In 2020, thanks to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the Ballon d'Or could not be awarded and the ceremony was postponed until this year, where the great players of the world's major leagues will compete again for the top prize.

 

Among the favorite candidates to win this year are Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Poland's Robert Lewandowski, Italy's Jorginho, Britain's Harry Kane and Argentina's Lionel Messi.

 

According to information revealed on Friday, Nov. 5, by the Portuguese news channel RTP, Messi has already been informed by France Football magazine that he will be the winner of the award at the end of the month.

 

The early announcement by the magazine is due to the fact that the French media must conduct an interview with the winner prior to the awards gala, so he can appear on the cover of its print edition in December. 

 

"Messi is the winner of the Ballon d'Or 2021. The Argentine player won for the seventh time the award attributed by France Football magazine. According to what RTP found out, the soccer player has already been informed that he is the winner and has even granted the usual interview to the French publication", commented the host of RTP's Jornal da Tarde newscast.

If so, this would be the seventh Ballon d'Or for the Argentine star and would put him at the top of the list as the player with the most followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with five trophies. 

 

Until this season, Messi was first in the voting on six occasions, came second on five other occasions, climbed to the third step place and was outside the top three in two galas (5th in 2018 and 20th in 2006). It should be noted that the media compiles the list of 30 finalists and then 176 journalists from different parts of the world distribute five votes (6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point depending on the position) among their favorites to carry out the final choice.

 

La Pulga had a brilliant season: he won the Copa del Rey, was the top scorer of La Liga in Spain and ended a long drought in the Argentine National Team by winning the Copa América (where he was top scorer). He played a total of 47 games, in which he scored 38 goals and contributed 14 assists.

 

A few days ago, a striking list had gone viral on social media, showing Lewandowski as the supposed winner.

 

The award will be presented on Nov. 29. 

Lautaro Martinez

Phil Foden

Mohamed Salah

Neymar

Harry Kane

Mason Mount

Nicolo Barella

Ruben Dias

Giorgio Chiellini

Gianluigi Donarrumma

Cristiano Ronaldo

Kevin de Bruyne

Erling Haaland

Romelu Lukaku

Kylian Mbappé

Karim Benzema

N'Golo Kanté

Jorginho

Robert Lewandowski

Lionel Messi