In Oscar, Do Chelsea Already Have One of the World's Best in Their Ranks?

Last week saw the release of the shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or.

It made for interesting reading, notably not featuring a single English player. Alongside that, just five of the 23-man list included players who were plying their trade in the Premier League during 2012-13.

Chelsea were represented by Eden Hazard, although for his teammate Ramires, another fellow Blue should have featured—Oscar.

"He has got everything to win the Ballon d'Or one day. I am absolutely sure he will get there," Chelsea's No. 7 said of his compatriot in the club's official magazine this week (reported by Give Me Sport).

"What really impresses me is how Oscar is always looking to improve," Ramires continued. "He has got everything to be very, very successful—and he is so young!"

The Brazilian has a very valid point.

While much of the focus this season has been on the reluctance of Jose Mourinho to play last year's player of the year Juan Mata, Oscar has very much taken over that mantle from the Spaniard.

Not long turned 22, Oscar has been Chelsea's shining light this term. He leads the scoring charts with five goals in all competitions and is the Blues' biggest threat going forward.

Without him in the line-up, Chelsea are notably a different force, although his performance last weekend against Newcastle United was a reminder that there is still much work to be done before he can scale the heights experienced by many of his peers.

Chelsea were lackluster against the Magpies at St. James' Park and lacked panache. There were times the Blues looked to their Three Amigos—Mata, Oscar and Hazard—for a sense of direction or inspiration but found little in return.

Alan Pardew's men appeared to stumble on a formula to stop them that day, playing Chelsea at their own game with quick attacks on the counter, squeezing the space between defence and midfield where the likes of Oscar operate and do their damage.

Plenty others have tried and failed in the past. Indeed, plenty more will try and will come out worse off this season, with Oscar proving a big reason as to why the Blues will have a major say in where the Premier League title resides come May.

It's not about this season, though. It's much bigger than that.

While Chelsea fans—and their manager—will be reveling in what they've witnessed thus far, there's no mistaking there is plenty more to come from Oscar.

It's remarkable to consider his relative youth, yet where that is concerned, Mourinho has shown no reluctance to outline where he sees this Chelsea team's strengths now and in the long term.

"Oscar is my No 10 and, if somebody tells me that Oscar is not Chelsea’s best player since the beginning of the season, I would have to disagree," Mourinho said this season when quizzed on how he rated the Brazilian (via the Daily Mail).

It's to Oscar's advantage that his manager remains so headstrong when it comes to his position and the role he is going to play for Chelsea.

"I am not ready to play with Oscar following full backs to the end of the earth," Mourinho added.

"I want Oscar as my No 10 and I want the other two players from the sides to adapt to that and learn how to do things they were not ready to do before."

We've seen the problems Wayne Rooney has suffered throughout his career, being played out of position. rarely maintaining a consistent role that plays to his strengths.

Oscar will not suffer from such problems at Stamford Bridge, it appears, so for all the potential he continues to show, there's little doubt that will soon turn into greatness.

This season's Ballon d'Or? It's so 2013. It's about next year and those that subsequently follow, where Oscar will be leading the way.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here @garryhayes