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The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious accolade in world football and has been awarded to some of the best players in the history of the game over the years. The Ballon d'Or ceremony usually takes place towards the end of each year and involves a voting process that includes imminent players, managers, and journalists in the game.
The award has often served as a rite of passage in the past and has cemented the legendary status of some of football's all-time greats. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d'Or in recent years and have combined to win the prize on 11 of the last 12 occasions.
Lionel Messi could win his seventh Ballon d'Or this year
While there are several contenders for the Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi is currently the favourite to secure the prize this year. The Barcelona talisman silenced his critics with his historic Copa America triumph and also inspired the Catalans to a victory in the Copa del Rey.
Messi also has incredible statistics to boot but the Ballon d'Or has sprung a fair share of surprises in the past. Here is a list of five dark horses in this year's intriguing Ballon d'Or race.
#5 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
In his prime, Kevin De Bruyne is virtually unplayable. The Belgian maestro is arguably one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment and has been the driving force behind Manchester City's recent successes.
While De Bruyne has been sensational in the Cityzens' shirt over the years, his 2020-21 season was plagued by a series of injuries. The Manchester City star was one of Belgium's best players at the Euros despite his niggles but was unable to inspire his side against eventual champions Italy.
With six goals and 12 assists in 25 league appearances, however, the midfielder still played a pivotal role in Manchester City's Premier League triumph. Kevin De Bruyne might not have been enough to win the Ballon d'Or this year but he certainly remains in the race for the award.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, Portugal)
That Cristiano Ronaldo should be on a list of 'dark horses' for the Ballon d'Or is a surprise in itself. The Juventus striker is usually one of the frontrunners to win the award but will face intense competition for the Ballon d'Or this year.
As is usually the norm, Ronaldo has outscored all his opponents in the Serie A this year with 29 goals in 33 league appearances. Cristiano Ronaldo also won the Golden Boot with Portugal at Euro 2020 this summer. The modern-day legend has always been a Ballon d'Or contender and his personal achievements should see him secure an impressive finish in this year's rankings.
Juventus have flattered to deceive in the Serie A, however, and nearly failed to secure qualification to the UEFA Champions League this year. Ronaldo does have a Coppa Italia trophy to his name and his talismanic role for Juventus could earn him a few votes at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
Also Read: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Why Lionel Messi is not playing, important records, stats and more
#3 Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan, Belgium)
While the man from Barcelona is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or, he will face a few intense challenges from some of Europe's most impressive players. Romelu Lukaku has been nothing short of exceptional for Inter Milan over the past year and effectively won them a historic Scudetto last season.
Lukaku was also Belgium's most prolific goalscorer at Euro 2020 with four goals in five appearances. While the Red Devils' campaign came to a premature end, Lukaku was one of the tournament's best players and was at his inspirational best.
The Inter Milan hitman bagged 24 goals and 11 assists in the Serie A and blossomed under the guidance of Antonio Conte. The Nerazzurri have broken Juventus' stranglehold on the Serie A and Lukaku's incredible efforts could see him pull off a Ballon d'Or coup this year.
#2 N'Golo Kante (Chelsea, France)
A team aspiring to conquer Europe and win the UEFA Champions League needs a unique brand of matchwinners who do not know when to quit. Luckily for Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea, N'Golo Kante has already become the perfect man for the job.
Chelsea stunned some of the continent's biggest teams to win their second Champions League trophy this year and Kante stepped up with stellar performances in the semi-finals and the final. The Frenchman is renowned for his lungs of steel and his incredible stamina and tenacity came to the fore as Chelsea overpowered Manchester City to win Europe's most coveted trophy.
N'Golo Kante's heroics with Chelsea give him an edge in the Ballon d'Or race but France's lack of success at Euro 2020 could work against him this year. The Blues midfielder is one of the best players in Europe in his position and remains a Ballon d'Or contender this year.
#1 Jorginho (Chelsea, Italy)
If the Ballon d'Or was decided on silverware alone, Jorginho would arguably be the frontrunner for the award this year. The Italian maestro has been brilliant for both Chelsea and Italy and has established his status as a world-class midfielder by winning both the UEFA Champions League and the Euro 2020 this year.
Jorginho is a talented deep-lying midfielder and players of his profile have not been regulars on the Ballon d'Or podium. Luka Modric did edge his more illustrious opponents to the Ballon d'Or in 2018, however, and Jorginho could potentially add another feather to his cap in 2021.
The Chelsea playmaker also spearheaded his club's resurgence under Thomas Tuchel and is well on his way to becoming a Premier League great. Jorginho is an exceptional player in his own right and is currently one of the only players who can challenge Lionel Messi's claim for this year's Ballon d'Or.
