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This year, the Ballon d'Or race will feature a raft of dark horses and one of them could very well go on to win the most coveted individual prize in football.
The Ballon d'Or trophy is awarded to the most distinguished exponents of the beautiful game. It is awarded by France Football and is decided by a panel comprising of journalists, national team coaches and captains.
In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the Ballon d'Or was canceled. Football action returned after a break following the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and this season has so far gone on without any hitches.
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As such, we're expecting the return of the most coveted individual prize in football this year. Robert Lewandowski was the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or last year and would be justified in feeling robbed of it.
However, he has been clocking incredible numbers once again and has been making a very good case for himself. But today, we're taking a look at the dark horses who could swoop in and steal the prize.
5 outside contenders for the 2021 Ballon d'Or
#5 Ilkay Gundogan
Manchester City haven't been able to rely on their strikers much this season. Sergio Aguero has been injured for the majority of the season so far. Gabriel Jesus has scored just four goals in 17 Premier League appearances. Yet, Manchester City are 10 points clear at the top of the league table.
That is because they found an unlikely goalscoring outlet in Ilkay Gundogan. To say that the German is a midfielder who contributes well in the goalscoring department alone would be reductive.
Gundogan is a special player who is technically proficient and seldom fails to provide a creative spark in the final third these days. The 30-year-old has scored 14 goals this season across all competitions.
If Gundogan can add some titles to his kitty which he looks like he's well on his way to doing, he is most definitely in with a shout for the Ballon d'Or.
#4 Joshua Kimmich
The VfB Stuttgart academy has produced some world-class talents. Joshua Kimmich joined the Stuttgart academy as a 12-year-old but could not break into the senior setup. He subsequently joined RB Leipzig when they were on the come up.
His performances caught the then Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola's eye and the Bavarians snapped him up. Kimmich thrived at right-back for Bayern Munich but it was his versatility that set him apart.
He was likened to Philipp Lahm and his vision and technical ability enabled him to return to midfield and despite being hailed as one of the best full-backs of his generation, he wanted to return to his position of choice. It was not a move that worked like a charm from the get-go.
But under Hansi Flick, Kimmich has now gone on to become a world-class central midfielder. Flick's high-pressing, high-tempo system suited Kimmich and he became a vital cog in the Bayern team that went on to win the continental treble in the 2019-20 season.
A hard-worker and a leader, Kimmich is now one of Bayern Munich's most important players. His stats from central midfield make for interesting reading. Kimmich has racked up 13 assists and scored three goals from 19 appearances across the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League this term.
If the 25-year-old, who is yet to reach his peak, can keep this up, he is surely going to be a top contender for the Ballon d'Or.
#3 Romelu Lukaku
The belligerent Belgian striker endured a torrid sophomore season at Manchester United and it was widely suggested that he doesn't have it in him to make it at a big club. Lukaku was still bought by Inter Milan for a heavy sum in the ballpark of €75 million and he has lived up to that price tag and how!
Romelu Lukaku is currently the top scorer in the Serie A and is leading Inter Milan's title charge from the front. He has scored 23 goals from 30 appearances in all competitions this season for the Nerrazurri in addition to five assists in the Serie A.
Lukaku has always been prolific for his national side and he has kept that up and scored five goals from five appearances this season. The 27-year-old's overall game and attitude has improved and he is easily one of the best strikers in the world right now.
Belgium is also one of the favourites to win the Euros this year with a star-studded squad. If Lukaku goes on to win the Euros with Belgium, then he will definitely become one of the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or.
#2 Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes is the most effective anomaly in football. He is a midfielder who is as prolific in front of goal as he is at setting his teammates up to score. Manchester United have not signed a player who has had the kind of effect that the Portuguese has had at the club in recent times.
If Bruno Fernandes keeps this going, he could end up as the top goalscorer and top assist provider in the Premier League by the end of the season. He has scored a whopping 22 goals and provided 12 assists across all competitions for Manchester United this season.
From 25 appearances in the Premier League, the 26-year-old has 15 goals and 10 assists. However, even though Manchester United are second on the Premier League title race, it will take a Manchester City capitulation for the Red Devils to win the league.
Manchester United are still in the FA Cup and Bruno Fernandes needs to win titles to be in the Ballon d'Or race. That's where the Euros come in. Portugal has one of the best sides in the international setup and they're one of the favourites to go all the way in the European championship being the defending champions and all that.
No midfielder in Europe has the kind of numbers that Bruno Fernandes puts up currently and he is one of the dark horses in the Ballon d'Or race this year.
#1 Erling Haaland
Erling Braut Haaland is arguably the most sought-after striker in the world right now. At 20-years-old, Haaland is already exceptional at his craft and he has just entered his twenties. He is an absolute machine and has been scoring some stunners in the Bundesliga and he does that at an incredible rate.
The Norwegian is one of the most prolific strikers we have seen in recent times. In 25 games across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund this season, Haaland has scored 28 goals. He has also provided four assists.
It's rarely that a striker can match his hunger for goals with his technical ability and Haaland has both in copious amounts. If the 20-year-old can keep this up for the rest of the season, then there is every chance that we'll see him somewhere on the Ballon d'Or podium and maybe even at the top of it.
