Performance Analysis of 2019 Ballon d’Or nominees for the period Jan to Oct' 19: Part-1: Strikers

Modified Nov 01, 2019 12:58 GMT

Lionel Messi (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of 30 nominees for the 2019 Ballon d'Or

# 12: Antoinne Greizmann (Barcelona, France)

After five productive seasons at Atlético Madrid, Antoine Greizmann joined Barcelona for 130€ million at the start of the season. The 28-year old scored in his first home game for the Catalunya club against Real Betis. In total the Frenchman has found the back of the net four times in eight Liga games this season but is yet to score in three UEFA Champions League games.

In the first half of the year, Greizmann didn't score in either leg of Atlético's round of 16 Champions League ouster at the hands of Juventus. In the 20 Liga games which he played in the first half of the year for his former club, he scored eight goals and provided three assists. He added to his tally of domestic goals by scoring a goal apiece in the two round-of-16 legs against Girona.

This year, Greizmann has played eight European qualifier games and a friendly for France, scoring two goals in the qualifiers and one in the friendly. The striker who is known for his prolific goal-scoring abilities, also turned a provider for his national team-mates with nine assists during this period.

Greizmann has scored a total of 18 goals in 45 games for club and country, during the period January to October 2019.

# 11: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal, Gabon)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has hit the ground running for Arsenal in 2019-20, racking up seven goals in 10 Premier League games and a goal against Eintracht in the Europa League.

Aubameyang, who has scored 24 goals in 38 games for Arsenal during the calendar year, also featured for Arsenal in their 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Europa League Final.

The Gabon striker has scored a total of 24 goals in 40 games for club and country during the period January to October 2019.

# 10: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool, Brazil)

Roberto Firmino is a part of the Liverpool attacking trifecta which was instrumental in landing the club's first Champions League title in 14 years. The 28-year old scored five goals and three assists in the first half of the year as Liverpool fell short by a point against eventual Premier League winners Manchester City.

Apart from being superb for Liverpool this year, Firmino has also featured in Brazil's successful Copa America title run on home soil, scoring two goals and three assists in six games during the tournament.

In all, the Brazilian international has scored 15 goals and provided 15 assists in 49 games for club and country during the period January to October 2019.

9: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France)

After an indifferent start to the 2018-19 season, Karim Benzema came into his own since the start of the year, scoring 15 goals, and providing four assists in 20 Liga games for Real Madrid. The Frenchman also scored thrice in five Copa Del Rey games as Madrid reached the semifinals. Additionally he scored a goal Madrid's Round of 16 defeat to Ajax.

The start of the 2019-2020 has been much for Benzema than last season, scoring seven Liga goals in nine games, while also providing three assists.

During the first ten months of the year, Benzema has scored 26 goals in 39 games in three competitions for Real Madrid, and has provided nine assists.

Edited by shekhar