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The winner of the 2021 Ballon d'Or award is only hours away from being crowned in the French capital.
This year's 30-man shortlist comprises the usual suspects Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. There are also a few others like Jorginho, Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema, to name a few. Few of these contenders have emerged as strong contenders because of their exploits with club and country over the past year.
While many legends of the game have made their picks for this year's Ballon d'Or winner, a few others have not. On that note, here's a look at five legends who haven't picked a contender for the 2021 Ballon d'Or winner:
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#5 Arsene Wenger (former Arsenal manager)
Arsene Wenger is one of the most storied managers in the history of the sport. He was in charge of Premier League club Arsenal for more than two decades. Wenger is the only manager in the competition's history to win the Premier League without losing a game (2003-04).
The Frenchman recently said there is no clear contender for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. He said:
"There is no untouchable this year. On individual performance, consistency, Benzema is at the top level. The uncertainty is: does the weight of the trophies play a decisive role?"
Arsene Wenger seemed to suggest that ones like Messi, Jorginho and Lewandowski are likely contenders to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. This is because they won major titles this year.
Benzema has had a standout year for club and country. But the absence of a major title this year means he's unlikely to win the prestigious award this year.
#4 Gus Poyet (former Premier League manager)
Former Uruguay international and Premier League manager Gus Poyet is another noted name who speculated that the 2021 Ballon d'Or race could be an open one.
He said that the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah have had better years individually than the usual suspects Messi and Ronaldo. Poyet said in this regard:
"Certainly you cannot vote for Messi or Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or, perhaps Mbappe or Salah, but the latter certainly is the best."
Salah has indeed had a memorable year, especially in club football. He has been on a tear this season, scoring 17 times across competitions. However, the lack of a title this year could adversely impact his 2021 Ballon d'Or chances. The same also applies to Mbappe, who didn't win the Ligue 1 or Euro 2020 titles this year.
#3 Fabio Cannavaro (2006 Ballon d'Or winner)
Italy's 2006 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro remains the last defender to win the Ballon d'Or award.
The 2006 winner, though, hasn't picked a defender to win this year's award. The 48-year-old, instead, picked Messi, Lewandowski and Benzema as the likely contenders to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award.
Cannavaro was quoted as saying in this regard:
"Messi has won the Copa America and done very well, but Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski are candidates too. I don't see a clear favourite, but I think it's between those three."
Indeed, the trio picked by Cannavarao are among the strongest contenders to take home the coveted Ballon d'Or award this year.
During the same interaction, Cannavaro also discussed the 2020 Ballon d'Or award. He said that had the event not got canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lewandowski would have won it.
#2 Patrice Evra (former France and Manchester United player)
Patrice Evra was a distinguished player for club and country. He especially made his name as a world-class player during his time in the Premier League with Manchester United.
Recently, the retired player said there are multiple contenders for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. Providing his support to N'Golo Kante and Jorginho, Evra said:
“In my opinion, this Ballon d'Or is for N'Golo Kante or Jorginho, he deserves it! I do not understand why people say, 'He's just a midfielder' - he won everything, participating a lot in these triumphs."
Evra is also against Messi winning this year's Ballon d'Or award, as the Argentine did little else all year except win the Copa America. He said:
"In my opinion, it's an injustice (if Jorginho does not win it). I'm sick of giving it to (Lionel) Messi. What did he win last year? Okay, the Copa America, but with Barcelona, what did he do? Last year, Jorginho also won trophies that didn't exist, so for me, it's an absolute injustice (if he does not win it)."
It remains to be seen what the jury has decided, when the 2021 Ballon d'Or winner gets announced later tonight.
#1 Thierry Henry (Arsenal legend)
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is arguably one of the finest players to have never won the Ballon d'Or award. Nevertheless, he enjoyed a distinguished career for club and country, winning almost every major title he contended for.
The Frenchman has said it could be a five-horse race between Benzema, Kante, Lewandowski, Jorginho and Messi for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. He said:
"Let's be chauvinistic, I hope it can be him (Karim Benzema) or N'Golo Kanté. Robert Lewandowski would have been elected in 2020 if it had not been canceled. (…) We can also talk about Jorginho because he won everything (Champions League and Euro in 2021) . And there is Leo (Messi) who finally won the Copa America."
The quintet are widely regarded as the likely contenders to take home this year's Ballon d'Or award.
