How the final 3-man shortlist for Ballon d'Or could look like

Honorable Mentions

This article wouldn't be complete without mentioning some of the stars who had a stellar season in their own rights but their achievements just aren't enough and they might just fall short of making it into the top 3.

Kylian Mbappe (PSG and France)

The French sensation is without a doubt one of the top wingers in the world right now. He had a wonderful World Cup, where he was the joint top-scorer for Les Bleus. But lack of competition in Ligue 1 to his club PSG and failure on the European stage, means he probably won't be able to claim the trophy this year.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt)

The Egyptian winger had a breakthrough season with Liverpool and shined in Premier League as well as Champions League. But with no silverware to his name, his chances to finish in top 3 looks slim.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Juventus and Portugal)

He did win the Champions League and was the top scorer in the competition, but lack of domestic silverware and a modest World Cup performance might be enough to make him miss out on the top 3 spot.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)

Another frustrating World Cup campaign and exit from the Champions League in the knockout phase means Lionel Messi will have to wait another year to see himself in the top 3 at the Ballon d'Or awards.