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Ranking the 30 Ballon d’Or nominees

By Carter Mulvihill

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid answer media questions during the FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid answer media questions during the FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) /
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22. Paul Pogba

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 20: Paul Pogba of Manchester United in action during the UEFA Europa League match between Manchester United FC and Fenerbahce SK at Old Trafford on October 20, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 20: Paul Pogba of Manchester United in action during the UEFA Europa League match between Manchester United FC and Fenerbahce SK at Old Trafford on October 20, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images) /

It’s hard to mention Paul Pogba without saying first that he’s the most expensive player in the history of world football. For fans of the EPL, it may be even harder to mention him without labeling him as a disappointment so far for Manchester United.

But Pogba isn’t up for the Ballon d’Or for what he’s done at Untied. He’s here because of his contributions in his final year at Juventus. After using the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Champions League final as a coming out party, Pogba used the 2015-16 Serie A and Champions League campaigns as an all-out party.

One of the most physically gifted players on the planet, Pogba’s athleticism in the deep-lying midfield position is something we’ve yet to see before on a pitch. For that reason, can you blame the likes of Didier Deschamps and Jose Mourinho for not always using him correctly?

The truth is that Pogba is the definition of a modern footballer. Expensive and athletic with an eye for growing his brand, he’s among the favorites to succeed Messi and Ronaldo as the next best player in the world.

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