'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
3. Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski's form since the start of the season is outrageous, even by his lofty standards. The Bayern Munich hitman's record of scoring in every Bundesliga and Champions League game at this stage of the season is quite simply stunning, and his tally of 23 goals in all competitions has put him in pole position in the race for the European Golden Boot.
Trending
The former Borussia Dortmund man has been Bayern's talisman since joining on a free transfer five years ago and is widely regarded as one of the greatest No.9's of his generation, alongside Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero.
The Polish international has shattered a handful of records at this stage of the season and looks all set to finish his career as the most decorated goalscorer in Bundesliga history if he carries on like this for the rest of his career.
Lewandowski has aged like fine wine and is primed to have his best season yet, at the age of 31. Bayern haven't been at their best season but their talisman is at the peak of his powers, as they aim to overcome their underwhelming start to the season to retain their Bundesliga crown.
2. Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool
When Liverpool announced the capture of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for a whopping £75 million fee in January 2018, eyebrows were raised as it was believed that the Reds paid over the odds out of sheer desperation.
22 months later, the Dutchman is quite comfortably the best defender in world football and his performances for club and country in that period has put him in contention for the Ballon d'Or, as he is one of the frontrunners for the award alongside Lionel Messi.
Van Dijk has been a mainstay of the Liverpool side that won the Champions League last season and he was rewarded for his exemplary individual performances, as he was named PFA Player of the Year and UEFA Player of the Year for his exploits last season.
The Dutchman's stature is there for everyone to see and aside from his defensive solidarity, his passing range coupled with his composure on the ball makes him the complete package at the heart of the defence.
Since moving to Liverpool, the former Southampton man's stock as grown exponentially and he could become the first defender since Fabio Cannavaro to win the Ballon d'Or, a fact that happens to describe his capabilities aptly.
1. Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Surprise surprise, Lionel Messi tops the list! The Barcelona talisman has been in sensational form in the past 12 months, even by his lofty standards and is well poised to become the first player in the history of the game to win SIX Ballon d'Or awards, a truly unbelievable number for one of the greatest players to grace the game.
Since his tally of 91 goals in 2012, the 2018/19 season was arguably one of his greatest individual seasons and the mercurial Argentinian capped off his league campaign with the LaLiga title, despite facing disappointment in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
Despite being injured for a sizeable chunk of the current season, Messi already has 9 goals and 5 assists to his name in 11 appearances in all competitions and has carried on from where he left off last season, after winning the Pichichi for his tally of 36 league goals, a staggering 15 goals behind his closest competitor.
Messi continues to defy the odds at the age of 31 and has shown no signs of slowing down, as he continues to carry Barcelona on his shoulders and covets a major international trophy for Argentina.
