5 clear indications that Lionel Messi will win the 2021 Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi is considered among the favorites to win the coveted Ballon d'Or award this year. The Argentine has won the accolade a record six times, and could add yet another embellishment to an already dazzling career by claiming his seventh one later this month.

Messi has had an unbelievable year in 2021. The playmaker enjoyed a prolific outing with Barcelona last season, bagging 38 goals and 14 assists across all competitions. He also made history by leading Argentina to victory in the Copa America this summer while also finishing as the top scorer, top assister and player of the tournament.

Thanks to his incredible exploits with club and country, Lionel Messi was recently named on the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or award. Although players like Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho are expected to provide serious competition, the Argentine is still likely to come out on top in the race for the accolade.

There are many clear indications that Messi will win the prestigious prize this year. In this article, we'll discuss five of them.

5. Copa America triumph with Argentina

Lionel Messi became the favorite for the Ballon d'Or after claiming the Copa America this summer

Lionel Messi was brutally victimized for his failure to win a major international trophy for several years. But the Argentine finally put his antagonists in their place when he made history this summer as La Albiceleste finally claimed the Copa America trophy after 28 years.

The playmaker had a historic spell of performances in the tournament. He became the first player to finish as top scorer, top assister and best player in the same edition of the competition. His return of four goals and five assists proved to be too much for anyone else to match, and was pivotal to Argentina's triumph.

Lionel Messi virtually placed one hand on the Ballon d'Or when he added an international trophy to his CV this summer. Considering everything he has endured at an international level, winning the Copa America is arguably the greatest achievement of his career.

4. The Ballon d’Or is not always given to the player with most goals

This year's Ballon d'Or is Lionel Messi's to lose

Bayern Munich's record-breaking striker Robert Lewandowski has emerged as one of Lionel Messi's top rivals for the Ballon d'Or in 2021. The attacker's proficiency in front of goal has earned him plaudits across the globe. But it is important to remind everyone that the Ballon d'Or isn't awarded based on the number of goals.

Pascal Ferre, the chief editor of the magazine that awards the Ballon d'Or, France Football, made this clear in a recent interview. He said:

"The Ballon d'Or is not a reward for the player who scored the most goals. There is a different award for that."

Reading between the lines, one can clearly see that Lewandowski has already won the award for his numerous goals— the European Golden Shoe. Aside from his goal scoring record, there isn't much more the Polish can depend on in the race for this year's Ballon d'Or.

3. Robert Lewandowski's interview

The striker's confession is a big hint

Robert Lewandowski is widely considered to be the biggest threat to Lionel Messi's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or this year. However, it seems that Robert Lewandowski already knows he won't be winning the accolade this time.

The striker dropped a hint during a press conference ahead of Poland's World Cup Qualifiers clash with Andorra last week. He was quoted as saying:

"I stopped thinking about it [the Ballon d'Or] too much. It would certainly not help me to think about my chances of winning it, the speculations and the leaks in the media. I prefer to focus on something else.

"Maybe when the gala gets closer, I will start to think about it. It is the beginning of November, so there is still some time. Of course, the Ballon d’Or is a great award, but there’s no need to think about it, because I still have a lot to do before and after the gala."

The Bayern Munich forward seems to be aware of the possibility that he will not be going home with the Ballon d'Or award later this month. Following this admission, it makes a lot of sense to believe Lionel Messi will win the accolade for the seventh time in his career this year.

2. Multiple reports from reliable sources

The Argentine has the Ballon d'Or in sight

Over the last couple of weeks, there have been a couple of reliable sources that confirmed Lionel Messi as the winner of the 2021 Ballon d'Or. Many leaks published on the internet also suggest the same.

Perhaps the most significant was a report from Portuguese radio station RTP, announcing the Argentine as the winner of the accolade. According to the source, Lionel Messi has already been informed by France Football that he'll win his seventh Ballon d'Or award this year.

1. Lionel Messi's circle knows he's won the 2021 Ballon d'Or

Does Messi's circle already know that he's won?

Many in Lionel Messi's immediate circle seem to be aware the playmaker has come out on top in the race for this year's Ballon d'Or. Some of these people have hinted at this with their activities in recent weeks.

Spanish journalist Francesc Aguilar made this known in Twitter post earlier this month. The Spaniard has a close connection with Lionel Messi's circle, making him a decent source for obtaining such information.