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With the football season now over, debates have begun over social media as to who will win the Ballon d'Or this year.
Arguably the most prestigious individual award in football, the Ballon d'Or has been won by some of the greatest players to have played the game. Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is the latest recipient of the award, having won it in 2019.
The Ballon d'Or 2021 award has 4 major contenders
There have been some interesting shouts in recent months for the Ballon d'Or. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have enjoyed a monopoly on the coveted prize, with Luka Modric the only other player to have won it in recent years.
With both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo refusing to slow down, they are once again contenders to receive the award. However, some new names have popped up recently, and it will be intriguing to see who wins it. Cases can be made for Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante.
Let us analyze each contender and see who actually deserves the Ballon d'Or this year.
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)
Robert Lewandowski is the best striker in world football right now, and would likely have won the Ballon d'Or in 2020 had the award not been canceled.
The Poland international enjoyed another excellent individual season last time around. Bayern Munich only won the Bundesliga last season, but Lewandowski was once again in majestic form. In 28 Bundesliga starts he scored 41 goals, breaking Gerd Muller's long-standing record of most goals scored in a Bundesliga season.
The 32-year old's absence was felt in Bayern Munich's games against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals. Bayern Munich failed to emerge victorious and Lewandowski's involvement would surely have made an impact.
Lewandowski's best chance of winning the Ballon d'Or was in 2020, when Bayern Munich won the treble and the Pole was the best player in the world. The fact that Poland were knocked out of the Euros in the group stage despite Robert Lewandowski scoring three goals does not bode well for his Ballon d'Or chances.
N'Golo Kante (Chelsea/France)
The clamor for N'Golo Kante to win the Ballon d'Or reached its peak after Chelsea won the Champions League.
Kante produced world-class performances against Real Madrid and Manchester City in the semi-finals and final respectively, and was widely regarded as Chelsea's most important player in the Champions League. The France international was at his dynamic, energetic best in Europe's premier club competition.
However, the shouts for Kante to win the Ballon d'Or have quietened down in recent weeks. France were shockingly knocked out of Euro 2020 in the Round of 16 by Switzerland, and Kante was not at his very best throughout the tournament.
The 30-year old is one of the best midfielders in the world and has enjoyed a good 2020/21 campaign. Having said that, it looks unlikely that Kante will win the Ballon d'Or. Jorginho, his midfield partner at Chelsea, is the latest name to be linked with the Ballon d'Or award.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Portugal)
5-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo was at his brilliant best for Juventus last season, but the Old Lady endured a poor season overall.
Juventus finished a distant 4th in Serie A, while they were knocked out of the Champions League by Porto. Cristiano Ronaldo did score 29 league goals and won the Capocannoniere award for top goalscorer in Serie A, but Juventus' season left a lot to be desired.
At the Euros, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal were disappointing. They were knocked out of the competition in the Round of 16 by Belgium. However, Cristiano Ronaldo did finish as the tournament's top goalscorer with five goals and became the top goalscorer in the European Championship with 14 goals.
The 36-year old has been linked with a move away from Juventus, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United linked. Juventus have re-appointed Massimiliano Allegri as manager, so it remains to be seen what Ronaldo will do.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)
Lionel Messi's Barcelona might have only won the Copa del Rey, but the 6-time Ballon d'Or winner won the Copa America with Argentina.
It is a monumental achievement for the superstar forward, who has been intensely criticized for his inability to win a trophy with the national team. Lionel Messi was the best player at the tournament, scoring four goals and providing five assists.
Barcelona finished a disappointing 3rd in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain. Messi was excellent though; in 33 La Liga starts, he scored 30 goals and provided nine assists.
The very fact that Messi won the Copa America 2021 could prove to be key for the Ballon d'Or. The now-iconic video of the Argentina national team running to Messi after the final whistle was blown in the Copa America 2021 finals will be etched in the memory of viewers.
Deserved standings for Ballon d'Or 2021:
1. Lionel Messi
2. Robert Lewandowski
3. N'Golo Kante
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Predicted standings for Ballon d'Or 2021:
1. Lionel Messi
2. Robert Lewandowski
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
4. N'Golo Kante
Lionel Messi looks set to win his 7th Ballon d'Or, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski's individual efforts could see them battle it out for 2nd place.
Also Read: Copa America 2021: Team of the tournament
