Messi and Ronaldo nominated for Golden Ball 2021
Two world football record holders are on the preliminary list of 30 players competing for this year's Golden Ball.
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| Messi is on track to win the Golden Ball after winning the Copa America with Argentina. Photo: AFP. |
MessiHe holds the record for six titles, and is considered a leading candidate this year. Despite his lack of success at club level, the 34-year-old striker did win his first international title when Argentina won the Copa America in the summer. In that tournament, he scored four goals, assisted five, accounting for 75% of his team’s goals, and was voted Player of the Year.
MidfielderJorginhois a potential competitor to Messi. He was a pillar that helped Chelsea win the Champions League and helped the Italian team win the Euro.
Another player who is likely to make the final three nominations isRobert Lewandowski. The Polish striker won the 2020-2021 European Golden Shoe with 41 goals, helping Bayern win the Bundesliga.
Cristiano Ronaldo,owner of five Golden Balls, andLuka Modric, the 2018 winner, is also highly regarded.
A total of 14 Premier League players and five members of the Italian national team make the list, but Juventus star Federico Chiesa, who played a major role in Italy's title triumph, is absent.
The winner will be announced on November 29 at the Theatre du Chatele in Paris.
Besides the Golden Ball, this year's award also has two other individual awards: the Kopa Cup for Best Young Player and the Yashin Cup for Best Goalkeeper.
Mason Greenwood, Bukayo Saka, Pedri, Jeremy Doku, Ryan Gravenberch, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Jude Bellingham, Giovanni Reyna and Nuno Mendes were nominated for the Kopa Trophy. Of these, Pedri was nominated for both the Kopa and the Ballon d'Or.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ederson, Kasper Schmeichel, Edouard Mendy, Keylor Navas, Emiliano Martinez, Manuel Neuer, Jan Oblak and Samir Handanovic were nominated for the Yashin Trophy. Donnarumma was nominated for both the Yashin and the Ballon d'Or.
The Golden Ball is the most prestigious individual award in the football world, awarded by France Football magazine., first in 1956. It was only awarded to players of European nationality until 1995, when it was extended to players playing in Europe. It was not until 2007 that the Ballon d'Or was extended to players worldwide.
The 30 nominees were chosen by journalists from around the world, with one voter per country. In 2020, the Ballon d'Or was cancelled for the first time due to the impact of Covid-19.
List of 30 players nominated for the 2021 Golden Ball
Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea, Spain), Nicolo Barella (Inter, Italy), Karim Benzema (Real, France) Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus, Italy), Kevin de Bruyne (Man City, Belgium) Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus, Italy), Ruben Dias (Man City, Portugal), Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG, Italy), Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd, Portugal), Phil Foden (Man City, England), Erling Braut Haaland (Dortmund, Norway), Jorginho (Chelsea, Italy), Harry Kane (Tottenham, England), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea, France), Simon Kjaer (Milan, Denmark), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern, Poland), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, Belgium), Riyad Mahrez (Man City, Algeria), Lautaro Martinez (Inter, Argentina), Kylian Mbappe (PSG, France), Lionel Messi (PSG, Argentina), Luka Modric (Real, Croatia), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal, Spain), Mason Mount (Chelsea, England), Neymar (PSG, Brazil), Pedri (Barca, Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd, Portugal), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt), Raheem Sterling (Man City, England), Luis Suarez (Atletico, Uruguay).