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The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual prize in football. The award was canceled in 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic but is all set to take place at the end of this year.
The Ballon d'Or has been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the recent past
In the last 12 editions, Lionel Messi has won the award six times while Cristiano Ronaldo has won it five times. Luka Modric is the only player to have broken their duopoly. He won the award in 2018. But unlike in recent years, there have been several strong contenders for the Ballon d'Or this time around.
Multiple players have turned in consistent performances and some have incredible trophy hauls as well. Suffice to say, the Ballon d'Or race has been blown wide open this year.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top five favourites to win the Ballon d'Or this year.
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal/Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo has now become the leading goalscorer in the international men's football circuit. He scored two thumping headers in the dying embers of the World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on September 1st.
In doing so, he won the game for Portugal as well. Ronaldo has had a decent summer. After winning the Capocannoniere award for scoring 29 goals in 33 Serie A appearances, Ronaldo also won the Golden Boot at Euro 2020.
He scored five goals and provided an assist in four games as Portugal crashed out in the Round of 16. Ronaldo has returned to his former club Manchester United and the Red Devils are confidently harboring title aspirations this season.
A lack of major trophies save for the Coppa Italia could severely hamper Ronaldo's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or this term.
#4 N'Golo Kante - France/Chelsea
N'Golo Kante was arguably Chelsea's most important player as they won the UEFA Champions League last season. He produced four back-to-back man-of-the-match performances starting from the second leg of the quarter-final up until the final for the Blues.
He was named the Champions League Midfielder of the Season. Kante's relentless running and technical efficiency makes him an extremely difficult player to go up against. The 30-year-old would have found himself higher up on this list if not for France's early exit at Euro 2020.
France will take on Belgium in the UEFA Nations League semi-final in early October. If Kante can inspire France to the Nations League title, then his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or will once again be boosted.
#3 Robert Lewandowski - Poland/Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski is arguably the best striker on the planet right now. The Polish international was in incredible goalscoring form in the 2020-21 season. He broke Gerd Muller's record of most goals scored (40) in a 38-game Bundesliga season.
Lewandowski scored 41 in just 29 Bundesliga appearances and had a tally of 48 goals and nine assists from 40 appearances across all competitions. The 33-year-old was Bayern Munich's best player as they won the Bundesliga in the 2020-21 season.
He has got off to a flying start in the new season. Lewandowski has already scored seven goals in just four appearances so far across all competitions. He is perhaps the most lethal finisher on the planet and is justified in feeling robbed off the Ballon d'Or in 2020 when the award was canceled last year.
#2 Jorginho - Italy/Jorginho
No professional footballer has had a summer that matches Jorginho's. Chelsea's midfield metronome held the fort down in the center of the pitch as the Blues won the UEFA Champions League title. He then went and did the same for the Italian national team as they emerged champions at Euro 2020.
Jorginho also won the UEFA Super Cup as Chelsea beat Villarreal last month. The 29-year-old central midfielder was also chosen as the UEFA Men's Player of the Year. Goals + assist numbers are not a good criterion to judge central midfielders by.
Jorginho is one of the most technically refined midfielders who is also renowned for his wonderful distribution. Tagged as a darkhorse in the Ballon d'Or race in earlier months, Jorginho has truly become one of the favourites to win it now.
#1 Lionel Messi - Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain
It's still strange not to see Barcelona's name next to Lionel Messi's. The Argentine was the subject of the biggest transfer story of the summer. But don't let that take anything away from the absolutely stellar performances he turned in during Argentina's triumphant run at the Copa America 2021.
Messi won the Golden Boot and the Best Player Award at the continental tournament as Argentina won the Copa America after 28 years. Messi scored four goals and provided five assists in the tournament.
In the 2020-21 season, Messi was Barcelona's best player by a country mile. He scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for the Catalans. Messi could very well win a record seventh Ballon d'Or this year.
