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The Ballon d'Or is all set to return after a year's absence and the race is tighter than it has been for years.
The Ballon d'Or is widely viewed as the most prestigious individual accolade in the history of the beautiful game. It is awarded by France Football magazine and is decided by a combination of votes from journalists, national team captains and coaches in world football.
The 2020 edition of the Ballon d'Or was canceled in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2019-20 season was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic as all football activity was disrupted in the aftermath. But the 2020-21 season looks set to draw to a close with no major hitches.
2021 Ballon d'Or race is very competitive
The Ballon d'Or race is much more competitive this year than it has been for a long time. By the time the season ends and the champions are crowned across Europe, we'll have a better idea of who might reach the summit.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the Ballon d'Or Power Rankings for the month of March.
#10 Harry Kane - Tottenham Hotspur
After getting off to a fantastic start to the season, Harry Kane's season with Tottenham Hotspur seems to have gone down the river. Tottenham Hotspur looked menacing as Kane and Son Heung-Min tore apart defenses and started scoring goals for fun.
However, neither of them have been nearly as prolific in the second half of the season as they were in the first. However, Kane still enjoyed a spectacular start to March. He scored two goals and assisted two more in Spurs' 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.
The Englishman scored another brace against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League as well. Harry Kane's numbers still make for great reading. He has scored 17 goals and has provided 13 assists from 27 games and it is a pity that he won't be challenging for any major titles.
#9 Ilkay Gundogan - Manchester City
Manchester City's unlikely hero this season, Ilkay Gundogan, has been on fire and he has enjoyed a great month of football in March. The German international scored four goals in March from a midfield position and has chipped in lavishly in the goalscoring department all throughout this season.
Manchester City are well on their way to winning yet another Premier League title and Gundogan is one of the chief architects of their success this season. Gundogan has scored 16 goals for Manchester City this season across all competitions and has been one of the best players in the Premier League this term.
#8 Joshua Kimmich - Bayern Munich
The Bayern Munich man, who has gone from strength to strength since shifting to his new role in central midfield from right-back, has been sensational this season. Kimmich's exquisite passing and ability to orchestrate play from a deep-lying position has been crucial to Bayern Munich's exploits this season.
Kimmich produced four fine performances in March with his showing against Lazio in the UEFA Champions League worthy of a special mention. The 26-year-old is now hitting his peak and over the next couple of years, we could even see him reach greater heights.
#7 Romelu Lukaku - Inter Milan
One of the best strikers in Europe right now, Romelu Lukaku has flourished at Inter Milan since leaving Manchester United in 2019. Lukaku has played a pivotal role in Inter Milan's title charge this season.
The Belgian scored two goals and racked up two assists for club and country in the month of March. He has 31 goals and nine assists to his name across all competitions this term and this could very well be his best season yet.
Lukaku has improved his overall game as well this term. He has worked on his first touch and close control and is gradually becoming a complete striker.
#6 Bruno Fernandes - Manchester United
Manchester United's main man Bruno Fernandes has proved yet again that he is the cog that keeps the Red Devils ticking. Manchester United's attack looks blunted in his absence and his goals and playmaking have gone a long way towards Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men having a decent outing this season.
Bruno Fernandes produced some impressive performances in March as well. He has a goal and an assist to show for and as the season trudges on, the numbers he has clocked from midfield are starting to look incredible.
Fernandes has 23 goals and 13 assists this season across all competitions and no midfielder in Europe has come close to matching him in terms of productivity.
#5 Erling Haaland - Borussia Dortmund
Erling Haaland is starting to look unstoppable and he is only 20-years-old. The Borussia Dortmund striker has quickly become the most sought after player in Europe. He is one of the most prolific strikers we've seen in recent times and has his entire career ahead of him as well.
Haaland scored a whopping six goals in March and has singlehandedly made the Bundesliga outfit look good on several occasions already this season. The Norwegian has 41 goals from 36 appearances this term across all competitions for club and country.
Erling Haaland definitely looks like he will be one of the players who will be at the forefront of the Ballon d'Or race in the years to come.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus
It has not been a great month for either Cristiano Ronaldo or Juventus. Juventus crashed out of the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16 against Porto and Cristiano Ronaldo has faced severe criticism. Their shock defeat at the hands of Benevento means that their hopes of securing a 10th consecutive Serie A title are also fading.
Ronaldo still scored a hat-trick in March against Cagliari. He has 32 goals and five assists across all competitions for club and country this term. Let's not forget the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is 36-years-old now.
#3 Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappe is truly coming of age now and he is easily the next big thing in football. Mbappe has been absolutely menacing for Paris Saint-Germain with his blistering pace and incredible trickery.
He has compounded those qualities with some immaculate finishing as well and is easily one of the best players in the world right now at the age of 22.
Mbappe scored five goals in March. He has 32 goals and 10 assists from 40 matches across all competitions for club and country this season. The Frenchman is tipped to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and several clubs are queueing up for his signature.
#2 Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Since the turn of the year, Lionel Messi has gone back to being the best footballer on the planet. He has been in incredible form for Barcelona and has played a huge hand in the Catalans working their way back into the La Liga title race.
Messi enjoyed a fruitful month, scoring five goals and providing four assists in March. He is now the top scorer in La Liga, with 23 goals and has 29 goals in total across all competitions. The Argentine also has ten assists to his name.
Messi has looked like he is once again settling down at the Camp Nou after last summer's turmoil. He has looked every bit the champion player that we're used to seeing and has been leading the team from the front.
If Messi can keep this up for the rest of the season, Barcelona could end what started as a torrid season with a domestic double.
#1 Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich
The man who was robbed off the Ballon d'Or last year is making an even stronger case for himself this season. Easily the best striker in the world right now, Lewandowski's goalscoring rate puts the rest of his competition to shame.
He has scored a whopping 45 goals from 41 appearances this season. He also has eight assists to his name. The Polish international looks set to have yet another 50+ goals season. The way Bayern Munich are going this season, it looks like they will have a trophy haul to match their marksman's exploits.
If that's the case, there will be no denying Robert Lewandowski this year because he will have absolutely earned it.
