Paris (AFP)
A slight suspense in the men, a royal way in the ladies: the Argentine Lionel Messi, challenged by the stars of Liverpool, and the American Megan Rapinoe are the big favorites to the Golden Ball, honorary title rewarding the best player of the world, which will be given Monday in Paris.
The Châtelet theater, host of the ceremony of the 2019 edition organized by the weekly France Football, will it play the classic again sacred a regular?
Messi, five-time winner of the most prestigious individual distinction in football, looks set to win his 6th trophy. An absolute record.
The 32-year-old Barça star, who has already won the Fifa The Best award this year, finished top European scorer (36 goals) in the 2018-19 season. If he stopped in the semifinals of the Champions League, he won the Spanish Championship.
- Van Dijk, the outsider -
On the other hand, his main outsider Virgil van Dijk (28) triumphed with Liverpool on the European stage. This coronation in C1, usual justice of the peace in odd years, had even earned him to be named UEFA player of the year.
Pillar of a Dutch selection in full renewal, the colossus (1.93 m for 92 kg) has emerged as the best central defender in the world and one of the major artisans of the historic season of the "Reds".
Enough to surpass Messi's unparalleled genius in the spirit of the world jury of 180 journalists?
Like the players of the French team (Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, Raphael Varane) after the title of world champion last year, the dispersion of votes in favor of other stars of Liverpool, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, may be fatal to Van Dijk.
Not to mention the eternal Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus Turin), co-holder with Messi of the record of Ballons d'Or won, which retains a global aura.
Senegal's Mané, who is also a top scorer in the English league with Liverpool and vice-champion of Africa with his selection, has been acclaimed by many observers and former players to succeed George Weah, the only African player to win this event. price in 1995.
But "the Western media dominate our African media, so obviously there is an influence, we appreciate more the goal of Messi," had lamented former Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o in an interview with AFP, convinced that "African players are not respected", "not always appreciated at their fair value" by the jury of voters
- Rapinoe archi-favorite -
On the women's side, the American Rapinoe, star of the World-2019 organized in France but overflown by Team USA, is a huge favorite.
The Seattle-based 34-year-old won the "Golden Shoe" for being the top scorer in the international competition, while being named the tournament's top player.
Last year, Norway's Ada Hergerberg received the first Women's Golden Ball in history.
Among the 20 nominees is also the Australian Sam Kerr, who has just joined Chelsea, or the British Lucy Bronze, named UEFA player of the year.
- New trophy for the guards -
Two other distinctions will be awarded this year as part of the Ballon d'Or, with the Raymond Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21, and the Lev Yachine Trophy, rewarding for the first time the goalkeepers.
The French Kylian Mbappé (20), winner of the first Kopa Prize last year, will not be able to succeed himself for having exceeded the age limit of a few days.
The Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt (20), one of the pillars of the Ajax Amsterdam epic on the European scene last year, or the Portuguese Joao Felix (20), winner of the "Golden Boy" 2019, are the main favorites.
On goalkeepers, the Yachine Trophy could fall in the gloves of Brazilian goalkeeper Liverpool Alison Becker or those of the German Barcelona Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
© 2019 AFP