The Ballon d'Or has been cancelled, so we held our own! Our team cast their votes for the world's best player this year… so do you agree with their pickswith Haaland, Lewandowski, Van Dijk, Messi and Ronaldo among the star turns

For the first time since it was launched in 1956, the Ballon d’Or will not be awarded this year.

Its organisers, the magazine France Football, made the announcement this week, saying it was impossible to award the prestigious honour in a season so disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

So we decided to ask our reporters for their top three choices of this year’s best performers and used the same scoring system to find a winner. 

DOMINIC KING

1. Robert Lewandowski; 2. Sergio Ramos; 3. Lionel Messi

The rate that Robert Lewandowski scored goals for Bayern Munich this year was almost at computer game levels. He is the best No 9 in the business and his ambition to be recognised as a Ballon d’Or winner should have materialised this Christmas. 

He might be the wrong side of 30 now but he will continue at the top level for many years to come. 

Ramos gets second place because his form in helping Real Madrid reclaim LaLiga has been exceptional (he finished with double figures for goals). 

Messi gets third place after a poor season… he was only – ONLY! – involved in 46 goals this year.

KIERAN GILL

1. Robert Lewandowski; 2. Kevin De Bruyne; 3. Cristiano Ronaldo

There have only been two games in 2020 in which Robert Lewandowski failed to score. He scored in the other 16, racking up 21 goals. 

Lionel Messi, I love you, but you wouldn’t have made my top three I’m afraid.

ADRIAN KAJUMBA

1. Virgil Van Dijk; 2. Robert Lewandowski; 3. Lionel Messi

It was close between Van Dijk and Messi last year but the Dutchman’s role in Liverpool’s title triumph should have swung the vote his way this year. 

A class act, Rolls Royce of a defender. Liverpool’s success of recent years impossible without him.