Euro 2020: 5 players who could win the Ballon d'Or with a good performance in the tournament

Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo
Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo

fwow#3 Kylian Mbappe - France/Paris Saint-Germain

France v Bulgaria - International Friendly
France v Bulgaria - International Friendly

The 2020-21 season was a rather underwhelming one for Paris Saint-Germain. It could have been very different though. Their capitulation in the semi-finals against Manchester City and narrow loss in the Ligue 1 title race meant that the Parisiens ended the campaign without any major trophies other than the Coupe de France.

Mbappe tried his best though. He scored a total of 42 goals and provided 11 assists in 47 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain across all competitions. The 2020-21 season was another step in the right direction for the Frenchman at an individual level.

He is expected to be one of the stars of Euro 2020 as well. The best young player in the world is a nightmare for defenders and France are widely tipped to be the favourites to win Euro 2020. If they do have a triumphant campaign, Mbappe will become one of the leaders in the race for the Ballon d'Or.

#2 N'Golo Kante - France/Chelsea

France v Bulgaria - International Friendly
France v Bulgaria - International Friendly

Arguably the most in-form player in the world right now, N'Golo Kante is one of Didier Deschamps' main weapons at Euro 2020. The midfielder turned in four back-to-back man-of-the-match performances from the second leg of the quarter-final to the final in Chelsea's Champions League triumph.

Kante's tenacity and relentlessness were pivotal to Chelsea getting past Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Manchester City on their way to European glory. The 30-year-old will be one of the first names on France's teamsheet at Euro 2020. Kante tirelessly hounds opposition players and his tactical intelligence and awareness make him a threat like no other in midfield.

The Chelsea man is also great at progressing the ball and his slick passing is an underrated part of his game. There are already shouts for Kante to be given the Ballon d'Or. If he can replicate his form from the closing stages of the 2020-21 season at Euro 2020, he will make an even stronger case for himself.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal/Juventus

Spain v Portugal - International Friendly
Spain v Portugal - International Friendly

This could very well be Cristiano Ronaldo's last European competition. At 36, he is still going strong although he has lost a yard of pace. But there's no doubt that Ronaldo will be raring to give it his all in his fifth European finals.

Ronaldo won the Serie A Golden Boot in what was an extremely underwhelming season for Juventus. Ronaldo has a great supporting cast heading into Euro 2020. With the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Andre Silva and Diogo Jota operating around him, Ronaldo won't be starved of quality service.

Portugal have their work cut out for them after being drawn into the 'group of death' alongside France and Germany. Ronaldo is a man for the big occasion and he will absolutely relish the high-profile games that start in the group stages.

If he can live up to expectations and be the main man for Portugal, Ronaldo would stake a claim on a sixth record Ballon d'Or with which he can match Lionel Messi's haul.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith