The Ballon d’Or is the most coveted individual award in world soccer.

Won by PSG’s Ousmane Dembele a year ago, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe are among the contenders for the men’s prize, which is set to be announced on Monday. Kane’s case to be named soccer's best player rests on relentless volume and consistency — 73 goals across club and country while remaining the focal point of both Bayern and England.

Mbappe’s case rests on peak individual output in the two biggest competitions, finishing as top scorer in both the World Cup and Champions League. Then there's Yamal, whose argument is built on precocious influence: the boy wonder who helped deliver La Liga and a World Cup while already ranking among the most dangerous dribblers the game has ever seen.

Each player has a compelling case built on trophies, numbers, and big-game impact. Twenty-seven years ago, Rivaldo made a similar case, and heard his name announced as the world’s best.

Rivaldo won the 1999 Ballon d’Or after leading Barcelona to the 1998–99 La Liga title, finishing as the league's second-highest scorer with 24 goals. The Brazilian also won the Copa America, finishing as both the tournament's joint-top scorer and best player. But what does it *actually* take to win the Ballon d’Or?

“But I am proud that it all came together for me. It’s the greatest achievement for an individual player, and I can always say that I was once the best player in the world.”

Like Kane, Yamal, and Mbappe, Rivaldo had been among the world’s best for a few seasons before accepting his crowning glory. He was well aware of the speculation concerning the Ballon d’Or, and understands the pressure the contenders played under across the season.

“You notice it when you’re playing,” Rivaldo added. “The press is talking, the players on the team, everyone is talking about you. And in every game, you see that you're playing very well, that you're superior to the other players, even though you know that there are other high-level players, but you feel that you are - at that moment - much superior to the other players.

“You have to believe you’re the best.”

When Rivaldo played in the favelas of Paulista, he didn’t dare dream he could one day be named the world’s best player. Yet after his exceptional 1999 performance, he was handed the award at a gala in Paris, immediately creating one of his most cherished memories.

“It's just the best feeling,” Rivaldo concluded. “I never imagined that one day I would be considered the best. I couldn’t believe I was the best player in the world, and I had the Ballon d'Or. I still can’t, really. It's an incredible feeling. It's something that I’ll never forget.”

For Kane, Yamal, or Mbappe, Monday night in London will be a lifelong memory, much like Rivaldo's in Paris back in 1999.