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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
