The Ballon d'Or 2021 Rankings: A Comprehensive Overview

A Comprehensive Breakdown of the 2021 Ballon d'Or Rankings

The Ballon d'Or is one of the most prestigious awards in football, and the 2021 edition was no different. The award was given to Lionel Messi, who won his seventh Ballon d'Or, extending his record as the player with the most Ballon d'Or awards. Robert Lewandowski finished second in the voting, while Jorginho finished third. The rest of the top 10 was rounded out by Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Messi's Record-Breaking Seventh Ballon d'Or

Messi's victory was a record-breaking one, as he became the first player to win the Ballon d'Or seven times. He also became the oldest player to win the award, at 34 years and 163 days old. Messi's victory was largely due to his performances for Barcelona and Argentina in the 2020/21 season. He scored 38 goals in all competitions for Barcelona, and he led Argentina to victory in the Copa América.

Lewandowski's Narrow Miss

Robert Lewandowski was the runner-up in the voting for the Ballon d'Or, and he was unlucky not to win the award. The Polish striker had an incredible season for Bayern Munich, scoring 41 goals in all competitions. Lewandowski's goalscoring exploits helped Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and the Champions League. He was also named the UEFA Men's Player of the Year for the 2020/21 season.

Jorginho's Surprise Third Place Finish

Jorginho finished third in the voting for the Ballon d'Or, which was a surprise to many. The Italian midfielder had a great season for Chelsea, helping the club win the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup. Jorginho's success was largely due to his ability to control the tempo of the game and his excellent passing range. He was also a key player for Italy at the UEFA Euro 2020, where he helped the team win the tournament.

The Rest of the Top 10

The rest of the top 10 in the Ballon d'Or 2021 rankings was rounded out by a mix of world-class players. Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Gianluigi Donnarumma are all players who have had outstanding seasons for their respective clubs. Benzema and Kante were key players in Real Madrid's victory in the La Liga title race, while Ronaldo scored 36 goals in all competitions for Manchester United. Salah was the leading scorer in the Premier League, while De Bruyne was the driving force behind Manchester City's title-winning campaign. Haaland scored 40 goals in all competitions for Borussia Dortmund, while Donnarumma was named the best goalkeeper at the UEFA Euro 2020.