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The race for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award is quite different to recent ones because there are a lot of strong contenders this year. The award was cancelled in 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. But it is set to return this year and there's no predicting which way this one's going to go.
The Cristiano Ronaldo - Lionel Messi rivalry has dominated the Ballon d'Or in recent times
For many years, we've seen Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating the most prestigious individual prize in football. They have also been able to put clear daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.
But this time around, there are plenty of worthy contenders. It's been a year packed with top quality footballing action. After the 2020-21 season came to a close, we had the Euros and the Copa America during the summer.
We have been catapulted right back into the thick of things again with the 2021-22 season kicking off shortly after. Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or this year.
Honourable mentions: Cristiano Ronaldo and N'Golo Kante
N'Golo Kante and Cristiano Ronaldo are two top performers who might stop just short of getting into the top five this year. Kante ended the 2020-21 season on a high, playing a crucial role in Chelsea's Champions League triumph. However, a disappointing outing at Euro 2020 and subsequent injury issues have limited his chances.
While Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be one of the most prolific goalscorers on the planet despite being 36-years-old, a lack of major trophies have hurt him in the Ballon d'Or race this term.
#5 Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
When Liverpool had to play the majority of the 2020-21 season amid mounting injury concerns, it was Mohamed Salah who carried them on his shoulders. The Egyptian international's exploits were important to Liverpool finishing in the top four and qualifying for the 2021-22 Champions League.
He scored 31 goals and provided six assists in 51 appearances across all competitions for the Merseysiders in the 2020-21 season. But what has reeled Salah back into the Ballon d'Or conversation is the sublime form he has showcased so far this term.
Salah has scored a whopping 15 goals and provided six assists in just 13 appearances across all competitions in the 2021-22 season thus far. If the Ballon d'Or was given purely on current form, you wouldn't need to look any further than the 'Egyptian king'.
#4 Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)
Karim Benzema is yet another player who has improved his credentials in the 2021 Ballon d'Or race in recent months. The Real Madrid striker has been incredible in the 2021-22 season so far and looks like a man on a mission this term.
He proved that calling him back into the international side was the right decision by scoring four goals in four appearances for France at Euro 2020. The 33-year-old then scored a goal each in the semi-finals and finals of the UEFA Nations League as France won the title.
He has also been in spectacular form this term, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists in 13 appearances across all competitions. Despite not exactly being in the conversation until the summer, Benzema could yet make the Ballon d'Or podium this year.
#3 Jorginho (Italy/Chelsea)
Chelsea and Italy midfield metronome Jorginho is a surprise entrant in the Ballon d'Or race. He was not a player who was widely tipped to make the frame but after the kind of year he had, it would have been criminal to deny the Italian the honour.
Jorginho was Chelsea's midfield lynchpin as they won the UEFA Champions League in the 2020-21 season. He was a vital cog in Roberto Mancini's Italian side that won Euro 2020 as well. The 29-year-old's technical brilliance and tactical intelligence make him an elite holding midfielder.
While there is an argument that neither Chelsea's nor Italy's triumphs this summer could be chalked down to Jorginho's individual brilliance, his influence cannot be overlooked. He won the UEFA Men's Player of the Year after Chelsea added the UEFA Super Cup to their collection of trophies at the start of the 2021-22 season.
#2 Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich)
Robert Lewandowski would have won the Ballon d'Or last year if it hadn't been cancelled. He was well clear of his competition, scoring 55 goals and providing 10 assists in 47 appearances and also winning the continental treble with Bayern Munich in the 2019-20 season.
But even though Lewandowski was able to keep up his goalscoring form last term, his title haul isn't as impressive as it was a year ago. Lewandowski broke Gerd Muller's record of most goals in a single Bundesliga season by scoring 41 from just 29 appearances in the 2020-21 season.
But he only has the Bundesliga title as a major trophy and it is a title that Bayern Munich are always the favourites to win. The Polish international scored three goals in three games at Euro 2020 but his national side crashed out in the group stage.
Lewandowski has been on fire this season as well. He has 22 goals and two assists in 16 appearances across all competitions. The 33-year-old has been the epitome of individual brilliance and if he won the award this term, it would be well deserved.
#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi is widely tipped to win a record seventh Ballon d'Or this term. He was Barcelona's standout performer in the 2020-21 season by a country mile. Messi has been in stellar form since the turn of the year and almost single-handedly dragged the Catalans back into last season's La Liga title race.
He scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona in the 2020-21 season. But his crowning achievement this year is winning the Copa America with Argentina in the summer.
Messi was named the Best Player at the tournament and was the joint-top scorer and top assist provider in the competition. The 34-year-old is yet to score after five Ligue 1 appearances in the new season at his new club Paris Saint-Germain. However, he has been in fine form in the Champions League, scoring three in three appearances.
