'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Defensive Midfielder: Jorginho (€45 million)
Jorginho is touted as one of the most promising candidates for the Ballon d'Or. There are very few players in the world who have won both the Euros and the UEFA Champions League in the same year. Jorginho has now made himself a part of that club this year.
Trending
For someone of his caliber, the Italian is quite an underrated midfielder. With his incisive passing and deep playmaking abilities, Jorginho is quite an asset in midfield. Don't forget his brilliant ability to take calm and composed penalties.
With his heroics at Euro 2020 and the Champions League, Jorginho is highly rated by some of the pundits to win the Ballon d'Or. It is going to be interesting to see where the €45 million-rated midfielder finishes in the race for the award.
Defensive Midfielder: N'Golo Kante (€55 million)
Alongside Jorginho, N'Golo Kante has been a massive asset for Chelsea in midfield. The Frenchman has been one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League for the past few years.
With his relentless pressing, high work-rate and amazing ability to win the ball, it is a privilege to watch Kante play. His performance in the UEFA Champions League final played a major role in clinching the trophy. Even at national level, the former Leicester midfielder has been an impressive performer.
Given the year Kante had, it is only right that he gets a decent shout out for the Ballon d'Or award. The central midfielder has always worked his socks off and he surely deserves more recognition.
Left Midfielder: Cristiano Ronaldo (€45 million)
The Portuguese has already won the Ballon d'Or five times in his career. There is no possible way that he could have missed out on this list. Cristiano Ronaldo has had a stellar career and is arguably one of the best players ever to play the game.
Last season with Juventus, the former Real Madrid attacker won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. It is not just about trophies but how he single-handedly carried the Italian giants with his performance in front of goal. He won the Capocannoniere for scoring 29 goals in 33 Serie A games last term. Even at the national level, Cristiano Ronaldo has been excellent.
He recently broke the record for the most international goals scored in men's footbally by surpassing Ali Daei. Cristiano Ronaldo has time and again been a Messiah both for his club and country and deserves to be in shortlist for the Ballon d'Or this year.
Central Attacking Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne (€100 million)
Rated very highly by Pep Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best midfielders in the world right now. With his game-changing abilities on the pitch, the Belgian is surely an asset to any team he plays for.
De Bruyne was pivotal in Manchester City's successful campaign in the Premier League last season. He played an equally vital role in helping the Cityzens reach the finals of the UEFA Champions League. With his incisive passing, creativity and goal-scoring abilities, the former Chelsea midfielder is a deadly player when on the ball.
The 30-year old has a market value of €100 million, which itself speaks volumes of his caliber. This year may not provide him the best chance to win the Ballon d'Or but he surely has the potential to win one in the near future.
Right Midfielder: Lionel Messi (€80 million)
It looks like the Ballon d'Or award was made only for Lionel Messi. The great Argentine has won it six times, the most in the history of the prestigious award.
Lionel Messi made all the headlines when he was forced to leave his boyhood club Barcelona and join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer. The left-footed maestro is a legend with the Catalan club and it was surely difficult to digest the transfer. He won the Copa del Rey with the Spanish giants for the seventh time in his career during his last season at Camp Nou. Messi also won his eighth Pichichi trophy for scoring 30 goals in 35 league games.
He has often been criticized by many for not being as influential on his national team as he has been at club level. Lionel Messi left no doubt over this argument as he won the Copa America with Argentina this summer. Given his performances and impact at both club and country level, the Argentine is one of the leading contenders for the Ballon d'Or award.
