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It seems almost certain that the irreplaceable figures of Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and Mohamed Salah will claim the top three places in the Ballon d’Or this year as they once again lead the goalscoring charts in their respective leagues. If this is the case, who else deserves to get into the top five?
Kylian Mbappe
At Paris Saint-Germain, your season is determined on Champions League displays, which now means Kylian Mbappe is going to have to wait another year for a Ballon d’Or triumph.
3⃣ Parisians have been nominated for @UNFP trophies!
▫️ @KMbappe – Ligue 1 player of the year
▫️ @gigiodonna1 – Ligue 1 goalkeeper of the year
▫️ @nunomendes_25 – Ligue 1 young player of the year— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 4, 2022
It’s been his lowest goals to game season since 2018/19, but nevertheless, Mbappe leads the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts with 24, has carried PSG to regaining the title, and racked up six goals in eight Champions League appearances and was almost the hero in knocking out Real Madrid until his compatriot turned up the heat.
Virgil van Dijk
The Liverpool superstar hasn’t been spoken of as much this season despite his long-awaited comeback with the likes of Salah stealing the headlines.
Nevertheless, he’s proved once again this season why he is regarded as an all-time great and the best defender in the world. Nobody seems to get the better of him, and every game he effortlessly keeps the very best at bay with a minimum of fuss.
Putting a defender on the Ballon d’Or list is never glamorous, but Virgil van Dijk has not put a foot wrong all season.
Kevin De Bruyne
In what looks like being his best season to date in goalscoring, Kevin De Bruyne has 15 goals this campaign along with 12 assists.
His assists have taken a backseat in the last two seasons, but he’s once again been the commander, the brains, and the main man for Manchester City once again, and you’ll have to search the archives to see him drop less than a 8/10 in a 2021/22 fixture.
Sadio Mane
With Salah’s unrivalled goals involvements, the signing of Luis Diaz, and Diogo Jota’s fantastic output, Sadio Mane has gone slightly under the radar with his 21 goals this campaign.
Moreover, he netted three goals in the Africa Cup of Nations as he captained Senegal to Africa’s biggest trophy. He’s been faultless for club and country.
Phil Foden
Because of his age, Phil Foden often gets overlooked, but there can be no two ways about it: he is one of the best in the world already.
Foden now has 13 goals in all competitions for City this season, registering 11 assists along the way. He’s been sensational in the Champions League, and he is without question the best young midfielder in Europe this season.
Luka Modric
The only man to dethrone Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi within the past 14 years, Luka Modric has turned back the clock with his performances for Real Madrid this campaign.
As of now, the Croatian has six goals and 11 assists, and he’s been the brains behind a La Liga triumph and a fantastic run in the Champions League for his side.
