Lionel Messi, the legendary player, was in sensational form for Barcelona in the first half of 2021, before winning the Copa America with Argentina on July 11. Despite the fact that Messi's new team, Paris Saint-Germain, has scored less goals, anticipation about him winning his seventh Ballon d'Or award has reached an all-time high as the deadline for the results approaches.
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Matte Moreno, an Italian reporter, recently exposed new details about the yearly prized awards on social media, which sparked outrage throughout the internet.
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Moretto responded to a Messi fan's comment on France football, claiming that the association is doing a fine job of fooling people about who would win the Ballon d'Or, by adding that Messi will win the award and that his friends and family are already aware of the situation.
In a total of 47 games, Messi scored 38 goals for Barcelona across various tournaments. While France Football will announce the honours on Monday, according to The Sun, El Chiringuito host Josep Pedrerol also offered his thoughts on the matter, claiming Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, and Robert Lewandowski are the top three candidates for the Ballon d'Or in that order.
When asked to give their predictions for who will take home football's highest individual accolade later this month, analysts Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher both kept the PSG forward's international triumph in the forefront of their minds.
"I believe Leo Messi will get it because Argentina has finally won the Copa America," Henry told CBS Sports Golazo.
"I believe Lewandowski will win it, I think he deserves to win it," Carragher said, adding that international tournament successes can play a role in determining the winner.
"I'd go with Lewandowski, but I think Messi may just do it because it will feel like he's finally accomplished something for Argentina."
Messi won the most recent Ballon d'Or award in 2019, beating out Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished third.
Messi would win the individual award for the seventh time in 2021, breaking his own record of winning the honour the most times.
NOMINATIONS FOR THE MEN’S 2021 BALLON D’OR?
BALLON D'OR ceremony- When, Where to watch?
On November 29, the award ceremony will be held at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.
On Monday night, eurosport.co.uk and the Eurosport app will broadcast a free webcast of the 2021 Ballon d'Or ceremony.