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TOP 10 FUTURE BALLON D'OR CONTENDERS

 The Ballon D'Or is a symbol of greatness of a player who can be regarded as the 'best' in the world. Since Ricardo Kaka lifted the Ballon d'Or in 2007, the award is being shared by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. And now that it is clear that the B d'Or 2017 will also be by any one of the duo (Ronaldo more likely), their domination in the game remains unchallenged. But both of them has now grown 30+ and sadly will retire within 3-4 more years. So, what is after the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly? Who has the potential to grab the Ballon d'Or? Let's check it out. 

Now it has been almost a decade since these two are sharing Ballon d'Or between each other

10. Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal, Chile

 

The oxygen to the entire squad of Arsenal, Sanchez is considered by many as one of the top 5 best players in the world. He is often considered unlucky to be underprivileged of sufficient team supports, unlike others matching his class enjoy. Though his spell at Barcelona didn't go well, probably because his pace-dependent style of playing did not match with the tikitaka tactics, he has tried every possible thing in his power to do the best with Arsenal. Snatching two successive Copa America trophies from Leo Messi's Argentina, Sanchez has reminded the world time and again how much potential he possess. Alexis Sanchez has been one of the most consistent performers in the European football in the past few seasons and the lone talisman for the Gunners. Preferably a winger, Sanchez is natural dribbler, good at through balls, short passes, one-on-ones as well as in long balls. He can shoot from long distances and also a specialist in free-kicks and corners. He is also very quick at counters. If he gets enough support from his team, it won't surprising if we find him lifting the Ballon d'Or in next 5-6 years. 

9. David Alaba, Bayern Munich, Austria

 

Surprised? Only Italian veteran Fabio Cannavaro was the player in a defending role to win the Ballon d'Or in recent history. If anybody among the currently active defenders showing the potential to repeat that again, then it is certainly this Austrian full back. Only 25 years old and considered the best left back in the world by many out there. Though he can play in several more roles. For Bayern Munich, he has played as a central back, right back, central defensive midfielder, central midfielder and also as a winger. He made his debut for Austria national team only at the age of 17. In his Bayern days, Pep Guardiola once remarked that "David Alaba is our God. He has already played in almost every position". David Alaba is great at defending, remarkably has very less bookings in tackles. A great wing back, someone with whom Riberry really likes to enjoy the game in the flanks and a very good at stepping over. 

8. Paul Pogba, Manchester United, France

 

 Though there's not many instances that Premier League players are lifting the Ballon d'Or in recent past, Cristiano Ronaldo being the last one lift it who also later moved to Spain, but we cannot help but bring in a third PL player in our list. One just cannot make a list of Ballon d'Or contenders without keeping an eye on this French midfield genius. After being promoted to the senior team from Man United academy, he moved to Juventus where he spent four seasons with optimum success winning four Serie A trophies. Then again he returned to the Old Trafford. In Juventus he catched the eyes of whole football universe with his supreme pace, dribbling abilities and attacking skills. In his Juventus days, he learned a lot from Italian midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo, who was his teammate there. Pogba was voted the Best Young player in the FIFA World Cup 2014. He has now become the backbone of the United midfield, the perfect linker between deep-mid and attacking front. Pogba is a midfielder who can turn things up in his own favor by his own charisma. Not someone an opponent would like to face. 

7. Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester City, Belgium

 

For many, he is the best midfielder playing in the Premier League right now. The astonishing Belgian attacking midfielder was the top assist provider in the league last season. After playing two seasons for Chelsea, he moved to Manchester City, after two years' interval at Germany, a move Blue Lions' fans might have never wanted. Given that, he is playing under Pep Guardiola, we can expect that he will improve himself further making himself from the best in his league to the best midfielder in the world and go for the Ballon d'Or. Also he can proof challenging in international contests with such a supremely talented Belgian side filled up with football superstars from Hazard to Mertens, Lukaku to Courtois. His technical precisions, long range passing, scoring abilities inside the box is just cannot be matched. 

6. Garteh Bale, Real Madrid, Wales

Though he is not going through a good time at all, suffering a lot due to injuries and as a result off forms, everyone knows what this Wales' Wizard can do with the ball. Be it in Spurs jersey, the Los Blancos shirt or an international duty, Bale has proved several times that he can take on any given opponent just on his own. Taking a team ranked 98 in FIFA up to the Semi-Finals of Euro beating star-studded teams like Belgium, to winning a major final for his club against a fierce opponent like Barcelona in absence of talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, this speed monster showed that he can outperform anybody else on his day. One of the fastest footballers on this planet, Gareth Bale is capable of play in either flanks and also as a striker. He is a master of long range shooting, free-kicks and cut in. If he somehow manages to recover his form amidst these drawbacks of injuries, he will certainly become a fierce competitor for the Ballon d'Or. 

5. Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid, France

Created sensation when in 2015/16 season when he played a pivotal role in Atletico's journey to the Champions League final scoring 7 goals and also in France's Euro venture in which tournament he scored record 6 goals. Consequently he was selected as the best player in Euro 2016, was a finalist for UEFA Player of the Year as well as the Ballon d'Or. Though he missed to win both the individual honors then, but he is on the right track to grab any one or both someday. A quick and versatile left-footed wonderman, Grizzy is a team-player and also an opportunistic scorer with poacher's finishing. Mainly a central forward, he can also play a false 9, no. 10 and wing-man who can sprint through either flanks. He is also an awesome spot-kick taker. According to UEFA chief technical officer Ioan Lupescu, Griezmann is a "threat in every game he plays". 

4. Paulo Dybala, Juventus, Argentina

Probably the best striker of his age. For his spontaneous dribbles, agility, vision, pace and accurate shooting skills, fans are regarding him as the 'Next Messi'. Dybala is also useful in spot-kicks. Give a visit to Turin, and you will know that the La Joya is in the fans' heartbeats. A versatile forward, Dybala can play as a central forward, attacking midfielder, false 9, inverted winger, winger and second striker. His brace against Barcelona last season in the Champions League earned him a lot of attraction across the football globe. The highest scorer of the Serie A this season with 10 goals off 8 appearances and also scored 11 goals in the previous one. Dybala will certainly compete for the prime individual honour one day like his phenomenal compatriot and bear the Argentine legacy set by Maradona, Batistuta and Messi.

3. Isco Alarcon, Real Madrid, Spain

 For many, it may be a surprising name here. Few years ago, Isco was not considered to be even close to that level to compete for the B d'Or. But from the previous season, the way he has started playing for both his club and country, is extraordinary. Isco was not a regular player prior to club-mate Gareth Bale's long-term injury. After that Zidane started to put him in the right wing in his 4-3-3 formation which opportunity he utilized mostly. He became so vital for his team that in the finale of Uefa Champions League 2017, Zidane started with Isco keeping match-fit Bale on the bench! A very creative player and a magical dribbler, Isco Alarcon can play at any given position in the midfield, form attacking midfield to central midfield and also in the wide. In a recent World Cup qualifier match against Italy, he almost single-handedly defeated Italy. Amazed by his stellar performance, another midfield veteran from his Italian counterpart, Marco Verratti told, "I was taken aback by his performance. Not even Messi comes close to that level"! 

2. Eden Hazard, Chelsea, Belgium

No one created more chances in the Europe's top 5 premier division domestic leagues than this sensational Belgian winger. An unearthly dribbler, superb passer, Hazard is a real 'hazard' for any opponent. Nobody can dribble with that pace, nobody else can change direction keeping the ball without losing speed, Hazard is almost capable to do everything he wishes with the ball. Since he arrived in 2012 at the age of 21 years, he has been voted the player of the year for his club 3 times and now he is the attacking backbone of the team. Give him any attacking role, he will bring you some result. Such a brilliance! A very technical player, Hazard got his admirers in the likes of Zindedine Zidane, Jose Mourinho et al. As French legend Zidane said, "Obviously, there is Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, both of whom are spectacular, but I like Eden Hazard more. I like everything he does on the field". If he keeps on playing like this, one day we will certainly watch the Stamford Bridge's prince grabbing the B d'Or. For his club-mates like Cesc Fabregas, Alvaro Morata etc., Hazard is one of the three best players in the world.

1. Neymar Jr., Paris SG, Brazil

The flamboyant wonderkid from Santos is the successor of the Brazilian legacy in football. Has already been once nominated as a Ballon d'Or finalist in 2015 and he is going in the right direction to dominate world football after Messi and Ronaldo. After spending four successful seasons at Barcelona scoring 68 goals off 123 appearances and also winning two La Liga and one Champions League, Neymar has moved to Paris Saint Germain setting a new world record of transfer fees worth 222m Euros. And from the start of the new season, Neymar is playing fabulously for the French capital-based club adapting a talismanic role for his team with scoring and assisting as well. He debuted for Brazil's national team in 2010 and since then he has scored 57 int'l goals at the age of just 25! Evidently he would surpass veteran Pele's record tally of 77 goals for Brazil before he hangs up his boots. Already considered the third best player in the world by many, Neymar is our top pick to win the Ballon d'Or after these two 'aliens'. 

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