Ballon d'Or 2015 Predictions: Is Chelsea's Diego Costa a Lock Despite Appalling World Cup?

By David Salazar Nov 01 2014, 09:09 AM EDT

Diego Costa was a nobody at the start of the 2013-14. He was not even looking like an acceptable option for the Brazilian national team.

But something changed at the start of the 2013-14 season. Under manager Diego Simeone, the Brazilian-turned-Spaniard became a force that has created nightmares for opposing teams all year long.

Now he is among the Ballon d'Or finalists. But does he have what it takes to make it all the way to the top three?

High Point

For Costa, there are a wealth of high points. He finished the 2013-14 season with 27 goals for Atletico Madrid. And for his tremendous efforts, he was awarded a wealthy transfer to Chelsea to play under Jose Mourinho.

And things have only gotten better. In just his first seven Premier League matches, Costa has produced an astounding nine goals, placing him in a tie with Manchester City's Sergio Aguero for the league lead. He scored his first Premier League hat trick back on Sept. 13 against Swansea City as Chelsea ran away with a 4-2 victory.

Low Point

While Costa's year has been filled with numerous ups, one could argue that the lows have been even greater.

It all started with the famed Champions League final in which the forward was given a surprise start. He was supposed to give Real Madrid's defenders a nightmarish task for 90 minutes. Instead he lasted all of 10 minutes and cost his team a substitution late in the game when it desperately needed one.

But the injury woes would continue to haunt him for weeks to come.

He was controversially named to Spain's squad for the World Cup in Brazil despite lingering questions over his form. Moreover, he had not been given much time to prepare with the club.

When it came time to make his debut, Costa was abysmal. He looked lost in Spain's tiki taka system and had no impact on the game (aside from drawing a questionable penalty).

He got another chance to play in the second match against Chile but was also ineffective and subject to countless jeers and boos from the crowds.

He never got a chance to play the final game.

And he also earned the distinction of being the Spanish striker to wait the most games before scoring his first national team goal.

Why He Could Win

This is a bit of a long shot. But his torrid scoring pace to start the season is a good place to start.

The voters generally pick goalscorers and the end of the year tends to have the biggest bearing on the winner. Just ask Cristiano Ronaldo and his tremendous scoring touch to end 2013.

Costa obviously has a lot of scoring to do, but if he pulls it off and continues to carry Chelsea offensively, he could be looking at a top three finish.

Why He Has No Chance at Winning

Costa scores goals. That is all he does. And while he is terrific at it, there are players that do that job better than he does.

Add the poor World Cup performance and his struggles for the national side and you have a man who arguably has more reasons for not being nominated than he does for earning it.