His name is there, unlike Lionel Messi’s, so expect Ronaldo to get some points by proxy, a no doubt popular pick despite a season that would have failed to live up to his expectations, both in terms of goals and the lack of silverware that came from Manchester United’s performances.

There’s one nation where Son could easily pick up a handful of points, and the South Korean could prove popular in sneaking a point or two elsewhere after his Golden Boot heroics in the Premier League. That said, it could take around 20-30 points to break into the top 10 – Erling Haaland received 33 points last year when 170 journalists were voting last year and he came 11th – so it seems Son would do well to place any higher given the names remaining.

Toni Kroos missed out on the shortlist, while Luka Modric is – in our view – a certainty to make the top 10, but we have Casemiro missing out. He may not possess the wand of an outside boot that Modric possesses, but Casemiro’s Champions League final highlights are a sight to behold, a masterclass in screening defences and frustrating opposition. He will get points, but enough to trouble what is a stacked top 10 below? We’re not so sure.

We’ve been going down in fours for our women’s predictions given there was a 20-player shortlist. That means we dip into a top 10 here, but only to ninth. Next week will be eighth to fifth and then our top four on October 13.

There is seemingly no slowing the 33-year-old down, with the striker on a run of almost one goal per game this season in the NWSL (15 in 17 at the time of writing) for San Diego Wave, having joined the club for the 2022 campaign after ending her association with Orlando Pride. It is difficult to shake the sense, however unfair it may be for Morgan, that Euro 2022 will stick strongly in the minds of voters, hence our guess that she’ll place below the following duo.

 

What better name to stick in voters’ minds than someone called Popp, who brought a fizz to Germany’s cause at Euro 2022 and almost had the Germans dancing at Wembley? That’s a pretty atrocious double play on the word “pop”, but what wasn’t atrocious was Popp’s contribution in the Championships. Six goals in all, including both in the 2-1 semi-final win over France, and to add another ‘What might have been’ to this piece – the 31-year-old agonisingly suffered an injury in the warm-up before Germany’s game against England. Who knows how it would have played out with Popp on the pitch?

 

10. LENA OBERDORF (WOLFSBURG)

9. MARIE-ANTOINETTE KATOTO (PSG)

• Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
• Ada Hegerberg (Lyon)
• Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
• Catarina Macario (Lyon)
• Beth Mead (Arsenal)
• Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal)
• Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
• Wendie Renard (Lyon)