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#3 Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
The Ballon d'Or nominee list has some youngsters on it and Erling Haaland is surely one of the best of them. The Norwegian forward has been nothing short of sensational since bursting onto the scene.
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Signed from RB Salzburg, Haaland has been phenomenal for Borussia Dortmund, scoring goals from left, right and center. The young Ballon d'Or nominee's tall and strong physique gives him a great advantage over his opponents.
During the 2019-20 season, Haaland became the first teenager to score in five consecutive UEFA Champions League matches.
Last season, he scored nine goals and recorded four assists in six Champions League matches, finishing as the top-scorer in the tournament. The young striker might not have yet won the UEFA Champions League with any club but given his performances, it is surely not that far away.
Haaland's best run in the European tournament came with Borussia Dortmund. The Bundesliga club reached the quarter-finals of the 2020-21 season, but were knocked out by Manchester City.
#2 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
If there's a player on the Ballon d'Or nominee list who desperately deserves to win the UEFA Champions League, it has to be Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian has done outstandingly well with Manchester City over the years, having won everything but the Champions League.
It is not the first time Kevin De Bruyne has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or but what's painful is that this year he came closest to winning the Champions League. Manchester City reached the finals of the European tournament to meet Chelsea in Porto. Unfortunately, the Blues won the final with a narrow 1-0 scoreline.
Following a challenge from Antonio Rudiger around the hour mark, De Bruyne had to be taken off. Despite not winning it last season, the Belgian still has the chance to win the UEFA Champions League under Pep Guardiola and strongly challenge for the Ballon d'Or thereafter.
#1 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
There is no limit to the talent of the 22-year old Ballon d'Or nominee. With his blistering pace, amazing dribbling and superb goal-scoring abilities, Kylian Mbappe is a threat almost every single time he runs with the ball.
After impressing with Monaco, the young Frenchman attracted interest from a number of top European clubs but ended up joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). With the French giants, Mbappe has been a regular starter and has presented some fine performances over the last three seasons.
The Frenchman came close to winning the UEFA Champions League finals in the 2019-20 season but failed to do so as they were defeated 1-0 by Bayern Munich. Kylian Mbappe has a long career ahead of himself and with his talents, he is likely to win the competition sooner rather than later.
