BALLON D’OR 2021. The next Ballon d’Or France Football will be awarded on November 29th. Karim Benzema, Lionel Messi … Who are the favorites? All the info
[Mis à jour le 17 novembre 2021 à 11h37] Once again the author of remarkable performances during the international break, Karim Benzema is one of the big favorites at the Ballon d’Or 2021. Questioned at the end of the match against Finland, the Frenchman believes in his chances. “In 15 days a little Ballon d’Or?” Asks the journalist, “for that, we’ll see. We hope anyway,” replied the Real striker. The former Lyonnais is often cited as one of the serious contenders by all observers, Thierry Henry being one of the latest. “Let’s be chauvinistic, I hope it can be him (Karim Benzema) or N’Golo Kanté. Robert Lewandowski would have been elected in 2020 if it had not been canceled. […] We can also talk about Jorginho because he won everything (LdC and Euro in 2021). And there is Leo (Messi) who finally won the Copa America. “Because yes, if Benzema is often cited, Lionel Messi remains one of the favorites to his own succession. In difficulty since he is in Paris, the Pulga has, over the year, still impressive statistics and above all won a title with his national team with the Copa América.
- Nominated for the men’s Ballon d’Or : Cristiano Ronaldo, Gerard Moreno, Phil Foden, Kylian Mbappé, Luis Suarez, Robert Lewandowsk, Jorginho, Mohamed Salah, Cesar Azpilicueta, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Neymar, Ruben Dias, Lautaro Martinez, Simon Kjaer, Lionel Messi, Bruno Fernandes , Pedri, Luka Modric, Giorgio Chiellini, Harry Kane, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Karim Benzema, Rahem Sterling, Nicolo Barella, Ryad Mahrez, Ngolo Kanté, Erling Haaland, Leonardo Bonucci et Mason Mount
- Nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or : Alexia Putellas, Magdalena Eriksson, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Sam Kerr, Stina Blackstenius, Wendie Renard, Samantha Mewis, Pernille Harder, Vivianne Miedema, Sandra Paños, Lieke Martens, Jessie Fleming, Irene Paredes, Ashley Lawrence, Christine Sinclair, Ellen White, Christiane Endler, Jennifer Hermoso, Fran Kirby et Kadidiatou Diani
- Nominated for the Kopa Trophy : Bukayo Saka, Jérémy Doku, Mason Greenwood, Pedri, Ryan Gravenberch, Florian Wirtz, Giovanni Reyna, Jamal Musiala, Jude Bellingham, Nuno Mendes.
- Nominated for the Yachine Trophy : Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ederson Kasper, Schmeichel, Edouard Mendy, Thibaut Courtois, Keylor Navas, Emiliano Martinez, Manuel Neuer, Jan Oblak and Samir Handanovic
The result of the vote will be known Monday, November 29 next on the occasion of the Ballon d’Or 2021 ceremony, organized at the Théâtre du Chatelet, in Paris, in the presence of the gratin of world football and presented by the former Ivorian international Didier Drogba. The evening will also be punctuated by the presentation of the other three trophies: the women’s Ballon d’Or, the Kopa trophy and the Yachine trophy.
The race for the Men’s Ballon d’Or 2021 promises to be fairly open, as no player seems to have crushed the competition since January. As usual, the main favorites are to be found within the clubs or teams that have won a major title during the year 2021. The Argentinian Lionel Messi, the latest Ballon d’Or winner to date (2019) and Copa America winner with Argentina (4 goals and 5 assists in 7 games), thus seems well placed to win his seventh Ballon d’Or and establish a new record in this area. Before signing for PSG, the former Barcelona member also signed a full season with Barça, scoring 30 goals in 35 league games (9 assists) and winning the Copa del Rey. The only downside: the elimination of the Catalan club in the round of 16 of the Champions League (by PSG).
Italian Jorginho could also be rewarded for his superb season with his Chelsea club and his selection. Winner of the Champions League against Manchester City, the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal and the Euro with Italy, the midfielder, despite his lack of notoriety, can dream of succeeding his compatriot Fabio Cannavaro , crowned in 2006. It will probably also be necessary to reckon with Kevin De Bruyne, still as regular at Manchester City, with Robert Lewandoski, the serial goalscorer of Bayern Munich), and the inevitable Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus Turin then Manchester United).
French side, N’Golo Kanté and Kylian Mbappé can also hope for a good result on this Golden Ball despite a missed Euro with the France team. The Blues midfielder is coming out of a new top-level season with Chelsea (winner of the LDC and the UEFA Super Cup). Elected best player of the semi-finals and the final, N’Golo Kanté once again showed all his talent in the eyes of the whole world. The disappointing course of the Blues during the Euro (eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland) can however compromise its chances of victory. This is also the case for Mbappé, who nevertheless had another very good season both in club with PSG, 27 goals and 7 assists in 31 Ligue 1 games and 8 goals and 3 assists in 10 Champions League games (defeat in the semi-final against Manchester City). Another French player can also claim a good ranking: it is about Karim Benzema, brilliant with Real Madrid and author of a successful return to the French team (4 goals at the Euro).
La Pulga again winner of the Ballon d’Or? Holder of the prestigious trophy for 2 years (the 2020 edition has been canceled), Lionel Messi is a legitimate candidate for his own succession. Asked about this, the PSG player explained that he was not focused on it. “No, I don’t feel like a favorite and I never liked to talk about it before the result. If it has to happen, it would be great, great to win another one. This summer I won the title that I missed it and that was the pinnacle. Afterwards, if I win a new Ballon d’Or, I will be very happy and very grateful, but I don’t want to think about it (…) Obviously, in my team, there are at least two that I would surely vote for: “Ney” and Kylian. And then, (Robert) Lewandowski, who has just had a great year. (He thinks.) There is also (Karim) Benzema, who was excellent. We know that the titles also have their importance: the Champions League, the Euro and the Copa America will undoubtedly weigh in the vote “he explained to The team.
After Platini and Zidane, will a new French player get the precious trophy awarded by France Football? If the Real striker does the work on the field by chaining goals and performances, several big names are betting on the victory of the former Lyon. Most recent, Didier Deschamps. Asked about this on November 8 during a press conference, the coach of the France team hopes to see the French triumph. “From the moment Karim is one of the postulants, he is even a very serious candidate to win it, it is obviously all the evil that I wish him.”
The voting rules for the Golden Ball are as follows: 180 journalists from 180 different countries are tasked by France Football with delivering a ranking from 1 to 5 and by awarding 6 points for the first, 4 points for the second, 3 points for the third, 2 points for the fourth and 1 point for the fifth. The voting period lasted several weeks, until October 24, 2021 . This same jury was invited to vote for the Lev Yachine trophy awarded to the best goalkeeper. For the women’s Golden Ball, France Football brings together 50 journalists, while for the Kopa trophy, awarded to the best player under 21, 32 former trophy winners are invited to speak.
Discover the recent winners of the Ballon d’Or largely dominated by the Argentinian Lionel Messi, (6 trophies) and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (5 trophies):, Lione
- 2020: canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic
- 2019: Lionel Messi (ARG)
- 2018: Luka Modric (CRO)
- 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
- 2016: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
- 2015: Lionel Messi (ARG)
- 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
- 2013: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
- 2012: Lionel Messi (ARG)
- 2011: Lionel Messi (ARG)
- 2010: Lionel Messi (ARG)
- 2009: Lionel Messi (ARG)
- 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
- 2007: Kaka (BRE)
During the last Ballon d’Or award to date, in 2019, Lionel Messi had collected the most votes, in front. The ranking reminder:
- 1st: Lionel Messi (Argentina / Barcelona), 686 points
- 2nd : Virgil Van Dijk (Pays-Bas/Liverpool), 679 points
- 3e : Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus Turin), 476 points
- 4th: Sadio Mané (Senegal / Liverpool), 347 points
- 5e : Mohamed Salah (Egypte/Liverpool), 178 points
- 6e : Kylian Mbappé (France/PSG), 89 points
- 7th: Alisson Becker (Brazil / Liverpool), 67 points
- 8e: Robert Lewandowski (Pologne / Bavaria), 44 points
- 9e : Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), 41 points
- 10th: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria / Manchester City), 33 points
- 11th: Frenkie De Jong (Netherlands / Barcelona), 31 points
- 12e : Raheem Sterling (Angleterre/Manchester City), 30 points
- 13e : Eden Hazard : (Belgique/Real Madrid), 25 points
- 14th: Kevin De Bruyne: (Belgium / Manchester City), 14 points
- 15th : Matthijs De Ligt : (Pays-Bas/Juventus Turin), 13 points
- 16e : Sergio Aguero (Argentine/Manchester City), 12 points
- 17th: Roberto Firmino (Brazil / Liverpool), 11 points
- 18th: Antoine Griezmann (France / FC Barcelona), 9 points
- 19e : Trent Alexander-Arnold (Angleterre/Liverpool), 8 points
- 20e-level: Dusan Tadic (Serbie/Ajax Amsterdam), 5 points
- Tied for 20th: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon / Arsenal), 5 points
- 22nd: Heung-Min Son (South Korea / Tottenham), 4 points
- 23e : Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), 3 points
- 24th ex-aequo: Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal / Naples), 2 points
- 24th ex-aequo: Marc-André Ter Stegen (Germany / FC Barcelona), 2 points
- 26e ex-aequo : Georgino Wijnaldum (Pays-Bas/Liverpool), 1 point
- 26e ex-aequo : Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), 1 point
- 28e-level: Joao Felix (Portugal/Atlético Madrid), 0 point
- 28th ex-aequo: Marquinhos (Brazil / PSG), 0 point
- 28th ex-aequo : Donny Van de Beek (Pays-Bas/Ajax Amsterdam), 0 point
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