Perhaps the most desirable individual award in world football is the Ballon D’or. This award is awarded to the world’s best player for that calendar year. Although the year is only halfway through, football fans can have a good idea of who is likely to pick up the award in a few months time.
The award is based on a number of different things. Firstly, individual performance is a key part of winning the award. Things such as goals, assists, clean sheets, and man of the match performances are all considered when it comes to awarding the trophy. Team performance and achievements are also considered for the award. Players who win major club and country competitions tend to do better in the Ballon D’or than those who have less silverware. So, as it stands, who could win the 2021 Ballon D’or?
N’Golo Kante
The current front runner for the award is France and Chelsea midfielder N’golo Kante. His top performances helped Chelsea to achieve both fourth place in the Premier League as well as winning the Champions League. Due to Euro 2020 being this year, there is a good chance that a great France campaign could seal the deal for Kante. Any player who wins both the Champions League and European Championships is surely a top contender for the trophy.
Kylian Mbappe
Still only 22, Kylian Mbappe is one of the most exciting talents on the planet. With rapid pace, insane dribbling, and clinical finishing, he is sure to be a Ballon D’or contender for years to come. He helped PSG win both the Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions, as well as managing 29 goals and 5 assists. A good run of goalscoring form in the Euros could be enough to take the Ballon D’or over N’golo Kante.
Kevin De Bruyne
Although Kevin De Bruyne faced some dismay in the Champions League final, he is still well in contention for being the best player in the world. He was an influential figure in Manchester City’s league winning campaign, with the club picking up the Carabao Cup in the process. He has also made a massive impact at the Euros. Coming on as a substitute, he completely turned the game around against Denmark. The international competitions could define the structure of these rankings, and De Bruyne is no exception.
Robert Lewandowski
The Polish international bagged 32 goals as he helped Bayern Munich to both Bundesliga and Club World Cup glory. He seemed a shoe in to win the 2020 award, however it was cancelled due to the Coronavirus. Despite his achievements, Poland suffered elimination in the group stages in Euro 2020. It looks unlikely, but should he have an impressive conclusion to the year, there is no telling what might happen.
Lionel Messi
Would it really be a Ballon D’or discussion without Lionel Messi? He had an amazing season at Barcelona, winning the Copa Del Rey with 40 goal contributions since January. His chance at the trophy could be largely down to his international achievements. Should Argentina win the Copa America, there is a massive chance Messi picks the award up for a seventh time.