The Ballon d’Or is an annual award for selecting the best player in the world based on votes. Last year the award failed to be carried out due to the COVID-19 outbreak. But this year it was held again, and the names of 30 players who have been nominated for the 2021 Ballon d’Or have been released.

Of the many names of football players who were nominated, of course, each party who has the right to vote has their own champion. The name of the winner will be announced at the Theater du Chatelet, Paris, France, on 29 November. Well, here are the five most favored players in the 2021 Ballon d’Or nominations.

 

1. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has had an extraordinary career in the world of football. His name has always been highlighted at the top and most championed in the nominations for the past few years. He has also collected 6 Ballon d’Or trophies, including the last one in 2019.

Last season, La Pulga managed to carve 30 goals and 9 assists in the Spanish League while still in Barcelona’s uniform. In addition, he is the captain who led the Argentine national team to the 2021 Copa America title. Although he hasn’t stood out much since moving to Paris Saint-Germain, the 34-year-old is still the favorite to win this individual award.

 

2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi’s biggest competitor in the 2021 Ballon d’Or nominations, Cristiano Ronaldo, will certainly not be left behind. In many records, CR7 is superior to La Pulga. But in this award, Ronaldo needs an additional trophy in his closet to match Messi’s record. Every year the two of them become strong champions.

Cristiano Ronaldo surprisingly returned to his old club, Manchester United, last summer. A good trend last season, 29 goals in Serie A while still with Juventus became Ronaldo’s strength. He also showed his fangs after wearing the Red Devils uniform with 5 goals from six matches in all competitions.

 

3. Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski is said to be a strong candidate between Messi and Ronaldo. If it is held, many people think that last year’s Ballon d’Or trophy should be his. Therefore, this year he really deserves his name to be called the winner.

The Polish player has a myriad of achievements that he can bet on. Lewandowski played a very important role in bringing Bayern Munich to win the treble winner, the Bundesliga cup, the DFB-Pokal, and of course the Champions League title. Recently he was given the golden boot after collecting 41 goals in 29 games in the Bundesliga last season.

 

4. Jorge Luiz Frello (Jorginho)
Jorge Luiz Frello or better known as Jorginho has its own strength to compete for the 2021 Ballon d’Or. Jorginho is also championed by Thomas Tuchel. That’s even though he’s not the only Chelsea player in the nominations, there are N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount.

The 29-year-old midfielder is a favorite because he has contributed to bringing Chelsea to the Champions League title last season. He also performed well in smoothing the journey for the Italian national team to win the Euro 2020 title. Is it worthy to win this award?

 

5. Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne is the best player in the ranks of world-class midfielders today. He was twice in a row named the PFA Player of the Year in the 2019/2020 season and the 2020/2021 season.

This Belgian-blooded player successfully brought Manchester City to the Premier League title last season. He contributed 6 goals and 12 assists from 25 matches in the competition. If De Bruyne is awarded the Ballon d’Or, he will become the first Premier League player to win the award since Ronaldo in 2008.

Those are the five most favored players in the 2021 Ballon d’Or nominations. They each have achievements to be reckoned with. Who is your hero?