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Though we have half a mind to return to our contrarian roots and forgo another slideshow, alas, there is only one proper way to do a piece on predicting the next 10 FIFA Ballon d'Or winners.

The ceremony for the 2012 edition is still a ways off—early January 2013—but after observing some inspired play from the U-23s at the Olympics, we're inclined to do some future-forward football thinking.

The FIFA Ballon d'Or is only in its third year of existence, after the FIFA braintrust decided to mash up the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Player of the Year distinctions in 2010.

Though most people outside of Madrid would agree that the 2012 edition is a foregone conclusion, we're going to start our premonitory assessments with the here and now and conclude with a 2021 prediction.

Henceforth, readers should probably address your humble presenter as The Great Carnac of Football (as in a soothsayer who aims to entertain, not preach gospel). But, as your youth coach probably told you once or twice, let's just "have some fun out there."