The new pattern of the Ballon d'Or: Can Messi continue to be the king?
Messi is in charge
In this season's Champions League and La Liga, Messi has once again shown his unrivalled talent and dominance. The Argentine ace scored a number of crucial goals to help Barcelona reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League and beat rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the La Liga table. Messi's excellent performance has made him the most serious contender for the Ballon d'Or this season.
Whether Messi can win the accolade for the seventh time this year remains to be further tested. He is over 35 years old, and his physical functions are gradually declining. In addition, the new generation of stars in European football, such as Mbappe and Haaland, is also growing rapidly, and they will surely be Messi's biggest challengers in the coming years.
The traditional powerhouse lineup is broken
Compared to Messi's standout, the performance of other traditional giants is dwarfed. Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris' Neymar have been in a slump of form this season, and their teams have also bid farewell to the Champions League early. Harry Kane's Tottenham were also eliminated and the England striker's goal tally dropped significantly.
The most shocking thing is Bayern Munich's exit. As the defending champions, Bayern was undoubtedly the biggest dark horse when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals. The traditional giant's squad is broken, with the main midfielder Kimmich and defender Hernandez and others missing due to injury, and the offensive firepower has dropped significantly. Bayern's exit has also further weakened the Ballon d'Or race for stars such as Lewandowski.
A new generation of stars is on the rise
While Messi remains the favourite for this season's Ballon d'Or, we can't ignore the rise of new powers. French striker Kylian Mbappe and Norwegian striker Erling Haaland are undoubtedly two of the brightest stars among them.
Mbappe has scored a number of goals in both the Champions League and Ligue 1 this season, and his speed, technique and decision-making are world-class. Mbappe is only 24 years old and will be the absolute heart of the Paris and France teams in the coming years. If he can continue to be in excellent form, he will be Messi's most dangerous challenger.
Haaland is also a dark horse in his prime. The Norwegian striker has impressed Borussia Dortmund this season, with his tally of goals now exceeding 30. Haaland, who is 1.94 meters tall, is outstanding in terms of strength, speed and archery, and is known as the "new generation of Henry". If Borussia Dortmund can make a bigger breakthrough in the Champions League, Haaland will be the most promising new star in the Ballon d'Or.
Who will come out on top?
Looking at the latest landscape of European football, Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will undoubtedly be the favourites for the Ballon d'Or this season. We also can't ignore the presence of other dark horses, such as Liverpool's Salah, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, and others who have shone this season.
Judging from the current situation, Messi still has the biggest advantage. Not only did he score a significant number of goals, but more importantly, he led Barcelona to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. If Messi can help the team reach the final and win the Champions League, then he will be the undisputed best candidate for this year's Ballon d'Or.
The rise of Mbappe and Haaland must not be overlooked. The future of these two young stars is limitless, and they have the potential to dominate European football for the next few years. This year's Ballon d'Or is likely to be Messi's last run for the honour at his peak, and the throne is likely to change hands in the coming years.
The race for the Ballon d'Or this season will be a battle for the Ballon d'Or. Not only are legendary stars like Messi sticking to the last position, but there are also new generation players such as Mbappe and Haaland eyeing them. It remains to be seen who will come out on top.