Ballon d'Or Power Rankings: November 2021

#3 Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)

Real Madrid v Shakhtar Donetsk: Group D - UEFA Champions League

Karim Benzema is yet another player who has clawed his way up the Ballon d'Or ladder in recent months. Benzema scored 30 goals and provided nine assists in 46 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid last term. All of that didn't amount to much on the silverware front as Los Blanco went trophyless.

But it did earn Benzema a long-awaited call-up to the French national team. It was the first time in six years that he was named in the France national side and he was their main striker at Euro 2020. Benzema repaid the faith Deschamps had placed in him by scoring four goals in four appearances.

The 33-year-old then scored crucial goals for France in the semi-finals and finals of the UEFA Nations League. He was one of Les Bleus' standout performers as they won the title. Benzema has hit the ground running in the 2021-22 season as well.

He has scored 14 goals and provided eight assists in 16 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid so far this campaign.

#2 Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich)

FC Augsburg v FC Bayern München - Bundesliga

Robert Lewandowski has been the most prolific goalscorer on the planet for a few seasons now. The Bayern Munich frontman broke Gerd Muller's record for most goals scored in a single Bundesliga season (40) by netting 41 in 29 appearances last term.

Lewandowski has been phenomenal for the Bavarians. He scored a total of 48 goals and provided nine assists in 40 appearances across all competitions last term. The 33-year-old also scored three goals in three games at Euro 2020 but Poland crashed out in the group stage.

Lewandowski is justified in feeling robbed off the Ballon d'Or last year as the award was canceled in the wake of Covid-19. He has made a strong case for himself this year as well. The Polish international has been in irrepressible form this term, scoring 24 goals in 18 appearances across all competitions already.

#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain)

Argentina v Brazil - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifier

Lionel Messi was a one-man rescue act at Barcelona from the turn of the year until the end of the 2020-21 season. Messi was phenomenal in the first half of 2021. He single-handedly schlepped Barcelona back into the La Liga title race even though they made a mess of it in the closing stages of the season.

Messi picked up the Pichichi trophy for scoring the most goals in the 2020-21 La Liga season. He also won the Copa Del Rey with the Catalans. However, Messi's crowning achievement was winning the Copa America in the summer with Argentina.

Not only did he win the elusive trophy, but he was also named the Best Player at the tournament. He was the top scorer and top assist provider at Copa America 2021 with four goals and five assists in seven appearances.

Messi is slowly getting used to life at Paris Saint-Germain these days. But his exploits up until the summer ought to be enough to earn him a record seventh Ballon d'Or.