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The Real Madrid star is the clear favourite to win the award for the first time ahead of Monday's ceremony in Paris

The Premier League's top scorer was shutout for the first time since August as Liverpool ended the champions' unbeaten start to the season

The Barca star took home the prize in 2021, but one of England's Euros heroes and Lyon's Champions League-winner Ada Hegerberg are in also contention

GOAL has been tracking the race for the most coveted individual award in men's football all year, and here's our final standings...

Liverpool's Egyptian King was the hero as Jurgen Klopp's side recorded a priceless 1-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield

Karim Benzema opened the scoring as Real Madrid ran out 3-1 winners over Barcelona on a day when Robert Lewandowski fluffed his lines

The Portugal star returned to Manchester United's Premier League line up against Newcastle but failed to take his chance

Many pundits thought Napoli might struggle this season after losing several stars. but Luciano Spalletti's side are the new darlings of Europe

A 13-year playoff streak has been met by 13 straight playoff exits and zero MLS Cup appearances.

Liverpool and Manchester City meet at Anfield on Sunday, but has the landscape of English football shifted in recent weeks?

Jurgen Klopp's side are struggling to keep up in the Premier League and the champions could deliver a near-fatal wound with a win at Anfield.

The 17-year-old Spain youth international has already played in the Premier League and Champions League, and looks to have a big future at Anfield

Arsenal winners, losers and ratings as Saka sinks Bodo/Glimt

Barcelona are top of La Liga going into Sunday's showdown with Real Madrid - and yet Xavi and his players are under enormous pressure

Barcelona gambled their future by spending big during the summer but the Catalans look bound for the Europa League after a 3-3 draw with Inter.

Roberto Firmino inspired a 7-1 annihilation of Rangers that might just have turned the Reds' season around.

Sheffield United played a big role in the development of Lionesses Ellie Roebuck, Beth England and Millie Bright - and more are on the way.

Jurgen Klopp might have been right about the Brazilian winger, who is tearing full-backs to shreds this season.

The Lionesses beat world champions United States at a sold-out Wembley on Friday, but were held to a 0-0 draw by the Czech Republic four days later

On the day it was revealed that he wants to leave the French champions in January, Mbappe found himself the centre of attention at Parc des Princes

The Blues ran out 2-0 winners at San Siro as their England international midfielder ran the show.

Pep Guardiola left his top scorer on the bench as City were held to a goalless draw in Copenhagen in a game dominated by VAR decisions

The 35-year-old looked finished during his first season in France. Now he's set to reclaim his status as the best player in the world.

The 18-year-old defender has burst onto the scene this season and is now being tipped by some to make Portugal's squad for the World Cup.

The Colombia star has been one of Liverpool's bright spots in a terrible season, but he will now be out injured until after the World Cup

The 23-year-old is a great player, but his petulance is embarrassing and becoming a major distraction for his club, coach and colleagues.

Man City look unstoppable with Erling Haaland up front but Arsenal top the table - GOAL's correspondents and editors argue over who'll finish top.

Few fans had heard of Manuel Akanji before his £15 million move to the Eithad but Erling Haaland knew all about the defender's quality.