Ballon d’Or 2022 Power Rankings: The race is over – Benzema set to win first Golden Ball.

Last time: 20th

In 2021-22: 14 goals, 14 assists. Won Serie A.

Dubbed ‘the new Thierry Henry’ in Italy, Leao was voted Serie A’s MVP of the season after firing AC Milan to their first Scudetto in 11 years.

The Portugal forward should, therefore, get a handful of Ballon d’Or votes from regular watchers of the Italian top flight.

Last time: 19th

In 2021-22: 29 goals, 12 assists. Won Premier League.

Though he finished the season as Man City’s top scorer in all competitions, Mahrez’s form steadily slipped during the final months of the season, and some of his missed chances could have proven costly.

With just one year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, it will be interesting to see if any bids arrive this summer for the Algeria international.

Last time: 18th

In 2021-22: Seven goals, two assists. Won Premier League.

The unsung hero of Man City’s successful title defence, Rodri’s strike in the dramatic final-day win over Aston Villa further illustrated what a fine all-round midfielder he has become.

Defensively sound, metronomic in his passing and capable of scoring both long-range stunners and headers from set-pieces, the Spain international will likely be a mainstay of Pep Guardiola’s side for years to come.

Last time: 17th

In 2021-22: 28 goals, 10 assists.

Though he was forced to share the Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah, Son’s achievement in finishing as the Premier League’s joint-top scorer without netting a penalty should not be underestimated.

With Champions League football now secure for next season, the South Korea star’s career might be about to go to a whole new level under Antonio Conte.

Last time: 16th

In 2021-22: Four goals, two assists, 32 clean sheets. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.

Van Dijk returned to the Liverpool line up for the Champions League final, and though he barely put a foot wrong in Paris, could not help the Reds claim their seventh European Cup.

Last time: 13th

In 2021-22: Two goals, five assists. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.

It remains unclear just how fit Thiago truly was for the Champions League final, but the Liverpool midfielder did not put in anything close to the kind of performance he is capable of in Paris as the Reds were beaten by Real Madrid.

Last time: 12th

In 2021-22: 23 goals, 10 assists. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.

Many would have backed Diaz to win his individual battle with Dani Carvajal in the Champions League final, but the Real Madrid full-back stepped up to keep the Colombian quiet, which in turn led to him being substituted midway through the second half.

Last time: 15th

In 2021-22: 35 goals, 20 assists. Won DFB-Pokal.

The Bundesliga Player of the Season and a goalscorer in RB Leipzig’s DFB-Pokal final triumph, Nkunku has had an individual season that can stand up to almost any other player’s on the planet.

It remains to be seen, though, whether he will get the credit he deserves from Ballon d’Or voters given his lack of name recognition.

Last time: 11th

In 2021-22: 13 goals, 10 assists. Won Premier League.

Bernardo’s role in the Premier League’s final-day drama will forever be remembered, as he was the player replaced by Man City’s hero Ilkay Gundogan in the second half.

That should not detract, however, from the Portugal international’s superb individual season.

Last time: 10th

In 2021-22: Two goals, 22 assists, 24 clean sheets. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.

Alexander-Arnold posed a threat for Liverpool in the Champions League final, but only on a couple of occasions produced decent final balls in a display that will largely be remembered for his failure to track Vinicius Junior’s run for Real Madrid’s winner.

Last time: 9th

In 2021-22: 14 goals, 15 assists. Won Premier League.

With four Premier League titles before his 22nd birthday, Foden is well on his way to becoming one of the most decorated English footballers of all time after helping Man City to another piece of domestic silverware.

Last time: 14th

In 2021-22: 23 clean sheets. Won Champions League, La Liga & Supercopa de Espana.

Courtois’ Man-of-the-Match winning display in the Champions League final only moved to cement his status as the best goalkeeper in the world over the past season.

His saves from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were stunning, and after making key interventions throughout Madrid’s run to the trophy, there are few players who deserved to lift the European Cup more than the Belgium No.1.

Last time: 6th

In 2021-22: 20 goals, 18 assists. Won Premier League.

The Premier League Player of the Season, De Bruyne came up clutch time and time again for Man City down the stretch, scoring and creating crucial goals in the final months of the campaign.

Last time: 8th

In 2021-22: Six goals, 14 assists. Won Champions League, La Liga & Supercopa de Espana.

Modric put in yet another virtuoso performance in the Champions League final, with the Croatian star showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 36.

The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner is unlikely to triumph again in 2022, but a place among the top 10 is surely now a foregone conclusion.

Last time: 7th

In 2021-22: 22 goals, 19 assists. Won Champions League, La Liga & Supercopa de Espana.

The Champions League final match-winner, Vinicius capped his breakout campaign with the biggest goal of the European club season to secure Real Madrid’s 14th European Cup.

With Brazil one of the favourites for the upcoming World Cup, who is to say that the forward won’t be right in the Ballon d’Or mix this time in 2023?

Last time: 5th

In 2021-22: 48 goals, 31 assists. Won Ligue 1 & UEFA Nations League.

Can Mbappe win the Ballon d’Or by staying in Ligue 1?

The answer is yes, but he will need PSG to raise their game in the Champions League, and perhaps win another World Cup in Qatar, if he is to take the crown in 2023.

Last time: 4th

In 2021-22: 56 goals, 11 assists. Won Bundesliga & DFL-Supercup.

Lewandowski has his feet up after a long season, though his agent is working overtime to get him out of Bayern Munich.

Talks with Barcelona have already begun, but a potential move to Camp Nou is unlikely to be straightforward.

Last time: 3rd

In 2021-22: 33 goals, 19 assists. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.

On another night, Salah might have been celebrating a Champions League-final hat-trick, but in Thibaut Courtois he came up against an immovable object in Paris.

Still, the Egypt star’s superb form in the first half of the season, when he was undoubtedly the best player on the planet, should not be forgotten by the Ballon d’Or judges, even if he struggled to maintain that level throughout the whole campaign.

Last time: 2nd

In 2021-22: 29 goals, five assists. Won Africa Cup of Nations, FA Cup & Carabao Cup.

In what now looks likely to be his final game in a Liverpool shirt, Mane came within Thibaut Courtois’ fingertips of opening the scoring in the Champions League final, with a strike that would have crowned his superb 2022.

His trophy haul, as well as the help of recency bias, should help the Senegal international finish on the Ballon d’Or podium, but the wait for a first African winner since George Weah in 1995 is set to continue.

Last time: 1st

In 2021-22: 47 goals, 15 assists. Won Champions League, La Liga, UEFA Nations League & Supercopa de Espana.

Was there ever any doubt? In terms of consistency through the season, number of top-level performances, standing up in the biggest moments possible and final trophy haul, Benzema ticks every box needed to win a Ballon d’Or.

There is not a player who even comes close to the Real Madrid striker in terms of impact on the 2021-22 European season, and he will rightfully lift the Golden Ball at October’s ceremony.

Anyone who does not vote for him better have a good reason why!