The Ballon d'Or voting gets underway in just a few months and major players will have a chance to make their cases for the top award.

Historically, the winner has been an offensive player, so the focus will remain on players of those qualities.

Here are the top contenders to win the award:

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and he could easily make the same case he made in 2013. Ronaldo had a solid start to the year, but he really picked it up in the stretch run when he put up nine Champions League goals, and a total of 18 Spanish League tallies to end the year. His goal scoring prowess for Portugal (seven goals to close out the year) brought his total to 34 in the final four months of the year. His performance in the World Cup qualifier against Sweden (four goals in two games) all but clinched the award for him.

Ronaldo's start to 2014 has been solid. He scored eight Champions League goals to start the year and added another 13 to his Spanish League total. Not the greatest of numbers, particularly domestically, but still tremendous by most standards. His World Cup was far from great, but Ronaldo has time to make an impression at the end of the calendar year.

Lionel Messi

Another unsurprising pick here. Messi finished his season with 28 Spanish League goals, most of them coming in the second half of the season. But unlike Ronaldo, Messi has no trophies this season. His Champions League campaign was fruitless and he was peripheral in the Copa del Rey Final. Barcelona then missed out on the Spanish League title at home in the final game of the season.

Messi's World Cup was decent, but hardly defining. He scored four goals in the group stage and then turned the leadership of the squad over to Javier Mascherano. Messi disappeared and wound up missing a glorious scoring chance in the final. He won the Golden Ball, but few would claim that he deserved it. Then again, that alone could indicate that FIFA will keep him in the running for the Ballon d'Or, no matter what.

Thomas Müller

Someone from Germany needs to get some respect. Müller was undoubtedly the superstar for the Germans in the World Cup with his five goals and three assists. He was also instrumental in Bayern Munich's double and could see himself as a finalist if his club continues its hot streak to start 2014-15.

Arjen Robben

The winner of the Silver Ball at the World Cup, Robben was the main man for Bayern Munich in 2013-14 and was key to the team's two trophies. His World Cup was nothing short of brilliance and he could continue to excel in the sunset of his career.

James Rodriguez

Somewhat of a long shot, but the Colombian put himself in the conversation after a terrific World Cup. He scored six goals in five games and was quickly shipped off to Real Madrid. He will likely get every opportunity to start with the team and if he manages to maintain his scoring touch, then there is no reason that he cannot compete for the trophy. However, he has another teammate that could have a far better chance...

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale was actually among the finalists for the award in 2013 for what proved to be a breakout year for the Welshman. And while he certainly struggled in his first season with Madrid, Bale had his fine moments, as well. He scored the game winner in the Copa del Rey Final (a tremendous one at that) and then added to his tallies by scoring the winner in the Champions League final. He has had a terrific preseason and could be the main offensive force for Madrid in 2014-15 if Ronaldo is unable to overcome his injury woes. If he does become the main man at the Bernabeu, then expect a Ballon d'Or to follow.

Other contenders include Neymar, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Phillipp Lahm, Mario Götze, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Toni Kroos, Alexis Sanchez and even Cesc Fabregas. A lot will depend on how these players perform for their clubs at the end of the year. The German contenders have the World Cup ring in their favor, but they need more on a domestic level to separate themselves from the pack.

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