5 clear indications that Lionel Messi will win the 2021 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.