Salah, Dembele, Raphinha, Hakimi? Ranking the Ballon d'Or Contenders

This year’s Ballon d’Or debate is undeniably the closest one yet; we witnessed many breakout performances across the top European leagues this season. 15 years of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating in the Ballon d’Or debates is coming to an end with the new generation of soccer players showcasing their class. However, there can only be one winner and this is my Ballon d’Or rankings:

6. Achraf Hakimi - PSG

Image via ESPN

I’m starting off with a pick out of left field but to disregard Hakimi’s season would be a disgrace. As a right-back, Hakimi bagged 11 goals and 14 assists along with wins in Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophée des champions, and winning the elusive Champions League. The attackers Hakimi had in front of him at PSG certainly helped him with the assists but to score 11 times as a defender is impressive. I definitely believe there are more worthy players to win this season’s Ballon d’Or  but with modern tactics in soccer aiding full-backs to be more attacking and creative, it won’t  be long until we see defenders becoming serious contenders for the title. 

5. Kylian Mbappé - Real Madrid

Image via BBC

No matter what he does, Mbappé will seemingly face more criticism than get the credit he deserves. Years of top-class performances at PSG were overshadowed by the fact that he was playing in Ligue 1. Now, in his first season at Real Madrid, the Frenchman bagged 44 goals and 5 assists. Despite Real Madrid going trophyless this season, Mbappé was a top player. The issue is that team success plays a role in the Ballon d’Or decision making along with individual performances. I believe that a teams’ success should not downplay an individual player’s performances on the pitch. Mbappé was unlucky with trophies this season at Real Madrid, but his individual season was second to none. Call me a hypocrite though because I do believe that his club’s performances are the reason that he is low in this list, but him winning the Ballon d’Or isn’t far away. 

4. Lamine Yamal - Barcelona

Image via FC Barcelone

This kid is absolute class and at 18 years old, Yamal had a season to remember, scoring 18 goals and assisting 21 times. On top of his performances, Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa Del Ray, and the Supercopa de España. While Yamal couldn’t have done much more, my one issue is that he seems to be the media’s winner because of the storyline: the young winger for Barcelona who is meant to be the perfect Messi replacement for Barcelona. Giving him the Ballon d’Or will only further push this narrative. He was fantastic but It would be wrong to give it to him this season but Yamal is destined to be one of soccer’s great players. I believe he will win a Ballon d’Or very soon.  

3. Ousmane Dembele - PSG

Image via Le Monde

This might be controversial, but it seems as though Dembele is tipped to win the Ballon d’Or but I don’t agree. I love Dembele and he deserves all the credit for his performances this season. From a nightmare career at Barcelona with injuries to PSG’s outstanding goalscorer is a great accomplishment. At 28 years old, Dembele’s season shows that it is never too late to show the world what you can do. Despite being the “wonderkid that wasn’t” Dembele came to Paris and had his breakout season scoring 35 goals and assisting 14 times. However, there were players who did better this season than the Frenchman. 

2. Raphinha - Barcelona

Image via Reuters

Who would have expected Raphinha to pull off the season that he did. Last summer it seemed inevitable that Nico Williams was going to sign for Barcelona and take Raphinha’s starting spot. It is clear that the “nearly transfer” sparked something in the Brazilian winger as he scored 34 goals and assisted 22. Before this season, Raphinha had been alright for Barcelona, scoring 20 goals and assisting 23 times in his first two seasons combined. Nobody would have predicted Raphinha to be this high up in the Ballon d’Or conversation at the start of last season, but he fully deserves it. The Brazilian winger was top class, and with the Nico Williams transfer falling through yet again this summer, the Catalan side will hope that Raphinha can take this season’s form into the next. For me, however, there was one outstanding player above the rest on this list. 

1. Mohamad Salah - Liverpool

Image via BBC

I must start by saying that Salah’s season has been completely thrown under the rug. Forget Liverpool dominating in the Premier League, at 33 years old, Salah was the Premier League’s top scorer with 29 goals and he was the top assister with 18. In total, the Egyptian scored 34 goals and bagged 23 assists, making his goal contribution this season greater than Dembele, Mbappe, Raphinha, and Yamal. Yes, Raphinha and Salah’s numbers are similar, but Salah contributed 1 more goal in five fewer games than the Brazilian. For years Salah has been very consistent for Liverpool and yet his seasons don't get the credit they deserve. Salah has scored at least 20 goals for Liverpool in the eight seasons that he has played for the Reds. It is a crime that he never got close to a Ballon d’Or, but it is his turn; give the worthy winner his long-awaited Ballon d’Or.