Ballon d’or hope for Kane, Modric, others

They have shared the Ballon d’Or since 2008 but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s domination of world football’s top table is under threat like never before following their joint failures at the World Cup.

Even though neither has ever won the competition, they have excelled in major tournaments for both club and country in the past and yet failed to make their mark in Russia.

For Portugal, Ronaldo hit an opening day hat-trick before waning and going without a serious chance against Uruguay as his side exited the competition. Messi, meanwhile, was unable to carry a crisis ridden Argentina side that almost crashed out in the groups.

Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Harry Kane, Luka Modric and plenty of others have begun the tournament well and cannot be blamed for keeping one eye on the Ballon d’Or, should their performances continue in the same vein.

With Qatar four-and-a-half years away, and time no longer on their side (Messi being 35 in 2022, Ronaldo 37), this World Cup slump comes at a terrible moment for both men and leaves a sour taste after a season which saw both lift major trophies.