Top 5 candidates for the Ballon d'Or 2017

#3 - Neymar

Brazil's best?

Neymar is regarded by many as the third best player in the world, and the heir who will take the throne, once Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo step away from the scene.

The Brazilian combines technique with skill-set, dribbling flair, vision and end product. He is one of the most exciting players in action, as he proved when he helped FC Barcelona hammer Paris Saint Germain in the return leg of the Champions League quarter-final last season.

It was a mission that seemed impossible, as the rest of his teammates had already surrendered. But Neymar believed, and was able to gradually revive the hopes of his teammates with two goals, and ultimately, the decisive assist that guided the Catalans to achieve the historical remuntada.

Neymar would go on to join the team that he tore apart, Paris Saint-Germain, for a record fee of around €222 million. Life in Paris has not been too bad for 25-year old so far, as he has already scored 8 goals and mustered 7 assists.

It is worth noting that Neymar was essential in helping Brazil top the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers by a margin of ten points, over second-placed Uruguay, with mouth-watering performances against South American giants such as Uruguay in Montevideo, and back-to-back Copa América champions Chile in Sao Paulo.