For all the controversy and criticism it generates, the Ballon d'Or remains the most important individual award in world football, and the race to claim the 2022 prize is almost over.
France Football announced in March that the rules for Ballon d'Or voting have changed, with the key one being that the award will be based on performances over a single season, rather than a calendar year.
That means performances at the 2022 World Cup, which is set to kick-off in November, will not be considered this year, and instead will be judged when voting for the 2023 Ballon d'Or gets under way.
The importance placed on trophies (aka 'Jorginho's Law') has also been scaled back, meaning the prize should reflect the best footballers from each season, rather than those who lift the most silverware.
With all that in mind, and with defending champion Lionel Messi in the hunt for an eighth Golden Ball, who holds the most power in this year's Ballon d'Or battle as it enters its final months?
20. Rafael Leao (AC Milan)
Last time: NEW ENTRY
In 2021-22: 14 goals, 14 assists. Won Serie A.
Dubbed 'the new Thierry Henry' in Italy, Leao capped a superb individual campaign by providing all three assists for AC Milan in their title-clinching victory over Sassuolo on Sunday.
That performance cemented the Portugal international as Serie A's MVP of the Season, and he should get a handful of Ballon d'Or votes from regular watchers of the Italian top flight.
19. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)
Last time: 18th
In 2021-22: 29 goals, 12 assists. Won Premier League.
Though he finished the season as Man City's top scorer in all competitions, Mahrez's form steadily slipped during the final months of the season, and some of his missed chances could have proven costly.
With just one year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, it will be interesting to see if any bids arrive this summer for the Algeria international.
18. Rodri (Manchester City)
Last time: NEW ENTRY
In 2021-22: Seven goals, two assists. Won Premier League.
The unsung hero of Man City's successful title defence, Rodri's strike in the dramatic final-day win over Aston Villa further illustrated what a fine all-round midfielder he has become.
Defensively sound, metronomic in his passing and capable of scoring both long-range stunners and headers from set-pieces, the Spain international will likely be a mainstay of Pep Guardiola's side for years to come.
17. Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Last time: 17th
In 2021-22: 28 goals, 10 assists.
Though he was forced to share the Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah, Son's achievement in finishing as the Premier League's joint-top scorer without netting a penalty should not be underestimated.
With Champions League football now secure for next season, the South Korea star's career might be about to go to a whole new level under Antonio Conte.
16. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Last time: 15th
In 2021-22: Four goals, two assists, 32 clean sheets. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.
Despite their Premier League disappointment, Liverpool fans will have been heartened by Van Dijk's presence on the bench against Wolves, suggesting he should be ready to return to the line up for the Champions League final.
15. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
Last time: 16th
In 2021-22: 35 goals, 20 assists. Won DFB-Pokal.
After being crowned the Bundesliga Player of the Season earlier in the week, Nkunku marked what may prove to be his final game for Leipzig with a goal in their DFB-Pokal final triumph over Freiburg.
The France forward is likely to be one of the most coveted young players on the market this summer, and would be deserving of a big-money move after his superb season in Germany.
14. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Last time: 14th
In 2021-22: 22 clean sheets. Won La Liga & Supercopa de Espana.
Courtois, like a number of Real Madrid's star players, returned after over a week away from action to get some minutes under his belt on the final day of the Liga season so as to be ready for Saturday's Champions League final.
13. Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool)
Last time: 12th
In 2021-22: Two goals, five assists. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.
After his sumptious backheel provided the assist for Sadio Mane's equaliser against Wolves, Thiago's Premier League season ended with him limping from the field just before half time at Anfield.
With the Champions League final less than a week away, that is not a good sign for the Spain midfielder.
12. Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
Last time: 13th
In 2021-22: 23 goals, 10 assists. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.
Diaz was his usual electric self for Liverpool on the final day of the season, but could not inspire the Reds to put even more pressure on Manchester City in the title race until it was too late.
11. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Last time: 11th
In 2021-22: 13 goals, 10 assists. Won Premier League.
Bernardo's role in the Premier League's final-day drama will forever be remembered, as he was the player replaced by Man City's hero Ilkay Gundogan in the second half.
That should not detract, however, from the Portugal international's superb individual season.
10. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Last time: 10th
In 2021-22: Two goals, 22 assists, 24 clean sheets. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.
Alexander-Arnold narrowly missed out on the Premier League's Playmaker of the Year award after finishing with one fewer assist than team-mate Mohamed Salah after what has still been a mightily impressive campaign from the right-back.
9. Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Last time: 9th
In 2021-22: 14 goals, 15 assists. Won Premier League.
Four Premier League titles before his 22nd birthday, Foden is well on his way to becoming one of the most decorated English footballers of all time after helping Man City to another piece of domestic silverware.
8. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Last time: 8th
In 2021-22: Six goals, 14 assists. Won La Liga & Supercopa de Espana.
Modric was another of the Madrid players who warmed-up for the Champions League final by getting a run out against Real Betis on the final day of the Liga season in Spain.
7. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Last time: 6th
In 2021-22: 21 goals, 19 assists. Won La Liga & Supercopa de Espana.
Kylian Mbappe's decision to reject Madrid and sign a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain might be good news for Vinicius as he aims to become even more of a leading man in the Blancos' attack.
6. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Last time: 7th
In 2021-22: 20 goals, 18 assists. Won Premier League.
It should come as no surprise that De Bruyne, the newly-crowned Premier League Player of the Season, was the man who provided the assist for Man City's title-clinching goal, his low cross turned in by Ilkay Gundogan at the back post.
5. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Last time: 5th
In 2021-22: 48 goals, 31 assists. Won Ligue 1 & UEFA Nations League.
So, Mbappe stays at PSG for another three years, and marked the occasion by netting a hat-trick in the Ligue 1 champions' final game of the campaign.
Certainly staying in France should allow Mbappe to keep racking up goals and assists, but it remains to be seen whether he can win enough on the continent to secure his first Ballon d'Or while representing Les Parisiens.
4. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Last time: 4th
In 2021-22: 56 goals, 11 assists. Won Bundesliga & DFL-Supercup.
Lewandowski already has his feet up after a long season, though his agent is working overtime to get him out of Bayern Munich.
Talks with Barcelona have already begun, but a potential move to Camp Nou is unlikely to be straightforward.
3. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Last time: 3rd
In 2021-22: 33 goals, 19 assists. Won FA Cup & Carabao Cup.
The joint-top scorer and the player with the most assists in the Premier League this season, Salah has had a campaign to remember, even if most of his highlight moments came before the New Year.
He can still round it out with a Champions League triumph, too, with it looking likely that he will start after returning from injury off the bench against Wolves.
2. Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Last time: 2nd
In 2021-22: 29 goals, five assists. Won Africa Cup of Nations, FA Cup & Carabao Cup.
Mane was again on the scoresheet as Liverpool rounded out their league season, and recency bias combined with his success at international level means he remains the likeliest player to tear the Ballon d'Or away from the odds-on favourite in the final week of the European club season...
1. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Last time: 1st
In 2021-22: 47 goals, 15 assists. Won La Liga, UEFA Nations League & Supercopa de Espana.
Benzema could not add to his goal tally after returning to the Madrid line up for their final league game of the season, but has saved his best for the Champions League during the second half of the campaign, and as such should be expected to fire in Paris on Saturday.
