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The 2021 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced on November 29 and it will be an interesting event given the nominees involved. With ex-players and fans touting different players to win the honor, it only adds to the curiosity.
Winning the Ballon d'Or means a lot to any player in the world, which is why every player nominated is giving his best to put up a strong fight. Because of this, some of them have really given some amazing performances already this season.
Few of the 2021 Ballon d'Or nominees have been world-class this season
After a hectic 2020-21 domestic season, followed by the Euros, Copa America and the Olympics, it has been rough for many players. But the finest of the lot have taken up the challenge and done very well this season.
Among those are some Ballon d'Or nominees, who have made a statement with their performances on the pitch. Without much ado, let's have a look at those top Ballon d'Or nominees who are performing superbly this season:
#5 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Kylian Mbappe is a phenomenal player with a bright future ahead. He has simply been sensational during his time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). With him likely to sign for Real Madrid next season, it only makes it more exciting to see what he achieves with PSG this season.
Mbappe, with his blistering pace, smart movement and amazing goal-scoring abilities, is a nightmare for defenders. After the arrival of Lionel Messi at PSG this summer, one might have thought that the French forward might lose his importance. But it wasn't to happen.
The former Monaco man has looked very lively this season, scoring five goals and recording as many assists in 11 Ligue 1 games so far. At times, he has looked unstoppable and that's what makes him such a great player at such a young age. It is unlikely that he will win the Ballon d'Or in 2021 but he'll certainly make a strong case in the near future.
#4 Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
The Ballon d'Or nominee list has one of the best young players in the world right now in Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has been a monster in front of goal for Borussia Dortmund ever since he signed for them.
With his tall and strong physique, amazing movement off the ball, and brilliant finishing abilities, Haaland is arguably one of the best strikers in the world right now. The former Molde player has ruled the Bundesliga ever since he started playing in Germany and is going to be a strong competitor for Robert Lewandowski in the goal-scoring charts.
In just six league appearances this season, Haaland has scored nine goals and recorded four assists. It is a phenomenal statistic for a 21-year-old and even though he might not be strongly contesting the Ballon d'Or this year, he's a strong candidate for the future.
#3 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
One of the strongest contenders for the Ballon d'Or, the Egyptian is possibly in the form of his life and ruling the Premier League with his stellar performances for Liverpool. Mohamed Salah has had a scintillating start to the new season.
With his mind-boggling dribbling skills and nimble footwork, the former Chelsea man is beating opponents with utter ease. When combined with his superb technique and knack for finding goals, Salah has been very lethal in the attack. He has already scored 10 goals in as many Premier League games this season.
The forward has also scored five goals in just three matches in the UEFA Champions League this term. Salah is on a different level right now and is surely a dark horse for the Ballon d'Or this year.
#2 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
The Bayern Munich striker is truly an unlucky player. Having done so well in Germany over the years, Robert Lewandowski surely deserves to win the Ballon d'Or at least once in his football career. Notably, he was the front-runner for the award in 2020 before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Had it not been for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the former Dortmund player would have already won one. That being said, he just cannot be written off this year with the performances he gave last season and this term. He scored 41 goals and recorded seven assists in 29 Bundesliga games last season, breaking the legendary Gerd Muller's long standing record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign.
He has already scored 19 goals in just 15 appearances across competitions this term. The 33-year-old has truly been a goal-scoring machine over the years and it is time he gets the appreciation he deserves. Lewandowski will surely make a great case for winning the Ballon d'Or this year.
#1 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
The Frenchman has tons of experience under his belt. Using the same, Karim Benzema is turning out to be an invaluable asset for Real Madrid this season.
New manager Carlo Ancelotti could not get many new players on board this summer. He will surely have no regrets given that he has Benzema at his disposal. The former Lyon striker has been deadly in front of goal with his smart positioning and clinical finishing skills.
In his 10 La Liga appearances this season, Benzema has scored nine goals and recorded seven assists. He surely has loads to offer even at the age of 33 and Ancelotti can surely rely on the Ballon d'Or nominee. Notably, the striker also won the UEFA Nations League with France, scoring in the semi-final and final of the tournament.
Despite his scintillating form, it remains to be seen whether Benzema can get his hands on football's highest individual honor.
