Experts have announced the names of five favorites who will fight for the title of the best football player in the world in 2022.
The rating was announced by "The Football Faithful" portal.
5. Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski is one of the most unlucky players in recent times, having been one of the favorites for the last two awards but never winning it.
Last year, he broke the Bundesliga record with a magnificent 41 goals in just 29 league games, but came second only to Messi, who was successful in the Copa America.
The 33-year-old has been at his best this season and has scored incredible goals. Thus, he scored 50 goals in all competitions and was the top scorer of the Bundesliga for the 5th season in a row. However, he is unlikely to win the Ballon d'Or after Bayern's disappointing Champions League campaign.
4. Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe is another name to dominate this season, with the Frenchman finishing as Ligue 1's top scorer for the fourth season in a row.
Mbappe remains PSG's leader despite the arrival of Lionel Messi last summer and tops the division in both goals and assists in the 2021/22 season.
3. Mohamed Salah
Salah has scored 31 goals this season and won several trophies in English football.
2. Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane is Liverpool's second favorite for the Ballon d'Or.
Mane's chances have improved since Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time earlier this year and Sadio himself was named the tournament's player of the year.
1. Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is the Ballon d'Or favorite after a spectacular season. The forward of "Real Madrid" had the best season of his career in the 2021/22 season.
Benzema scored 44 goals in 46 games in all competitions, making him arguably the most prolific player in Europe.
The 34-year-old was Spain's top scorer this season, winning his first Pichichi Cup, and shone during the Champions League. He led the tournament with 15 goals, scoring brilliant hat-tricks in victories over Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.