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#3 Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)
6 time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has been in breathtaking form for Barcelona in 2021. The Argentine maestro's future has been subject to intense speculation in the last few months but nothing has stopped Messi from being at his match-winning best in the last few weeks.
The Barcelona superstar has almost single-handedly brought the Catalan giants to within touching distance of a Copa del Rey and La Liga double. If Barcelona do manage to pull it off, it could help Lionel Messi add to his already glittering Ballon d'Or cabinet.
This summer, Lionel Messi also has the opportunity to finally win an international trophy. Argentina have a strong team and will be confident of making a huge impact in the tournament.
If Lionel Messi plays a starring role for Argentina, we might well see the little magician win his 7th Ballon d'Or title.
#2 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)
Robert Lewandowski was definitely denied the Ballon d'Or trophy in 2020 and some fans might be surprised to find him at the #2 position instead of #1. However, with Lewandowski suffering an injury recently, PSG will be confident of getting past Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals this year.
Poland are also not too fancied to make an impact at the European Championships and that might end up costing Lewandowski the Ballon d'Or award this year.
Having said that, Lewandowski's stats this season have been simply astounding. Undoubtedly the best 'number 9' in world football at the moment, Robert Lewandowski has scored a frankly unbelievable 35 goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances.
On current form, Lewandowski is arguably the best player in world football at the moment and his Ballon d'Or trophy chase might well boil down to how well Bayern Munich perform in the Champions League.
#1 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/France)
France's Boy Wonder, Kylian Mbappe has the whole world at his feet. After putting in a stupendous performance against Lionel Messi's Barcelona in the Champions League, the French superstar will be confident of repeating his heroics against Hansi Flick's Bayern Munich.
Top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts this season, Mbappe's blistering pace and clinical finishing is capable of causing any defense problems. What also gives him the edge over Robert Lewandowski at the moment is that France have an excellent chance of going deep into the tournament at the Euros.
With a full strength PSG set to take on a a Bayern Munich side without Robert Lewandowski, Mbappe could be in line to win his first Ballon d'Or award in 2021.
