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To start with this article, I wish all the readers a prosperous and happy new year. May you achieve the heights in your respective field as consistently done by the two reigning superstars of Football - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Football is a beautiful sport. At times, it showcases the twists in plots like The Shawshank Redemption and sometimes it holds the action that could be marveled like the action thriller, The Dark Knight.
Club Football has emotions flowing every week; on the field, on the stands and also in front of the TV sets.
Footballers are continuously trying to give their best effort on the field so that they could be considered as one of the greatest of the game. But not everyone could achieve the heights consistently.
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Ever since the rise of two phenomena named, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, other players have found it difficult to compete at that level. However, recently few names have emerged to displace the evergreen superstars duo.
Let us have a look into the new rankings after a month of action-packed drama across the best Leagues in Europe.
#25 Arkadiusz Milik, Napoli, Italy - 10 Goals (20 points)
Napoli is continuously on the rise as they put pressure on Juventus while chasing the Scudetto. Although they are nine points adrift of the league leaders, they are trying to keep their hopes alive with a phenomenal run. Milik is playing a pivotal role in their chase.
After two back to back injury-marred seasons, Milik would love to prove his testament as a superior goalscorer for Napoli.
He was one of the prolific strikers in the Dutch Eredivisie before joining Napoli in 2016. Only time will tell, whether or not he would succeed in his endeavor.
Appearances:16 | Goals Scored: 10 | Assists: 1 | Match Winners: 2
#24 Iago Aspas, Celta Vigo, La Liga - 10 Goals (20 points)
December was not good enough for Aspas to rise in the rankings as he managed to score only two goals during the month. His slump in form is costing Celta Vigo in the La Liga as they stand 11th in the League table.
Appearances:17 | Goals Scored: 10 | Assists: 2 | Match Winners: 2
#23 Edinson Cavani, Paris Saint-German, Ligue 1 - 10 Goals (20 points)
Cavani didn't have a stellar month as his ranking has taken a dip. He was ranked 12th in the December rankings but with only two appearances and one goal in the month, he luckily found a spot in the January rankings. It is still too early to write him off as we enter the second half of the season.
Appearances:11 | Goals Scored: 10 | Assists: 2 | Match Winners: 2
#22 Ciro Immobile, Lazio, Serie A - 10 Goals (20 points)
Lazio is 21 points adrift of the League leaders in Serie A. The inspiring form of Ciro Immobile has taken a hit in the December fixtures.
As a result, Lazio struggled but managed to remain in the contention for the Champions League spot. He has managed only two goals and an assist in the month that somehow saved him from being ousted from the rankings.
Appearances:19 | Goals Scored: 10 | Assists: 2 | Match Winners: 4
#21 Duvan Zapata, Atalanta, Serie A - 10 Goals (20 points)
The inclusion in the list is Duvan Zapata whose goal-scoring spree along with a hat-trick against Udinese has taken Atalanta to new heights in the Serie A table.
Atalanta is only four points adrift from the Champions League spot and will rely heavily on their new sensation to achieve it.
Appearances:19 | Goals Scored: 10 | Assists: 3 | Match Winners: 3
#20 Robert Lewandowski, FC Bayern Munich, Bundesliga - 10 Goals (20 points)
Robert Lewandowski had missed the December Rankings by a whisker but has managed to rise through the rankings and has marked his presence in the January list. He has scored three goals along with a brace against Nurnberg in the month.
Appearances:16 | Goals Scored: 10 | Assists: 5 | Match Winners: 3
#19 Eden Hazard, Chelsea, Premier League - 10 Goals (20 points)
Chelsea is relishing good times in the Premier League thanks to a spirited Eden Hazard. Hazard missed the rankings in the month of December but has bounced back with some good performances to be present in the list.
Eden Hazard is producing goals as well as creating them and is just second on the list of assist makers in the current campaign.
Appearances:18 | Goals Scored: 10 | Assists: 9 | Match Winners: 4
#18 Cristhian Stuani, Girona, La Liga - 11 Goals (22 points)
December and Christmas didn't bring good news for Stuani as he has slumped in the ranking with a solitary goal in the entire month. He will have to step up after the winter break if Girona is looking for any chance of vying for a Champions League spot.
Appearances:15 | Goals Scored: 11 | Assists: 0 | Match Winners: 3
#17 Timo Werner, RB Leipzig, Bundesliga - 11 Goals (22 points)
This young German international has taken Bundesliga by storm. RB Leipzig is breathing on the necks of Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich, thanks to the stellar performance of Timo Werner.
He has shown the steepest rise in our rankings from 50th position to 17th position. Sooner than later, he would be lured away from the Red Bull Arena by the big guns.
Appearances:17 | Goals Scored: 11 | Assists: 2 | Match Winners: 3
#16 Florian Thauvin, Olympique de Marseille, Ligue 1 - 11 Goals (22 Points)
Thauvin has a month to forget as he has managed a solitary goal during the period. He has seen a drop in the rankings from the fourth position to 16th.
Consequently, Marseille has also suffered as they dropped points during the month. Thauvin will have to rise to the occasion for the team to have any chance of grabbing the Champions League spot.
Appearances:16 | Goals Scored: 11 | Assists: 4 | Match Winners: 2
#15 Luis Suarez, FC Barcelona, La Liga - 11 Goals (22 points)
Suarez has managed just two goals in December and as a result, his ranking has taken a hit. He has slipped to 15th position from the 10th position in the previous month. He will have to gear up after the break to challenge for the Pichichi award.
Appearances:16 | Goals Scored: 11 | Assists: 4 | Match Winners: 5
#14 Neymar, Paris Saint-German, Ligue 1 - 11 Goals (22 points)
Unfortunately, the love affair of Neymar with his injuries is on-song and as a result, he has failed to maintain his position in the list.
He is out of top 10 after a solitary goal in the month. With the business end of the season approaching, it would be interesting to see how Neymar and injury maintain their relationship.
Appearances:12 | Goals Scored: 11 | Assists: 6 | Match Winners: 5
#13 Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund, Bundesliga - 11 Goals (22 points)
Reus has maintained his performance from the previous month and has managed to score three while assisting one, during December.
However, he will have to switch gears if he is eyeing any chance of grabbing the coveted Golden Shoe.
Appearances:17 | Goals Scored: 11 | Assists: 7 | Match Winners: 4
#12 Paco Alcacer, Borussia Dortmund, Bundesliga - 12 Goals (24 points)
Paco Alcacer has continued his scintillating form throughout the month of December and scored three goals during the period. Dortmund is enjoying the top spot in the league thanks to the stellar performances of Reus and Alcacer.
Appearances:12 | Goals Scored: 12 | Assists: 0 | Match Winners: 3
#11 Emiliano Sala, Nantes, Ligue 1 - 12 Goals (24 points)
Sala was sitting in the second spot last month but could able to muster a solitary goal in the month of December and that has thrown him out of top 10 from the rankings.
This is football and is cruel at times. Sala will have to step up in order to regain his spot in the rankings. His slump in form has also taken a hit for Nantes as they find themselves in the bottom half of the league table.
Appearances:16 | Goals Scored: 12 | Assists: 2 | Match Winners: 4
#10 Luka Jovic, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bundesliga - 12 Goals (24 points)
Luka Jovic is continuing his form in the Bundesliga but is not enough as his team struggled through the month.
Eintracht Frankfurt is relying on their star man to grab the top four spot as they are only 3 points adrift of the Champions League position. In December, Jovic managed 3 goals. His brace against Mainz saved the blushes for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Appearances:15 | Goals Scored: 12 | Assists: 4 | Match Winners: 3
#9 Fabio Quagliarella, Sampdoria, Serie A - 12 Goals (24 points)
The fairy tale of the rise of Sampdoria this season is mostly due to the surprise scoring run of Fabio Quagliarella, whom his coach, Marco Giampaolo, has labeled to be the Cristiano Ronaldo of Sampdoria.
He has scored nine goals in nine consecutive matches creating history in Serie A. It would be a matter of interest to watch and find out, how long Quagliarella could maintain his scintillating run, defying his age. He is already 35.
Appearances:18 | Goals Scored: 12 | Assists: 5 | Match Winners: 3
#8 Nicolas Pepe, Lille OSC, Ligue 1 - 12 Goals (24 points)
As we have discussed in the December rankings, Nicolas Pepe has been the key attacking asset in the armory of Lille.
His scintillating finishing supported with the ability to provide crucial assists in the final third is drawing the attention of some big teams.
He has continued his run and scored four goals in December. Lille cannot afford to loosen the grip as a group of teams are breathing on their neck vying for the Champions League spot. A lot depends on Pepe for Lille.
Appearances:19 | Goals Scored: 12 | Assists: 7 | Match Winners: 5
#7 Krzysztof Piatek, Genoa, Serie A - 13 Goals (26 points)
Piatek has continued his run throughout the month and is giving tough times to Cristiano Ronaldo for the Capocannoniere. Genoa is sitting in the bottom half of the Serie A table but that has not intimidated Piatek from scoring.
Appearances:19 | Goals Scored: 13 | Assists: 1 | Match Winners: 3
#6 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal, Premier League - 13 Goals (26 points)
The rise of Aubameyang in the month of December has kept Arsenal in the hunt for the top four finish in the league.
He has jumped 15 spots in the ranking to find himself in top 10. However, all was not well for Arsenal in the month.
Their unbeaten streak came to an end as they were handed a thrashing against Liverpool. Aubameyang will have to play more decisive roles in crunch matches.
Appearances:20 | Goals Scored: 13 | Assists: 3 | Match Winners: 3
#5 Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League - 13 Goals (26 points)
Another phenomenal rise is that of the 'Hotspurs Hurricane', Harry Kane. He has climbed 27 spots in the ranking to be on the fifth position in the list.
His stellar form has taken Tottenham to the third position behind Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League.
After missing on the Premier League Golden boot, he must be motivated to snatch back his award from Mohamed Salah.
Appearances:20 | Goals Scored: 13 | Assists: 3 | Match Winners: 5
#4 Kylian Mbappe, Paris Saint-German, Ligue 1 - 13 Goals (26 points)
Mbappe has been phenomenal since the World Cup in Russia. He is continuing his stellar form in the French Ligue 1 and has racked up goals for fun so far.
However, injury has contemplated a different picture altogether for the French sensation. He was able to manage only two goals in the month and has lost his hold on the top spot of the rankings.
Appearances:12 | Goals Scored: 13 | Assists: 6 | Match Winners: 5
#3 Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League - 13 Goals (26 points)
Mohamed Salah missed the December rankings by two spots but has come back to his formidable best in the last month.
He is leading the charge in the Premier League and has taken his team to the top spot in the title race. His phenomenal form has put him in the driver's seat to win back to back Premier League Golden Boot.
Appearances:20 | Goals Scored: 13 | Assists: 8 | Match Winners: 7
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus, Serie A - 14 Goals (28 points)
Down to ten men. Trailing by a goal. Whom would you bring on to save the blushes? Ask Juventus. Ronaldo came on as a super sub and scored in the crucial situation saving the unbeaten streak of Juventus on Boxing day against Atalanta.
You cannot keep this man down the rankings. The ability to score and prove decisive in crucial moments has been Ronaldo's hallmark.
He again proved his worth against Sampdoria which led Juventus to finish the first half of the season with the maximum points ever.
Many have written off the rivalry of Messi and Ronaldo. But Ronaldo is the kind of a player, who comes once in generations.
He is unarguably the greatest showman Football has ever produced and even after switching leagues, he is giving nightmares to Lionel Messi by scoring in the super defensive Italian league. The battle for the Golden Shoe has become interesting more than ever.
Appearances:19 | Goals Scored: 14 | Assists: 6 | Match Winners: 6
#1 Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona, La Liga - 15 Goals (30 points)
The greatest ever? As long as Cristiano is there, the debate will go on for eternity. But Messi is doing what he does the best. He has managed to snatch the top spot in the rankings and is continuing his brilliance in La Liga. Words are less for explaining the Messi mania.
He has scored six goals with a hat-trick and a brace in the month. He also produced seven assists.
The duel of Ronaldo and Messi is the one we have been used to for the last decade. It is still hard to digest how this man was out of the top three in the Ballon d'Or rankings '2018.
It seems he has taken it too seriously and is flying high this campaign. It would be difficult to stop him. Only one man who goes by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo seems to challenge his legacy and he is doing the same with utmost responsibility.
Appearances:15 | Goals Scored: 15 | Assists: 11 | Match Winners: 2
So, as we enter the winter break, the rankings have returned to normalcy with Messi at the top followed by Ronaldo. And after the break begins the beautiful part of the campaign. Keep visiting for the latest rankings as we will update them after the month. Till then, let us enjoy the mesmerizing hurricanes of Europe.
Courtesy: The data has been taken from Transfermarkt to prepare the list
Happy New Year once again!!!
