By Labaran Kenneth
365Daily – Lionel Messi is the top choice to win a seventh Ballon d’Or.
Messi, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante have been named on the 30-man waitlist for the men’s 2021 Ballon d’Or grant.
The threesome are among the main competitors for the prize passed out by France Football, alongside Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Six-time Ballon d’Or victor Messi finished his sit tight for a significant worldwide prize after winning the Copa America with Argentina in the late spring, while Kante and Jorginho both aided Chelsea win the Champions League.
Kante was UEFA’s Player of the Match in both semi-last legs against Real Madrid, just as the last against Manchester City, while Jorginho was additionally indispensable to Italy’s Euro 2020 victory.
There are five Chelsea players on the rundown of candidates, including commander Cesar Azpilicueta, alongside five from Premier League champions, Manchester City.
Harry Kane is among the 13 Premier League players designated with England partners, Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling likewise included.
Manchester United couple, Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, are likewise shortlisted.
Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski passed up the 2020 honor, with the 33-year-old generally expected to guarantee the singular honor before it was dropped by coordinators.
Contenders
Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus)
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)
Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Jorginho (Chelsea)
Harry Kane (Tottenham)
N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)
Simon Kjaer (AC Milan)
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Gerard Moreno (Villarreal)
Artisan Mount (Chelsea)
Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)
Pedri (Barcelona)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid).