In the past 12 years Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won 11 Ballon d'Ors between them but Robin van Persie doesn't believe either man should add to their tally this year.
The two superstars have been near untouchable for over a decade, with only Luka Modric's Champions League win and run to the World Cup final deeming him worthy of breaking 10 years in-a-row when only Messi or Ronaldo was the best in the world.
Messi reclaimed the award last year, to put him ahead of his rival on six titles, but Van Persie thinks that neither is deserving of even being in the top three this year.
Replying to a BT Sport tweet, Van Persie revealed Robert Lewandowski, Kevin de Bruyne and Sadio Mane would be his current front runners.
Lewandowski is having yet another incredible season with Bayern Munich and, after helping lead them to a domestic double, could win a Champions League medal in August, with the German champions many people's favourites.
The Pole leads the European Golden Shoe standings this season, having scored 34 goals with Ciro Immobile in second with 29 goals, and it could be an extremely trophy laden year for him.
Whilst De Bruyne, and his Manchester City teammates, has seen Liverpool disappear off into the distance with the Premier League title there is little doubt at how good the Belgian has been this season.
With 10 goals and 18 assists in the league alone, and counting, the former Chelsea midfielder is favourite for the PFA Player of the Season award and already won the Carabao Cup.
Pep Guardiola's side will have their eyes on a cup treble with the FA Cup and Champions League to come an doing that could put De Bruyne in line for the Ballon d'Or.
Mane's stats are worse than teammate Mo Salah, with 16 goals and seven assists to Salah's 18 goals and nine assists, but the former Southampton man has arguably been more important to the title success than his teammate this season.
The Senegalese footballer has arguably been the best player for a side that is about to break all sorts of records and have already confirmed themselves as champions for the first time in 30 years.
Obviously whether you think the Ballon d'Or is for best player in the world or best player for the year decides whether or not Messi and Ronaldo should be in the top three, but there's no doubting that Van Persie's trio would be worthy candidate this year.
You can vote your top 3 stars who should win Ballon d'Or award here >>
Ronaldoballer7
361
If Ronaldo wins Golden boot , Serie a and UCL tittle and score more than 6 goals in UCL Knockout stages he will win the Ballon d'ro.
muj12
187
Ronaldo and Messi both scored 2,2 goals in champion legaue and in league Barcelona and Messi doesn't do well.. while juventus is on top and Ronaldo also scoring in every game. so Messi shouldn't be I top 3 for balon d'Or
Mosanya
185
Holland ballon d'Or's: 7 Germany ballon d'Or's: 7 Lionel Messi and Ronaldo ballon d'Or's:11 π³
JulfiqarBappy
174
sehajbains_02
110
Cristiano needs 9 goals in 7 Serie A games to claim Top scorer in Europe He needs atleast 5-6 goals in KO stage of UCL and condition is Juve must win UCL π Ballon d'or will be his
BillyDedon
15
If Ronaldo wins Golden boot , Serie a and UCL tittle and score more than 6 goals in UCL Knockout stages he will win the Ballon d'ro.
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without collective trophies he will never win it thats why Messi forever the Goat
Navyd
14
If Ronaldo wins Golden boot , Serie a and UCL tittle and score more than 6 goals in UCL Knockout stages he will win the Ballon d'ro.
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Ifπππifπππifπππ we all knw he is not capable
BillyDedon
10
Ronaldo and Messi both scored 2,2 goals in champion legaue and in league Barcelona and Messi doesn't do well.. while juventus is on top and Ronaldo also scoring in every game. so Messi shouldn't be I top 3 for balon d'Or
cr7 Fanatic you all think football is about goals KVD who is included is not because of goals it because his movement on field pace and creativenes and still Messi supers him with both CR7 28 goals all competition and 35% of it are penalties then 5 assist. MESSi 25 goals all competitions 3 assist champions league 19 assist laliga and 1 assist copa del Rey but all you penaldog fans don't see it and you bring a logic that juventus are top of the table while Barcelona are second even kdb who is included his team i second in the league and Liverpool are leading with more than 20 points clear while real is just leading Barcelona with 1 point, all you cr7 do is to bring back trying to satisfy your mind with logic and stats that doesn't count much.
Yedbeosty
9
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still not winning la liga π