-old is currently the most sought-after striker in the world and several European giants are interested in securing his services this summer.
Haaland has scored 23 goals and provided six assists in 20 appearances across all competitions so far this term for the Bundesliga outfit. However, he has had multiple injury problems to deal with this season.
He has already missed 15 matches due to injury in the ongoing campaign and is currently sidelined as he recovers from a muscle injury. But once he's back, there is no doubt that Haaland will stack up incredible numbers as he has been nearly unstoppable in the final third this term.
Haaland is considered a future Ballon d'Or winner but it remains to be seen whether he will have enough trophies this season to make a strong case for himself.
#6 Thomas Muller (Germany/Bayern Munich)
Thomas Muller, Bayern Munich's very own Raumdeuter (space interpretor), is the king of assists in Europe. Muller is one of the most intelligent footballers in the world and his awareness, maturity and decision-making in the final third are exemplary.
The German international's presence has gone a long way towards making Robert Lewandowski the best striker in the world. Not all centre-forwards have the luxury of playing alongside a player of Muller's ability and tactical acumen.
Bayern Munich have looked utterly dominant at times this season. They are tipped to have a long run in the Champions League and win the Bundesliga for a 10th consecutive season.
In 33 appearances across all competitions this term, Muller has scored 10 goals and provided a whopping 22 assists.
#5 Vinicius Jr. (Brazil/Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr. is one of the most improved players in the world this season. The Brazilian winger has doubled down on his strengths this term. It is nearly impossible to shake him off the ball as he loves flitting past defenders with his dancing feet.
Vinicius Jr. has combined with Karim Benzema to great effect in the ongoing season. The duo's form has been pivotal to Real Madrid sitting at the top of the La Liga table. His development will certainly have pleased his national team coach Tite, who is now spoiled for choice in attack heading into the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In 34 appearances across all competitions for Los Blancos so far this season, Vinicius Jr. has scored 16 goals and provided 10 assists.
#4 Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)
It would have been perfectly excusable for Karim Benzema to have started fading this season. He has turned 34 and has spent more than a decade performing at the highest level. But the Frenchman has only taken his game up a notch this season.
He scored crucial goals in the semi-finals and final of the UEFA Nations League. The Frenchman has been a class apart and has been Real Madrid's best player this term as they look poised to go on and win the league.
Benzema has scored 25 goals and provided 11 assists in 30 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid so far this season. He will be France's first-choice striker at the 2022 FIFA World Cup as well. Benzema finished fourth in the 2021 Ballon d'Or race and looks determined to do even better this time around.
#3 Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich)
Robert Lewandowski has now won the Best FIFA Men's Player Award two years in a row. He was robbed off the Ballon d'Or in 2020 when the award was canceled in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. A large section of football fans are of the opinion that Lewandowski should have won the 2021 Ballon d'Or over Messi.
But Lewandowski has kept his head down and has continued to score goals at a stunning rate. He has been extremely prolific in front of goal once again this term. The 33-year-old is certain to rewrite more goalscoring records this season.
In 32 appearances across all competitions for the Bavarians in 2021-22, Lewandowski has scored 39 goals and provided three assists. Bayern Munich are tipped to win the Bundesliga and are one of the favorites to go on to win the Champions League as well.
If he can keep this form up for the rest of the season and win the Champions League, it'll be impossible to deny him the Ballon d'Or this year.
#2 Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah was left heartbroken a few weeks back as Egypt fell to Senegal on penalties in the final of the 2021 African Cup of Nations. The continental title would have gone a long way towards boosting Salah's credentials in the race for the 2022 Ballon d'Or.
The Liverpool forward has been in sublime form this season. He has played some of the best football of his career this term and has scored some wonderful goals as well.
The 29-year-old has entered the final 18 months of his current deal with Liverpool and is waiting for his contract situation to be sorted out. The form he is in, Liverpool should give him whatever he wants as he is one of the best in the world.
In 31 appearances across all competitions this season, Salah has scored 27 goals and provided 10 assists. The Egyptian international finished seventh in the 2021 Ballon d'Or race despite not winning any trophies. If he can add some silverware to his trophy cabinet this term, Salah might just win his first Ballon d'Or.
#1 Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain)
This could finally be Kylian Mbappe's year. The Frenchman has been one of the most in-form players in the world this season. He continues to wreak havoc in the final third with his trickery and incredible burst of pace.
Mbappe's ability to find a way through difficult situations by means of his sheer athletic ability is simply unmatched. PSG have reaped the benefits of having him lead their attack once again this term. But Mbappe is almost certain to leave the club in the summer and it will be nearly impossible for PSG to replace him.
Mbappe has been in scintillating form in the ongoing campaign. His recent stoppage-time winner against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie was a goal of the season contender.
PSG are among the favorites to win the Champions League this term. They are well on their way to regain the Ligue 1 title as well. Mbappe will be one of France's chief weapons in attack at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and it looks like this will be the year of the crown prince of football.
In 33 appearances across all competitions for PSG so far this season, Mbappe has scored 22 goals and provided 16 assists.
