Ballon D’Or power rankings: Who are these players in top form?
6. Karim Benzema
The La Liga’s top scorer and Real Madrid’s main man up top, Benzema has bagged 33 goals in this calendar year alone, which puts him third in all of Europe. This term, he’s scored 10 domestic goals in just 12 appearances, while also tallying four assists. In Champions League competition, Benzema has netted four times in just five matches, raising his total to 14 goals across all competitions this year in just 17 fixtures.
Benzema has proven that he can score from anywhere in the final third, whether it’s with his left, right, or head. His combination of skill, speed, and ruthlessness in front of goal definitely makes him one of the most exciting number nines in European Football currently.
5. Thomas Muller
Under Hansi Flick, Muller has predominantly played as a number 8/10 hybrid or RW, a deeper position than his usual AM and SS roles. This role has meant that he’s needed to run an average of twelve kilometres per game, more than he’s run in any of his other campaigns, making him a vital instrument in Bayern’s press. Besides, there is an added maturity in Muller’s game which he didn’t have before, further showing his ‘team player’ mentality.
As per Taste of Football, he scores a goal every 78 min he plays which is way better than previous seasons. He has 12 goals and 25 assists this season with a staggering 2.3 key passes per game. He has managed to finish 5th in Ballon D’Or standings before and will look to climb up.
4. Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne has always been known for his world-class playmaking skills. He’s been touted as arguably one of the best midfielders in Europe, and for good reason. His career-best in assists was 18 back in the 2016/17 season, but if he keeps on this pace, there is a high possibility he can surpass Thierry Henry’s Premier League best of 20 assists in 2002/03.
Other than passing, he’s also very strong on the ball and good at carrying it into the final third with pace. He isn’t the fastest, but his football IQ and ability to create a dangerous opportunity in an instant is extremely special.