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Lionel Messi is a strong contender to win a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or award this year.
He has had a modest club campaign, winning a record-extending eighth Pichichi trophy with 30 goals. But Messi failed to add to his 10 La Liga titles as Barcelona came up short in a three-horse title race. He did win the Copa Del Rey earlier in the year, though.
However, what has catapulted Messi into this year's Ballon d'Or reckoning is his exploits with Argentina this summer. After three Copa America finals heartbreaks, Messi led from the front. He bagged four goals and five assists as La Albiceleste ended their near three-decade-long trophy drought.
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For his exploits in the tournament, Messi won the Golden Boot as well as the Player of the Tournament award.
He has struggled to get going since moving to PSG this summer, scoring only four times in 10 games across competitions. But Messi might have already done enough to add to his impressive Ballon d'Or collection.
Here's what five legends of the game feel about Messi's Ballon d'Or credentials this year:
#5 Javier Zanetti (former Argentina and Inter Milan legend)
Argentina and Inter Milan legend Javier Zanetti had a long and distinguished career for club and country.
The 48-year-old, who won the continental treble with Inter Milan in 2010, has tipped his compatriot Messi to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. Zanetti said that Messi's contribution to the game goes beyond numbers, with his Copa America triumph making an entire country happy.
He told Ole.com in this regard:
"Messi has to win the Ballon d'Or because he is still a different player from the rest, always decisive and unbalanced. We are talking about the essence of football. His numbers are impressive since he started playing football, be it in Europe and in the Argentine national team."
He further added:
"And now, after so long, as captain and as a leader, he managed to win the Copa América and make a whole country happy. For all that, for me, he deserves to be chosen again with the Ballon d'Or."
However the absence of a league title this year and a quiet start with PSG can impact Messi's bid for a seventh Ballon d'Or award.
#4 Gerard Pique (former teammate of six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi)
Gerard Pique won two continental trebles and countless league and other titles with Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
He has seen Messi's prowess from close quarters. Hence, it's unsurprising that Pique thinks his former teammate should win his seventh Ballon d'Or award this year. Speaking about the 34-year-old's credentials for this year's award, Pique was quoted as saying:
"The Ballon d'Or? If the winner is voted by the criteria, it's Messi. If they choose the best in the world, it's Messi too."
However, there are other strong contenders like Jorginho and Robert Lewandowski in the fray too. The duo played key roles for club and country in winning major titles during the year. So it remains to be seen if Messi will usurp the duo and other contenders to create more Ballon d'Or history.
#3 Gary Lineker (former player and current football pundit)
Gary Lineker has tipped Lionel Messi to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. Lineker was one of the top strikers of his generation and enjoyed a successful career for club and country.
Now a football pundit, Linekar recently spoke about Messi's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or award this year. He said:
"It will be difficult to overcome Messi. He had a great first part of the season, and then he won the Copa América with Argentina."
The former Barcelona striker could be right. Messi is tipped by many to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award after his Copa America 2021 success.
#2 Luis Suarez (former teammate of six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi)
Luis Suarez formed a fearsome attacking partnership with Lionel Messi at Barcelona. The duo, along with Neymar, won the continental treble in 2015, and scored goals for fun.
Now at Atletico Madrid, Suarez said that Messi has no rivals, considering his stellar achievements for club and country over the years. He said of Messi's 2021 Ballon d'Or credentials:
"For the Ballon d'Or, you should not only have to look at what someone has done in a year, but you also have to look at how someone is as a player. I believe that Messi has no rival."
It remains to be seen if voters think likewise on Monday when the fate of the 2021 Ballon d'Or award gets decided.
#1 Samuel Eto'o (two-time continental treble winner)
Samuel Eto'o enjoyed a short but highly successful stint with Lionel Messi in late 2000s, winning the continental treble in 2009. That summer, Eto'o left Camp Nou to join Inter Milan, where he won another continental treble.
In the process, the Cameroonian became the only player in history to win continental trebles with different clubs in successive years. The now-retired player enjoys an excellent relationship with Messi. He said to Marca about his former teammate's Ballon d'Or chances:
"Always Messi, who is like a little brother to me. I appreciate him very much as a person and as a player ... I watched him grow up, and I have a special love for him. For me, he is still the best in the world. If we remove Leo, there are others that I like, like Benzema. He is a player that I love. Cristiano has left and he has carried the equipment behind him."
Messi has indeed been one of the standout players in the game over the last two decades. He has scored goals and won accolades and titles galore. His Copa America 2021 triumph might just see him add another Ballon d'Or award to his burgeoning cabinet.
