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The 2021 Ballon d'Or award has a lot of strong contenders. From the usual suspects like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to players who have shown incredible consistency right throughout the year, the Ballon d'Or race is set to go down to the wire.
The race for the Ballon d'Or award could well be impacted by performances in the 2 major international tournaments this year - Copa America 2021 and Euro 2020. With both tournaments heading to their conclusion, there have been some players who have really staked a claim for the award with some good performances for their respective countries.
Euro 2020 and Copa America 2021 might have a huge role to play in the Ballon d'Or 2021 award
With some major contenders for the award already eliminated from Euro 2020, the results in the two major international tournaments could tilt the scales in the favor of some of the other players and make them favorites for the prestigious individual prize.
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Without further ado, let's take a look at the 5 favorites to win the Ballon d'Or award in 2021
#5 Harry Kane (Tottenham/England)
Harry Kane was arguably the best player in the Premier League in the 2020/21 season. The Tottenham Hotspur captain won the Golden Boot and even had the highest number of assists in the league.
After a slow start with England at Euro 2020, Harry Kane has started to show why he is regarded as one of the most threatening strikers in world football at the moment. An extremely intelligent player and a lethally clinical finisher, Harry Kane could well become one of the major contenders for the Ballon d'Or award if England win Euro 2020.
With 3 goals in the tournament so far, Kane is just 2 behind the Euro 2020 Golden Boot leaders - Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrik Schick. If England do end up winning the tournament and if Harry Kane grabs a goal in either the semi-finals or final, he could well end up winning the Ballon d'Or award in 2021.
#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Portugal)
Cristiano Ronaldo has had a fine individual season. Unfortunately, both his club and country have failed to win major trophies (other than the Coppa Italia) this year. The 5-time Ballon d'Or winner was in great goalscoring form for Portugal at Euro 2020 and scored 5 goals in just 4 matches.
However, with Juventus failing to win either the Serie A or Champions League and Portugal getting knocked out in the Round of 16 against Belgium at Euro 2020, it will be tough for Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d'Or this year.
Individually, it has been another spectacular and record-breaking season for the Portugal superstar. If Cristiano Ronaldo somehow manages to win the Euro 2020 Golden Boot and starts the new season in spectacular form, he might have an outside chance of winning another Ballon d'Or award.
#3 N'Golo Kante (Chelsea/France)
Chelsea star N'Golo Kante was tipped to win the Ballon d'Or 2021 award after putting in some stunning performances in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. However, France's early elimination at the hands of Switzerland and his indifferent performances with the national team has seen him drop to the #3 position.
One of the best midfielders of this generation, N'Golo Kante's stamina and ball winning skills are unparalleled and he would have definitely walked away with the Ballon d'Or award if France had won Euro 2020.
With still some time to go for the Ballon d'Or award to be announced, N'Golo Kante could once again make himself the favorite if he starts the new Premier League season with Chelsea in good form.
#2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)
The 6-time Ballon d'Or winner is arguably just 2 wins away from adding a 7th Ballon d'Or trophy to his collection. Argentina are in the semi-finals of Copa America 2021 and with Lionel Messi in stunning form, this might finally be the year which sees the Argentine maestro win a major international trophy.
Lionel Messi might be a free agent at the moment, but the 34-year-old superstar had a superb 2021 with Barcelona and won La Liga's Golden Boot award comfortably.
At Copa America 2021, Lionel Messi has arguably been the best player and leads the goalscoring charts with 4 goals which include 2 stunning free-kicks. A lot will depend on the next 2 matches for Lionel Messi and Argentina.
If Argentina win the Copa America and Lionel Messi plays a starring role, he will become the overwhelming favorite to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award.
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)
Denied the Ballon d'Or award in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Robert Lewandowski has continued his incredible goalscoring form in 2021.
His numbers with Bayern Munich this season are incredible! The Polish superstar scored an astonishing 41 goals in just 29 Bundesliga games to break Gerd Muller's long standing record in the Bundesliga.
The 32-year-old played a key role in Bayern Munich's Bundesliga title triumph. He unfortunately missed the crucial UEFA Champions League clash against PSG due to an injury as his team crashed out in the quarter-finals this season.
Undoubtedly the best striker in world football at the moment, Robert Lewandowski is currently the favorite to win the Ballon d'Or award in 2021. However, with Euro 2020 and Copa America 2021 ending in a week, we might well have a new favorite for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award in August.
Also read: David James' column - Euro 2020: 5 players who deserve more playing time
