Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann - all of the biggest names in world football are in contention to top this year's Goal 50, which will be revealed next week. However, what exactly is the Goal 50 - and how does it work?
To put it simply, the Goal 50 is an annual award that both recognises and ranks the world's 50 best footballers of the past 12 months.
Chief editors and correspondents from Goal's 38 editions around the world all cast their votes, with candidates judged on their level of consistency over the previous year of action, their big-game performances, footballing legacy and the success of their teams at both club and international level.
Lionel Messi lifted the trophy last November, after playing a pivotal role in Barcelona's remarkable treble-winning campaign of 2014-15. It was the Argentine attacker's fourth triumph, with the diminutive No.10 having also claimed the prestigious prize in 2009, 2011 and 2013, but will be able to hold onto his crown?
Messi won a domestic double with Barca and also led Argentina to the final of the 2016 Copa America - but he will once again face stiff competition for top spot in the Goal 50 from his great rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese superstar top-scored during Real Madrid's Champions League triumph last season before ending his wait for an international honour by helping the Selecao pull off shock triumph at Euro 2016. He is a three-time Goal 50 winner and last picked up the prize in 2014 (see below).
However, we could well have a new victor, as it was Antoine Griezmann who lit up Euro 2016, with the French international claiming both the Golden Shoe and the Golden Ball on the back of his sensational goalscoring exploits on home soil.
Then again, there was no more impressive striker last season than Luis Suarez, who netted a staggering 40 goals in just 35 Liga matches for Barcelona.
In doing so, the Uruguayan became the first player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win the European Golden Shoe outright since Diego Forlan in 2009. Could the former Liverpool ace now be about to end the dynamic duo's stranglehold on the Goal 50, which they have shared between them for the past five years?
Wales hero Gareth Bale, Juventus hotshot Gonzalo Higuain and Brazil icon Neymar could all have something to say about that, of course. Indeed, the only certainty is that this year's Goal 50, which will be revealed over the course of five days between November 7 and 11, will once again generate a huge amount of controversy and debate.
Until then, stick with us for exclusive interviews with the leading candidates, expert analysis from our club correspondents, galleries, videos and cartoons, as we build up to the announcement of this year's winner of The Goal 50.
