With the football world eagerly anticipating the Ballon d’Or award, Bleacher Report has released its final power ranking. Let’s take a look at the details of the top six players on this list.
6th Place: Rodri
In sixth place is Rodri. Having played for Manchester City in the previous season, the player is currently at Barcelona. Despite dealing with injuries and other issues, he performed well at the World Cup. However, these performances alone are not enough to guarantee a Ballon d’Or win.
5th Place: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia takes the fifth spot. There are no complaints about Khvicha’s gameplay, as it has been wonderfully entertaining. Having progressed impressively through both the previous and current seasons, major injuries have been a setback for him. Nevertheless, he is expected to make the top five.
4th Place: Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi holds the fourth position. It is noteworthy that he does not play in one of Europe’s top five leagues, but rather in the MLS. Yet, the performance he delivered at the World Cup at the age of 39 is astonishing to anyone. Therefore, Messi well deserves this top-five spot.
3rd Place: Kylian Mbappé
In third place is Kylian Mbappé. Figures like Thibaut Courtois state that Mbappé played best in terms of individual performance this season. However, a major criterion for the Ballon d’Or is winning trophies. Individual performance goes hand in hand with team success. What holds Mbappé back is the question of what impact his individual performance had on the team.
2nd Place: Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal occupies the second spot. Yamal has secured several trophies. Although he has played brilliantly for Barcelona, it is debatable whether he made a significant impact at the World Cup; nonetheless, based on his trophy wins, he stands in second place.
1st Place: Harry Kane
At the very top of the power ranking is Harry Kane. Scoring goals in abundance and sweeping titles alongside Bayern, he also performed impressively at the World Cup, helping England finish in third place.
According to this final power ranking presented by Bleacher Report, Harry Kane has the highest chance of winning the Ballon d’Or, followed by Lamine Yamal in second, Kylian Mbappé in third, Lionel Messi in fourth, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in fifth, and Rodri in sixth.
