The race for the Ballon d’Or is hitting its final week, and the biggest names in football are fighting for that crown in London. Talk about high stakes, huh? While the ceremony on October 25th will crown the world’s best, it’s a 39-year-old legend who’s still shaking things up: eight-time winner Lionel Messi. This dude, at 39, absolutely lit up the World Cup with eight goals, briefly becoming the competition’s all-time top scorer before Kylian Mbappe swooped in. Now, none other than Sir David Beckham is out here tipping Messi to win it again after he propelled Inter Miami to the Campeones Cup. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Who Else Is Really In This Thing?
Messi’s incredible run isn’t the only story, though. Spain’s triumph over Argentina in the World Cup final means guys like 2024 winner Rodri and Lamine Yamal are absolutely flying high. These two have been a huge part of Barcelona’s insane 100 percent start to their new campaign, winning nine from nine in the league and looking straight up impenetrable. That kind of team success usually bodes well, especially when you’re also lifting the most coveted trophy in football. But then you’ve got Harry Kane. The man is a pure goalscoring machine, a “football purist’s favourite” coming off a sublime campaign with Bayern Munich and dropping crucial plays for England at the World Cup. His individual brilliance is so undeniable, it might just make team achievements irrelevant for this award. Can an individual season overcome a World Cup win? That’s the question right now.
Teenage Phenoms and Shocking Slips
The Independent’s power rankings for the Ballon d’Or are already throwing some curveballs. Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, just 19 years old, has crashed into the top 10, jumping ahead of Vinicius Jr. This kid is already a favorite for the Golden Boy award, and he was the Young Player of the Tournament at the World Cup for Spain. He’s been an established figure at the heart of Barca and Spain’s defense, and honestly, the Blaugrana haven’t even looked close to defeat. Can you believe a teenager is already playing at this level, among the best defenders on the planet? It’s wild. Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr, last year’s runner-up, is sliding. After netting 22 goals in 36 appearances for Real Madrid last season, he couldn’t inspire them to a trophy. This season, he’s got just one goal in 10 appearances, with Real six points off the top. Ouch. Also in the mix is Michael Olise, who moved from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich and France, establishing himself as one of the world’s best attackers. He formed a deadly World Cup partnership with Mbappe, and everyone’s watching what he’ll do next.
The ceremony is October 25th. We’re about to see if a 39-year-old GOAT can defy logic again, if a World Cup winner gets his due, or if sheer individual brilliance wins the day. Get ready, this is going to be good.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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