“He’s had an important year in his career” - Angel Di Maria picks his Ballon d'Or 2021 winner

The 2021 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony is just a few hours away. The favorites for this year's edition of the prestigious title include PSG's Lionel Messi, Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. After the cancelation of the 2020 edition, this year's Ballon d'Or race is expected to be a particularly tight one. Despite intense debate, various footballers and analysts have been unable to narrow in on a clear cut favorite ahead of Monday's Gala.

PSG playmaker Angel Di Maria is unsurprisingly certain his Argentina teammate Messi will win his seventh Ballon d'Or trophy. Speaking to RMC Sport, Di Maria opined that Lionel Messi's achievements with the national team over the past year make him a deserved winner for this year's award.

Di Maria said:

“Yes, I think so. He has had an important year in his career. To win the Copa America with his country after so many things that happened to him in the national team, he finally won it. Just for that he deserves it.”

Lionel Messi finally broke his international trophy drought by winning the Copa America with Argentina in 2021. Former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria, who is now teammates with Messi at PSG, believes the feat is enough to secure another Ballon d'Or for the playmaker.

Di Maria thinks Lionel Messi should win the Ballon d'Or 2021 award for his Copa America success

Lionel Messi in action for PSG

Di Maria was excellent alongside Messi for Argentina's national squad during Copa America 2021. While Messi had a total of nine total goal contributions and was named Player of the Tournament, Di Maria scored the winner in the final against bitter rivals Brazil.

Lionel Messi has also been influential for both Barcelona and PSG. He played a starring role for Blaugrana last season and his importance in keeping the Spanish team afloat has become even clearer after the club's troubles since his departure.

Messi, on the other hand, is looking to reach the same heights at his new club Paris Saint-Germain. Another Ballon d’Or win for the Argentine would cement his place as the greatest footballer of all time.

If Lionel Messi was to win the Ballon d’Or this year, it would be his seventh title and would take him past Cristiano Ronaldo's tally of five.