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#6 Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid and Brazil) - Karim Benzema
Vinicius Junior has picked his Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema to win this year's Ballon d'Or award.
The Brazilian has been on a tear this campaign, racking up 10 goals and eight assists across competitions for the La Liga leaders. Unsurprisingly, he has picked his strike partner Benzema, who has scored goals galore for club and country this year.
Vinicius said about his French teammate's Ballon d'Or credentials:
"Now I've played more time with Benzema, and we know each other way better; he's a great, great player, and he always helps me. I want to help him score many goals this season, and I hope he can win the Ballon d'Or."
Benzema recently scored his 200th La Liga goal and is leading the competition's scoring charts this campaign. He has also scored nine times on his return to the international fold after six years.
#5 Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla and former Croatia international) - Karim Benzema
Ivan Rakitic has had a successful career for club and country. The Sevilla midfielder starred in Croatia's run to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.
Rakitic, who won trophies galore with Lionel Messi at Barcelona, has surprisingly picked Karim Benzema to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. He said:
"What Karim has been doing for years is simply amazing! He's been at Real for so long… And yet he still scores as much! And often important goals!
"Since Cristiano's departure he has clearly become the leader. He is simply unique and I would like to congratulate him on that. I wish him to continue like this except against us!
"He could perfectly well be a Ballon d'Or… At Réal, there is him and the others. His current state of form keeps Madrid racing in all competitions. He scores in big games. He is always present at major events."
It remains to be seen if Benzema wins his first Ballon d'Or award ahead of other contenders who won major titles with club and country this year.
#4 Luis Suarez (former teammate of six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi) - Lionel Messi
Luis Suarez is one of the most prolific strikers to have graced the game since the turn of the century.
He scored goals and won big titles galore with Lionel Messi during his six-season stint at Barcelona. Unsurprisingly, the Atletico Madrid striker has picked the Argentine to win a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or award on Monday.
Suarez said in this regard:
"I think Leo deserves to be the Ballon d’Or because he has had a spectacular year on a personal level despite only winning the Copa del Rey with Barcelona.
"What he performed on a personal level being the top scorer and top assistant in La Liga, obtaining the Copa America being also the top scorer and top assistant makes him even bigger to have it."
"Because in the Ballon d’Or, you should not only look at what one has done in the year but also you have to see what he is like as a player, seeing what he does year after year. I think he has no rival."
Indeed, Messi has emerged as the frontrunner for this year's Ballon d'Or award because of his heroics in Argentina's triumphant Copa America 2021 campaign.
