The Best FIFA Men's Player Award 2021: Ranking the top 5 favourites - November 2021

#3 Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)

Real Madrid v Shakhtar Donetsk: Group D - UEFA Champions League

Karim Benzema has been on a roll this year. He was one of the only bright spots for Real Madrid in an otherwise dull 2020-21 season. Benzema scored 30 goals and provided nine assists in 46 appearances across all competitions last term.

Those exploits saw him earn a call-up to the French national side after a gap of six years. Benzema was one of the best strikers at Euro 2020, scoring four goals in four appearances. Unfortunately for him, France crashed out of the competition in the Round of 16 against Switzerland.

Benzema has kicked on in the same vein in the early stages of the 2021-22 season. He has been in staggering form for Real Madrid, scoring 14 goals and providing eight assists in just 15 appearances across all competitions so far.

In addition to that, Benzema scored important goals for France in the semi-final and final of the UEFA Nations League.

#2 Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich)

FC Bayern München v SL Benfica: Group E - UEFA Champions League

Robert Lewandowski is arguably the best striker in the world right now. The Bayern Munich centre-forward has been an extremely prolific goalscorer in recent times. He is definitely in with a shout to win the Best FIFA Men's Player Award in two successive years.

In the 2020-21 season, Lewandowski broke Gerd Muller's record of most goals scored in a single Bundesliga season by netting 41 in 29 appearances. He finished the season with a tally of 48 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions for the Bavarians. He also won the Bundesliga title last term.

Lewandowski scored three goals in three appearances at Euro 2020 but Poland crashed out in the group stages. The 33-year-old has been in sublime form this season as well and has 23 goals and two assists to his name from 17 appearances across all competitions.

#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain)

Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Could Lionel Messi win his second Best FIFA Men's Player Award this term? Why not? Despite his lack of goals he Ligue 1 in the new season, Messi has had a spectacular year. He finally managed to win a major international trophy with Argentina as they became continental champions at Copa America 2021.

Messi was the top scorer and the top assist provider at the tournament. He scored four goals and provided five assists in seven appearances for La Albiceleste as they won the Copa America after 28 years. Messi was also named the tournament's Best Player.

He was also incredible for Barcelona in 2021. After getting off to a slow start in the 2020-21 season, Messi tuned it around and almost single-handedly dragged the Catalans back into the La Liga title race. He also won the Copa Del Rey with them.

Messi's individual brilliance shone through and he scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists for Barcelona in 47 appearances across all competitions last term.