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Ballon d’Or power rankings: Can Chelsea finally boast a winner?

By Subhrajit Chowdhury

Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho reacts after scoring his penalty in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Chelsea and Villarreal at Windsor Park in Belfast on August 11, 2021. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho reacts after scoring his penalty in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Chelsea and Villarreal at Windsor Park in Belfast on August 11, 2021. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 14: Lionel Messi of PSG during the new recruits of PSG presentation ahead of the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and RC Strasbourg Alsace at Parc des Princes stadium on August 14, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 14: Lionel Messi of PSG during the new recruits of PSG presentation ahead of the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and RC Strasbourg Alsace at Parc des Princes stadium on August 14, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images) /

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona/PSG)

The only person who could realistically win the Ballon d’Or apart from Jorginho and Kante is Lionel Messi. Not only can he win his seventh trophy, but he is considered by many the favorite to do so. While in terms of trophies, Barcelona only managed to win the Copa del Rey, Messi’s individual stats last season were on a different level. The Argentine seemed to have put on his best shooting boots and went on a rampage to pick up his eighth Pichichi trophy.

The 34-year-old scored 38 goals in all competitions while also providing 14 assists, meaning that he was directly involved in 52 goals scored by Barca last season. He was a dominant figure in the league, and no one came close to his 30-goal tally, which won him his fifth consecutive top goal scorer trophy. He was also one of the best players on the pitch, completing the most amount of dribbles, as well as being the most fouled player in La Liga.

All of this is impressive however, Barca only won the domestic cup, so why is Messi still the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or? Well, this is mostly due to his absolutely amazing run in the 2021 Copa America. The Argentine, after four previous final losses, finally managed to win his first major international trophy. This was a historical moment for the world’s greatest player. Nevertheless, he was not just an ideal spectator in the tournament either. The Argentine scored four goals and provided five assists in the tournament, and was named the Best Player of the Tournament, alongside Neymar Jr.

This impressive achievement—along with the traditional bias shown to attacking players—makes Messi the most likely player to win the Ballon d’Or. In 2019, when Virgil van Dijk was tipped to win the prestigious award, Messi came out on top as the award generally favors goal scorers. It is a shame to see the forwards always taking away the limelight, but that is the reality of the award. Unless Jorginho or Kante has a massive start to the 2021 season, Messi will most likely collect his seventh Ballon d’Or and assert his legacy as the greatest of all-time.

Next. Chelsea: Romelu Lukaku is the final piece of the puzzle for title push. dark

Who do you think will win the prestigious Ballon d’Or this year? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!

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