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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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27. Kevin De Bruyne

BARCELONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 19: Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Barcelona and Manchester City FC at Camp Nou on October 19, 2016 in Barcelona, . (Photo by Craig Mercer – CameraSport via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 19: Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Barcelona and Manchester City FC at Camp Nou on October 19, 2016 in Barcelona, . (Photo by Craig Mercer – CameraSport via Getty Images) /

Within a game or two of his Manchester City career, Kevin De Bruyne proved he belonged at one of Europe’s top clubs. While injuries prevented both he and City from truly living up to expectations last season, the Belgian certainly belongs on this list.

Maybe it’s because both City and EPL teams in general have faltered in the Champions League in recent season, but for whatever reason, it didn’t seem like the Citizens belonged in the semifinals of Europe’s top club competition. And yet there they were thanks to De Bruyne.

In a two-leg epic against favored PSG, De Bruyne proved to be the top player on the pitch. After opening the scoring in Paris in what ultimately was a 2-2 draw, De Bruyne provided the lone goal of the turnaround fixture to vault City into new territory in the Champions League.

Now playing under Pep Guardiola, De Bruyne has helped put City right where we expected — top of the table in the EPL. With the most complete attack in the league, anything but top after Match Day 38 would be a disappointment for both De Bruyne and the club.

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