We've all predicted the future Ballon d'Or winners and through Football Manager 2019, we are able to have a peek into the future and see who wins the coveted award in years to come.
Squawka did exactly that and saw some very interesting results, with some previous winners adding to their tally as well as there being plenty of new faces. Here is a run-through...
2018: Neymar
Luka Modric is the favourite in real-life but as far as FM are concerned, Neymar wins his first ever Ballon d'Or. Somehow Gonzalo Higuain ends up in second, with his compatriot Lionel Messi coming in third.
2019: Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is quicker than Lionel Messi to get to six Ballon d'Ors, finishing ahead of France pair Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe after scoring 27 in 58.
2020: Lionel Messi
It doesn't take long for Messi to move level again though. In 41 goals, he scores 22 and assists 13 for Barcelona to beat Ronaldo and Griezmann.
2021: Kylian Mbappe:
Mbappe is widely viewed as a future Ballon d'Or winner and in this particular FM save, he achieves it at the age of 23 after scoring 32 and assisting 21 in 54 games.
2022: Neymar
The award stays in Paris in 2022, but Neymar pips his club colleague and wins it for a second time at the age of 30.
2023: Jose Vicente
The first regen victory of the save. Jose Vicente, a £78 million signing from Valencia, bags 40 goals in 53 appearances to scoop the gong.
2024: Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe improves on his numbers the year before to swap places with Vicente, hitting 41 in 52 and boasting an average match rating of 8.14.
2025: Mohamed Salah
At the age of 33, despite only scoring 14 goals, Mo Salah wins the Ballon d'Or for the first time. Those 30 assists prove decisive.
2026: Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe comes back strong to make it a hat-trick of Ballon d'Ors, aged 28. 29 goals and 17 assists is enough for the win.
2027: Angel Cortes
The final year in the save sees the Ballon d'Or rankings dominated by regens (made-up players).
After finishing second a year prior, Bayern Munich's Angel Cortes smashes in 42 in 45 to win, with Manchester City's Jose Vicente and Manchester United's Andy Clarke finishing in second and third respectively.
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