The 64th edition of the Ballon D’or awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on 2 December 2019. As with every year it will be a gathering of the finest football players and strategists in the world.
Welcome to the Messi and Ronaldo Show
Dominated by the twin superstars - Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - over the past decade, the Ballon D’or is the most desirable individual award in the sport.
Now 30 of the best players on the world stage have been shortlisted for the honour and the bookmakers have Vincent van Dijk, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as firm favourites.
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Five African Players Short-Listed for the Award
What is heartening for football fans in Zambia - and the rest of the African continent - is the news that five players from Africa appear on the shortlist - Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane, Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyan and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
Will 2019 be the second time after George Weah that an African walks away with the award? The bookies have the Liverpool duo in the top 10.
What may well count in their favour is that last year’s winner, Luka Modric bucked the trend. The Croatian midfielder for Real Madrid was the first player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win the award since Kaka claimed the kudos in 2007!
Has Sadio Mane Done Enough to Win the Ballon D’Or 2019?
The question is; has Sadio Mane done enough to clinch the award this year? According to former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger the Senegalese winger should be a shoo-in.
He scored 26 goals across all competitions for The Reds last season. He was also key to the club’s Champions League glory.
Mane is in a purple patch in his career at the moment and if all things are equal, he should be the heir to the Ballon d’Or throne this year.
Stiff Competition in Virgil Van Dijk
What does not bode well for Mane is that he’s up against stiff competition in the form of team mate Virgil Van Dijk. The Dutch midfielder is widely regarded as the best centre-back in world football.
Liverpool paid a mind blowing £75 million for Van Dijk’s defensive skills and that alone speaks volumes about the kind of heft he carries when it comes to reputation!
The Divine Duo Have 5 Awards Apiece
It’s not only Van Dijk who potentially stands in the way of Mane and the millions of Africans who dream of the day when one of their players is acknowledged by France Football.
Between them, Ronaldo and Messi have 10 Ballon D’ors… five apiece. Although Messi didn’t have the best of seasons, Ronaldo is still a force to be reckoned with despite a move to Juventus.
Is Ronaldo Heading for a 6th Ballon D’Or?
The 33-year-old ended the season as the club’s top goalscorer in all domestic competitions. He was also the leading light in Portugal’s triumph in the UEFA Nation’s League. All things considered the Portuguese striker may well be on his way to a record sixth Ballon D’Or!
Who are You Tipping for a Win in Paris in 2019?
Who is your pick for the honours in Paris? Will it be Virgil Van Dijk, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Sadio Mane?
Or will an outsider like Liverpool’s midfielder and comeback kid, Georginio Wijnaldum or The Red’s back-to-back Young Player of the Season, 21-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold surprise and sneak in for a win? All will be revealed on Monday 2 December!
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