Just like in 2018, when Luka Modric broke the Messi-Ronaldo hegemony in the Ballon d’Or proceedings, the list for this year’s winner has also been leaked out.
While it was fairly easier to decide the winner three years back, this year proves far harder to determine who deserves it the most, with Jorginho, Lionel Messi, N’Golo Kante and even Gianluigi Donnarumma being touted as winners at some time or the other.
However, a leaked image on social media from a sheet of France Football’s list of this year’s ranking has surfaced (via MARCA).
Bayern Munich’s Polish legend Robert Lewandowski, who missed out on the award last year, looks like he will salvage redemption for his exceptional goal scoring exploits for the last couple of years by being awarded the accolade with 627 votes, ahead of Messi.
The Pole is followed by the Argentinian, with Karim Benzema, Mohamed Salah and Jorginho filling up the rest three sports in ascending order.
Awarded for being the best player in the 2020/21 season, the list witnesses just four Serie A (three former) players – Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Giorgio Chiellini and Romelu Lukaku at 9th, 11th, 13th and 17th positions in the top 20.
Juventus legend Chiellini is the only active Serie A player in the list.
The winner for this year has already been decided since voting closed recently and it remains to be seen if happenings of 2018 will repeat once again.