Twitter explodes as France Football announce 30-man Ballon d'Or 2021 shortlist
The Ballon d'Or 30-man shortlist has been released by French news magazine France Football. The Ballon d'Or will be presented to the best male and female footballers at an event that will take place on November 29th. The current list will be reduced to just three individuals as we edge closer to it.
Lionel Messi, Jorginho, Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo lead Ballon d'Or 30-man shortlist
The 30-man shortlist for the 2021 Ballon d'Or is as follows:
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jorginho (Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Pedri (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid).
Lionel Messi is tipped to be the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or this year. The Argentine has been in excellent form in 2021. He scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances for the Catalans in the 2020-21 season. Messi also played a starring role in their Copa Del Rey triumph.
But his crowning achievement was leading Argentina to glory in the 2021 Copa America. The 34-year-old scored four goals and provided five assists and was chosen as the Best Player at the continental competition.
Robert Lewandowski is another top contender. The Bayern Munich striker broke Gerd Muller's long-standing record of scoring the most goals in a Bundesliga season, by scoring 41 in 29 matches. He was a standout performer for the Bavarians as they won the Bundesliga title in the 2020-21 season.
Lewandowski scored three goals for Poland at Euro 2020 but their group stage exit would have done him no favours as far as the Ballon d'Or race is concerned. Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho has had a glorious summer.
He played a key role for Chelsea as they won the UEFA Champions League title. Jorginho was a consistent performer for Italy as they were crowned champions of Europe in the summer. The 29-year-old would then go on to win the UEFA Super Cup as well, thereby completing a trophy haul that's unmatched this year.
He also won the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award and is a serious contender for the Ballon d'Or this term. Other big names on the list include Cristiano Ronaldo, N'Golo Kante, Kevin De Bruyne and Kylian Mbappe.
Kante's performances in the Champions League were critical to Chelsea winning the title. Ronaldo won the Golden Boot in the 2020-21 Serie A season and at Euro 2020 as well. He only has the Coppa Italia in the trophy department and that is likely to hamper his chances in the race for the Ballon d'Or this time around.
Without further ado, let's take a look at how Twitter responded to the Ballon d'Or 30-man shortlist.
No one would mind if N'Golo Kante won the Ballon d'Or 🏆 https://t.co/t78NZHXTaQ
Agree?
Toni Kroos has been robbed of another Ballon d’Or nomination, no other ways about it. He practically had a flawless season for Real Madrid and right up to his injury he was easily one of the best performing players in the world. Forever underrated.
Mason Mount becomes the first Chelsea Academy player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or since John Terry in 2009.
The Boy Who Had A Dream. 💫 https://t.co/dUu0hVkj7I
No-one deserves the Ballon D’or more than Lionel Messi in 2021 🐐 #LM7 https://t.co/oXNddd6h0Y
🌟 | Congratulations to Pedri for making the top 30 for the 2021 Ballon D’or at the age of 18. Only getting started. https://t.co/77W484k6RG
Messi is Winning the Ballon D'or while Some other fanbase is celebrating winning a POTM😭😭 https://t.co/G0pPRCGGVm
This award will be based on who has a stronger PR between Messi and Lewa, everyone knows about Messi’s satanic PR lol
32 yrs old and he’s winning Champions Leagues & getting Ballon d'Or nominations...
𝓞𝓾𝓻 𝓛𝓮𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓭 https://t.co/Sxz0j05HQk
5 Ballon d'Or nominees for the Chelsea men & 5 Ballon d'Or nominees for the Chelsea women.
Absolute gargantuan institution.
Karim Benzema’s 10th Ballon d’Or nomination makes him the most nominated French player in HISTORY. https://t.co/uoywbxTsWv
Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo have been included on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or
Mason Mount has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or and is now living rent free in the heads of the kids who don't think he merits a place in the Chelsea team. 👊☑️ https://t.co/cowVrNnbhO