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Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the 30 nominees for the 2021 edition of the prestigious award.
The 36-year-old has had a goal-rich year (43 goals) for club and country. He ended the first half of the year by winning his first Capocannonieri award with Juventus. However, the Old Lady ended a distant fourth as their near-decade-long Serie A stranglehold drew to a close. Ronaldo did win the Coppa Italia with the Bianconeri, though.
In the summer, he bagged five goals and an assist at Euro 2020 to win the Golden Boot. However, holders Portugal were eliminated in the Round of 16.
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in the summer, scoring ten times across competitions. He also became the most prolific scorer in men's international football during this period.
Considering his exploits, a few notable names have said that Ronaldo could win a record-equalling sixth Ballon d'Or award this year. However, his lack of major titles during the year means he's unlikely to win the coveted award on Monday.
Nevertheless, here's a look at the four prominent names that have tipped Ronaldo to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award:
#4 Luis Figo (2000 Ballon d'Or winner)
Luis Figo was one of the best players of his generation. The 2000 Ballon d'Or winner remains one of the few players to play for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The former Portugal international recently said there are 'enough arguments' for his compatriot Ronaldo to win this year's Ballon d'Or award. Figo also vehemently opposed criticism of his 36-year-old compatriot for his lack of pressing. He was quoted as saying in this regard:
"(It) does not make sense. He is the best. Football lives on results and the team is not achieving the expected results. But he’s being one of the best in the team in terms of performance, so I don’t understand these criticism."
It remains to be seen if Ronaldo has done enough to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. He will have to usurp the likes of Lionel Messi, Jorginho and Robert Lewandowski for the same.
#3 Finidi George (Ajax legend)
Ajax legend Finidi George has tipped Cristiano Ronaldo to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award.
He said that even though Portugal crashed out early at Euro 2020, Ronaldo was one of the tournament's standout performers. However, George did concede that the likes of Messi and Lewandowski are also contenders to land the prestigious accolade.
George said in this regard:
“Although Portugal crashed out early at Euro 2020, it is still too early to call because you must put the performance of other players into consideration."
He further added:
“Everything is possible, he could still end up winning it. And if he doesn’t win it, that’s no problem. Apart from him, players like [Lionel] Messi and [Robert] Lewandowski are doing very well so, when it comes to that time, we will know who the strongest contender is to win. Mind you, it’s all about voting.”
#2 Jorge Mendes (Super agent)
Super agent Jorge Mendes has tipped his friend Cristiano Ronaldo to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award.
Mendes said that Ronaldo deserves the accolade for his staggering stats and records this year. He stated:
"The figures and statistics linked to the name of Cristiano Ronaldo speak for him and should be enough in my opinion for him to win another Ballon d'Or. The absolutely remarkable total of 115 goals for the Portuguese national team makes him the record holder in the history of men's international football."
He added:
"This year he broke this 15-year-old record, to which he can add that to being the top scorer in the history of professional football."
Ronaldo became the most prolific scorer in men's international football this year. It remains to be seen if that will be enough for him to win this year's Ballon d'Or award.
#1 Sir Alex Ferguson (former manager of five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo)
Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the most storied managerial names in the history of the game. The former Manchester United manager unearthed Cristiano Ronaldo in the early 2000s, and helped him blossom into a world-class player under his tutelage.
Ferguson believes that owing to the record-breaking year he has had, Ronaldo deserves the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. As quoted by Marca, Sir Alex Ferguson said in this regard:
"Cristiano deserves it (the Ballon d'Or award). This year he has broken record after record."
However, according to multiple reports, Ronaldo is not expected to even finish on the podium in the race for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award.
