Meet the Footballers Who Will Contend for the FIFA Ballon D'Or in 2013

Lionel Messi has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy for the past four years. 

However, there are a lot of players who have emerged in the past year who can contend for the title. 

Most likely, Messi will win the trophy again, but who wouldn't want to see someone new standing alongside Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?

Because I'm almost positive that Messi and Ronaldo will go one-two yet again, I am leaving them off of this list. 

Here is a list of players who I think will contend for the FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy this year. 

Feel free to let me know who you think should be added to the list as well.

Sergio Aguero

Sergio Aguero is already a Manchester City legend. 

The 24-year-old is a great player but still has a lot of room to grow. His finishing has broken the hearts of many Manchester United fans. 

Aguero changes games as soon as he steps on the pitch.

He may not contend for the Ballon d'Or title this year, but he could be a threat for it in the years to come.

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale is considered by many to be one of the best players in the world right now.

He very well could win the third-place trophy at the next Ballon d'Or ceremony. 

However, if Bale wants to remain near the top of the best-footballers-in-the-world list, he must perform in bigger competitions. 

If he stays at Tottenham, Bale must hope the team makes it into the Champions League. And internationally, Wales needs to be more competitive. 

If neither of these things happen, Bale will never win a FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy.

Radamel Falcao

Radamel Falcao has been a revelation this season.

His stellar play and high goal-scoring rate has drawn interest from numerous large clubs across Europe.

As with Bale, I believe that in order for Falcao to be constantly considered one of the top footballers in the world, he needs to be in bigger competitions. 

I am not saying that Falcao needs to leave Atletico Madrid in order to be one of the best. He's proven that he can be great playing at a smaller club so far. 

But bigger competitions and stronger opponents will keep Falcao in the running for the Ballon d'Or.

Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil is a fantastic player. He has great ball control and technique. 

The German has to be in most people's top-10-best-footballers list. If he's not, then I guess they're Barcelona fans.

Ozil is one of the best players in the world. Most people will choose Xavi Hernandez or Andres Iniesta over him, but he is just as good.

He may never win the Ballon d'Or, but he deserves to one day.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic may not be a lot of people's favorite player, but he is really good.

The Swedish forward is powerful and creative. He makes almost every game he is playing in interesting.

He may not ever win the Ballon d'Or, but he is more than good enough to challenge for it.

Luis Suarez

Although Suarez is very controversial, he is still a really good player.

He is a clinical finisher and deadly in front of goal.

He may not have many fans, aside from those who support Liverpool or Uruguay, but his talent is undeniable.

He has definitely been one of the best players this past year.

Robin van Persie

Robin van Persie started off this season in amazing form. 

His form early in the season will be one of the major reasons why Manchester United will most likely hoist its 20th Premier League trophy in May.

Van Persie very well could be the Player of the Year in England, and he can challenge Messi and Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or this season.

Juan Mata

Juan Mata is young and has great potential.

He is one of the best current Chelsea players, if not the best.

Mata delivers near-impeccable passes, and he is one of the best midfielders in the world, in my opinion.

He will not win the Ballon d'Or this season, but he will challenge for it for years to come.

Marco Reus

Marco Reus has risen to one of the best footballers in the world in the past few months.

He is young and very talented. 

Reus is the reigning German Footballer of the Year and an important member of the German national team.

His partnership with Mario Gotze is highly praised. 

He has the potential to be one of the best footballers in the world for a long time.

Xavi and Andres Iniesta

You cannot have one without the other. 

Both Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta are two of the best players in the world.

Without them, Lionel Messi would not be as effective as he is. Messi is magical, but both Iniesta and Xavi enhance him.

Both players have been alternating who finishes in third place behind Ronaldo and Messi for years now. 

It would be nice for them to be recognized one day.

Yeah, scoring goals gains you recognition and stardom, but setting up those goals should as well.