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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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10. Dimitri Payet

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Dimitri Payet of West Ham United in action during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on October 22, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Dimitri Payet of West Ham United in action during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on October 22, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images) /

Mahrez edged Dimitri Payet as last season’s top player in the EPL, but the West Ham midfielder gets the edge in the Ballon d’Or race thanks to a fantastic showing at the Euros.

Payet had been an above average player in Ligue 1 for years, so it was a bit odd to see him join West Ham upon coming to the EPL. But almost immediately, the move seemed to pay off for both player and club.

With nine goals, a dozen assists and roughly 50 GIFs created, Payet dazzled for a Hammers team that would’ve taken the league by storm had it not been for Leicester City. Along with his technical genius, Payet mixed in enough menacing free kicks to make keepers quiver the night before trips to West Ham.

Payet carried his form straight into a Euro 2016 where he was France’s second best player behind Antoine Griezmann. A late-bloomer when it came to the national team, Payet solidified his status over the summer and will be heavily counted on as France begins its charge through World Cup qualifying.

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