Ballon d’Or 2022 predictions: Why Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz are among players not making our top 15

We go again with our Ballon d’Or predictions. Last week, we introduced the concept with a month to go until the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or winners are crowned.

Ad The aim was to predict each place in the 2022 lists, with Joao Cancelo and Christopher Nkunku among the names we expect to miss out on the top 20. TransfersLiverpool face fierce competition for €150m-rated Bellingham — Paper Round12 HOURS AGO The countdown continues here, but check out last week’s piece for an explainer on why voting makes the lower places in the shortlists so difficult to choose.

So without further ado, here is our next batch in this guessing game for France Football’s coveted prize. Men’s Ballon d’Or: Our 22-16 predictions 22.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) 2021-22 highlights – FA Cup and EFL Cup winner, PFA Team of the Year, Champions League Team of the Season Does any player out there right now divide opinion like Alexander-Arnold? His England place, be it as a starter or within the squad, will be furiously debated heading towards the World Cup, but his exploits last season cannot be forgotten, and at just 23 the two cup triumphs saw him become the youngest player to win all six major trophies on offer to an English club — the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup. 'I hope I have the opportunity’ – Pedri wants to win Ballon d’Or in the future Lewandowski: The path is shorter to the Ballon d’Or at Barcelona 'No question' — Ferdinand makes Haaland Ballon d'Or prediction 21.