Messi is concerned of the Ballon d'Or 2021: which players could win the award?

The Ballon d'Or will be awarded in December, and there is still a lot of soccer to be played until then.  With continental competitions such as the Gold Cup, Copa America and Euro 2020 now over, it is time to think about who was the best footballer of all time, and there are several players who are on their way to the trophy. 

Argentina's Lionel Messi is one of the main candidates to win this award after winning the Copa America. Messi has achieved immortality with his country as he has already done with Barcelona and even with the azulgrana club the Argentine star showed some of his best moments in 2021. 

But who can snatch the Ballon d'Or from Messi?

Jorginho

The midfielder is a two-time European Champion, having won the Champions League with Chelsea and Euro 2021 with Italy. Both the Champions League and international competitions tend to determine the Ballon d'Or winner, so the former Napoli player probably has as good a case as anyone to be named the world's best in 2021.

Robert Lewandowski

The Pole had a European Championship to forget, which leaves him somewhat relegated in this competition but at Bayern Munich excellence should not be overlooked. Lewandowski broke an old Bundesliga record by scoring 41 goals in 29 games in the 2020/21 season.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Italian goalkeeper said he wants to win "as many trophies as possible" during his career and revealed that he dreams of one day being awarded the Ballon d'Or. Donnarumma has been capped 30 times and has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in European soccer. "I hope to play for as long as possible, up to 40 years," Donnarumma said and affirmed that his goal is to win as many trophies as possible, especially with the Italian national team: "The incredible dream is to win the Ballon d'Or, I will give everything, then we'll see what happens.

N'Golo Kanté

Finally, Chelsea's Kanté, thanks to his outstanding role in the Champions League, has increased his chances of winning the race for the Ballon d'Or, despite France's disappointment at losing in the round of 16 of the European Championship, where they were clear favorites.