The most unpredictable Golden Ball of recent years?

UEFA Champions League 2024-2025 are already known. Inter y PSG will fight for the 'orejona' the next May 31 in Munich In an appointment that will have the entire planet concentrated football … and already making accounts about the maximum individual award that is delivered year after year: The Golden Ball.

There is no doubt that the most important tournament of the old continent is always key to determining the winner, although it is not always definitive. Without going any further, we have the example of last year with Rodwho raised the award in Paris despite having fallen into rooms Champions… but having raised the Premier League with the Manchester City and the Eurocup con Space.

Now, apart from domestic competitions and the aforementioned final of the 31st, There are two key dates: UEFA Nations League Final Four Where are they Spain, France, Germany and Portugal, and the Club World Cupnew prestige competition that could also be key to having a more or less clear winner.

Before an uncertain scenario, they appear Several names that we will review below … without ruling out others that could break if they shine in the remaining tournaments.

The Barca candidates

The season of FC Barcelona It is very high. Despite having fallen into Champions semifinals before Inter, the campaign of those of Flick At the moment it accumulates the titles of Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey… y LaLiga He has it in his hand. He Classic This Sunday, key.

The three names that go on stage to lift the Golden Ball are Raphinha, Lamine Yamal Y Pedri. Three key pieces in the Barca team that are shining strongly and will be in privilege positions to be able to win it, especially if they end up confirming the domestic title.

The numbers of Brazilian They are a scandal: 32 goals and 25 assists In 53 games played this season. By figures, it would be the first in the ranks, but it could 'penalize it' to have no more competition apart from LaLiga from here at the end of the course, since He will not play the World Cup or the Nations.

The cases of Lamine (15 goals and 24 assists in 51 games) and Pedri (6 goals and 7 assists in 55 meetings) They have the trick of the Nations League with Spain, Since if they set a good performance and raise another title with the absolute, their options would shoot.

To them could be added Robert Lewandowskion the way to being Pichichi and with 40 goals Among all competitions so far.

Dembélé, Lautaro and the weight of the Champions League

The figures of the two Champions Finalists are undoubtedly, Ousmane Dembélé and Lautaro Martínez. Both have been the key pieces to take them to fight for the title and undoubtedly enter the pools to take the Golden Ball.

The Gallic has uncovered this course with Luis Enrique And after Mbappé's exit, the offensive weight has been thrown behind him. 33 goals and 12 assists In 45 games are their figures and with the titles of Ligue 1 and French Super Cup In the pocket. On the horizon it still has others Options to keep enlarging the palmraés and its numbers: end of the France Cup (May 24 before the Reims), the final of the Championshe Club World and Nations League con France.

For his part, the Argentine, with 22 goals and 7 assistsyou have the option of carrying the Fourth European Cup to Interist showcases… And also of the 21¤ Series A, although the Naples Three points at three days from the end. He Inter will also be in the Club World Cupwhat could be another impulse for Bahía Blanca's options.

The 'covered' and the double factor of World Cup and Nations

As we explained at the beginning, the competitions that will be played in the month of June, Nations League and Club World, could be decisive To decide the winner in A summer without Eurocup or World Selections and with the cache that both are acquiring.

There, already in a Much more hypothetical scenariosome more names could be added. For example, the Kylian Mbappé. It is true that the global season of Real Madrid, Until now, it is not good, but the Gallic numbers speak for themselves: 35 goals and 4 assists In 51 games … and one step to become the best debutant in white history. Will be with France and with the Madrid team in the aforementioned competitions and still with the option to win LaLiga and Pichichi.

Also, and although 'only' has won the Premier Leaguein betting houses it appears well placed Mohamed is wrong. The Egyptian, who has ended up renewing with the Liverpoolrecord this course numbers with 33 goals and 23 assists in 49 meetings.

Similar case is that of Harry Kane, Again with extraordinary numbers (36 goals and 12 assists), maximum gunner, with the Bundesliga in the pocket … and with the World As a great challenge of the entity in June. A good performance could make him 'add points'.

Even, despite the fact that it looks like a very remote option, goalkeepers like Givenong y Sommer They could upload positions if their teams end up raising Champions and/or Club World.

2004, last year 'open'

Taking into account that the times have changed and, with it, the scoring criteria of the award itself, we must go back to Many years agoat the beginning of the century, to find a season with this uncertainty regarding the winner (and always taking into account that there are still competitions to 'close').

For example, the year 2004 that raised Ukrainian in November Andriy Shevchenko. The scorer scored 29 targets and gave 9 assists among all competitions and conquering only the Serie A. Behind it was Decowho won the Champions with the Porto and It was runner -up of a Eurocup who won Greece. Then he ended up signing for the Barça,

The third ended up being Ronaldinho. The Brazilian shone in his first Barca campaign with 22 goals and 12 assists Among all competitions … but without achieving any title. The Copa América Brazil won it, but the gaucho was not present. The other great international title, the UEFA Cup, had taken the Valencia.