Ballon d'or 2018 watch

Realistically, who could stop Cristiano from winning his 6th ? Let's look at the candidates

-Messi : Had a fantastic season for Barca but was average for Argentina. Hasn't done nearly enough compared to Cristiano to snatch the golden ball away from him.

-Neymar : Thought this would be his world cup but has failed miserably. Definitely out of the frame now.

-Hazard : Undoubtedly will have the biggest campaign from Belgium's side, even bigger than De Bruyne should they win the World Cup but again , his average season for Chelsea goes against him. Need to rack up plenty of goals and assists under Sarri in the first few months to even be in contention.

-Griezmann : Considering France's chances of winning the World Cup has increased massively, I feel he has the best chance out of all the aforementioned players imo.  
Suppose he delivers France the cup with goal winning performances , he could be a serious contender.

MBappè, Modric and Salah : Outside contenders for me.

Thoughts?

Modric

Hope De Bruyne shines and helps Belgium to win the WC if they can get through France

S wrote:-Messi : Had a fantastic season for Barca but was average for Argentina. Hasn't done nearly enough compared to Cristiano to snatch the golden ball away from him.

If Messi doesn't win it, it's another Fake d'Or for the Fakenaldo, and food for sheeps.

What about Prince Harry if he scores a few more goals at this WC and England finally bring it home?

In fact it's not a question. Hand it over.

De Bruyne has a much bigger case than Hazard tbh.

Infinitely better club season for City and despite Hazard having a great performance people will point to the fact De Bruyne scored the winning goal.

Although I don't why people do this lol, it's going to who ever is deemed to have a better season between Ronaldo and Messi as it does every year.

It's a political award, I still don't understand why people don't get this tbh and it's not changing until they retire/become bad.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:
It's a political award, I still don't understand why people don't get this tbh and it's not changing until they retire/become bad.

People keep saying this, but you can easily make a case for Ronaldo and Messi deserving every single one of their Ballon d'Or awards.

If someone like Lewandoski, Suarez, or Kane finished the season with 44 goals and won the CL while scoring 15 goals in it like Ronaldo has, people would take to the streets to demand a Ballon d'Or for them.

One of Ronaldo's balon d'ors came in a year where he won zero trophies and was terrible in every big game he played.

Yeah nobody's ever convincing me it's not political.

Should be Ronaldo's really. No one else was as good as him.

A lot will depend on the World Cup IMO.

If England win and Kane continues to score, he surely has got a chance.
If Croatia win, Modric might become noticed and enter the conversation.
If France win, one of Mbappé or Griezmann might get traction, though I think they'd have to pull off something spectacular indicidually in the remaining games to have a chance (Mbappe was spectacular already but it wouldn't be enough).
If Belgium win, same goes for De Bruyne.

Else, it's going to be Ronaldo.

If Modric does end up winning the world cup, he should be in the top 3 but he will get the same treatment as Sneijder in 2010 who should have won it that year.

There was a different system in place from 2010 to 2015.
I think the WC will be more important this year. If Croatia wins it there's 0 chance Modric doesn't make the top 3 for example.

Is it enough to dethrone the two? Who knows. Since they changed the system back there was no world cup yet and in 2016 the trophy went to a player who won the EC.

Changed the system

You guys are so naive lmao.

zigra wrote:There was a different system in place from 2010 to 2015.
I think the WC will be more important this year. If Croatia wins it there's 0 chance Modric doesn't make the top 3 for example.

Is it enough to dethrone the two? Who knows. Since they changed the system back there was no world cup yet and in 2016 the trophy went to a player who won the EC.

Would have said this is the last year either of Ronaldo or Messi wins the balon d'Or but with Ronaldo moving to Juve. He will win for another 3 years there IMO

Nobody cares about Italy RG, surprised if Ronaldo does this tbh because he's giving up severe political power by leaving the corrupt La Liga tbh

Even more respect for the man if he does though

Messi wouldn't leave La Masia's play pen without directions from Xavi's mum.

We need a new system awarding the best defender, best midfielder and best forward

This award is dominated by one position because it's the most glorious one but it makes everything but scoring goals meaningless

Best defender, best midfielder, best forward and best overall player IMO.

But considering how these have been voted in the past nobody has a clue what they are doing.

Mascherano getting votes

Sir Harold Maguire IMO

Nope, if u split it up like that its gonna de-value the award so much. There is the FIFA best team or whatever its called anyway which essentially listed the best forward/midfielder/defender(s) anyway.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Changed the system

You guys are so naive lmao.

What? The system was changed and reverted.

From 2010 to 2015 FIFA WPOTY and Balon D Or was combined which meant the award counted journalists votes plus votes from captains+coaches from all FIFA national teams. If the awards were not combined then Sneijder would have won 2010 Balon D Or and Ribery would win 2013 Balon D Or because these two got the majority of journalist votes.

So if the awards were not combined for the five year both Messi and Ronaldo would have 4 Balon D Ors and five World Player Of The Year awards.

All i'm saying no matter what happens, Ronaldo will win it again. I think people are naive to think the World Cup matters at all when relating to Balon D'or.

It used to matter, not anymore. Now it's about who was the best between the games two superstars. Nobody has a chance no matter what happens until they decline to the point of being terrible or retire.

It's the first WC since the fifa poty and Ballon D'OR were split tho. It's back in the journalists hands, and iirc they voted for Iniesta in 2010 and in 2014 they voted for Neuer as 2nd place. So I don't think it's crazy to imagine Modric, Hazard, Kane or Mbappe winning it depending on who gets the WC.

BC you know me, i like to believe things when i see it not before it happens.

I hope you're right as the award has been farce for the entire Messi/Ronaldo era but i'm very skeptical.

Ronaldo deserves it absolutely, who cares of WC

Of course when he 'll sign with Juve I 'll say that it must be won from Modric or Mbappe tbh

Messi won't be in the top 3,which is a shame because he is the only reason barca won anything in a season where we were supposed to flop hard.