Top 5 forwards nominated for Ballon d'Or 2021

#3 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/France)

The Nations League has boosted Benzema's chances to win the Ballon d'Or this year

How Karim Benzema has never made it to the Ballon d’Or podium is anyone's guess. But this year might just be his chance to not only break the duck, but also lift the prize itself.

The Real Madrid superstar has quietly had a fantastic year on a personal level, starring for both club and country to stake a strong claim to this year's Ballon d'Or.

He's got 39 goals in the calendar year, having made the best-ever start to a La Liga campaign by any player, whilst also returning to the French squad with a bang.

He was their highest scorer at UEFA Euro 2020 with four goals and has now scored in the semi-finals and finals of the Nations League to help his side to the title.

Currently, there's no player more in-form than the Real Madrid ace, with the exception of just Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah. So a small minority continue to push his case for Ballon d’Or glory.

It's tricky, but there's a small chance Karim Benzema could win this year's Ballon d'Or.

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#2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain/Argentina)

Is Messi poised to win his seventh Ballon d'Or?

Lionel Messi is tipped to win this year's Ballon d’Or in several quarters. But while that isn't certain, there's no denying he's among the leading figures for the prize. He too, is familiar with the Ballon d'Or, having won a record six of them so far. Many would bet he's on course to winning this year's Ballon d'Or and improving his tally to 7.

It's been a memorable 2021 for La Pulga. He finally got his mitts to an international trophy in the summer, before going through a heartbreaking Barcelona exit after 17 glorious years at the club.

Perhaps 'eventful' would be a better way to describe his calendar year? Either way, his stats are as impressive as ever.

Despite the Blaugrana making their worst La Liga finish in over a decade and witnessing another European heartache last season, Messi shone through and through with 38 goals and 16 assists in all competitions.

When it comes to calendar year stats, he's on 39 goals, including one for his new side PSG, which he scored in the UEFA Champions League last month. An outrageous effort against Manchester City.

He cannot add to his existing trophy count for the calendar year (Copa del Rey and the Copa America) - but still has time to improve his stats further. You'd bet your money that Messi likely will, after displaying signs of acclimatizing to new surroundings. The silverware he has won will certainly add to his chances for this year's Ballon d'Or.

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#1 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)

Lewandowski has had the best two years of his career. Will he finally win the Ballon d'Or?

Robert Lewandowski owned football's calendar year in 2020 with the highest number of goals and titles, both. Despite the anguish of last year's Ballon d’Or award being canceled, he's continued his blistering run of form this year too.

With 48 goals in the calendar year, including 39 for Bayer Munich, the Polish hitman once again leads the goalscoring count for men's footballers in top-leagues for 2021.

Along with that, he's also lifted three trophies on the club front - the Bundesliga, the Club World Cup and the German Supercup. He starred for the Bavarians in each of them to firmly assert himself in the race for football's biggest individual prize - the Ballon d'Or - again.

According to reports, Lewandowski will indeed be honored this year with the 2020 Ballon d’Or for his imperious form throughout last year.

And should that really be the case, getting his hands on the latest edition of the Ballon d'Or as well will be an added bonus. He has, after all, given us the two best years of his professional career so far.