The Ballon d’Or 2021 Top 10 rankings ignited intense debates and discussions among Soccer fans worldwide. Controversies surrounded not only the winner of the prestigious award but also the entire lineup of the top 30.
In this article, we delve into a classic review of the top 10 players who secured their spots in the Ballon d’Or 2021 rankings.
From surprising placements to outstanding performances, these football icons left their mark on the pitch, captivating fans and fueling the controversy that surrounded the coveted accolade. Let’s explore the unforgettable journey of the Ballon d’Or 2021 Top 10.
Summarized Ballon d’Or 2021 Top 10 Ranking
In case you are too bored to read, here is a summarized Ballon d’Or 2021 Top 10 ranking.
| Position | Player Name | Position | Nationality | Key Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Forward | Argentina | Serie A top scorer, Euro 2020 Golden Boot, record goalscorer |
| 2 | Robert Lewandowski | Forward | Poland | Outstanding individual performance, 64 goals, won Bundesliga |
| 3 | Jorginho | Midfielder | Italy | Champions League, Euro 2020, UEFA Player of the Year |
| 4 | Karim Benzema | Forward | France | Serie A top scorer, Euro 2020 Golden Boot, record goalscorer |
| 5 | N’Golo Kante | Midfielder | France | Champions League winner, Man of the Match performances |
| 6 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Forward | Portugal | Serie A top scorer, Euro 2020 Golden Boot, record goal scorer |
| 7 | Mohamed Salah | Forward | Egypt | 34 goals, 12 assists, Liverpool’s top performer |
| 8 | Kevin de Bruyne | Midfielder | Belgium | Premier League winner, PFA Player of the Year |
| 9 | Kylian Mbappe | Forward | France | 45 goals, 22 assists, Coupe de France, UEFA Nations League |
| 10 | Gianluigi Donnarumma | Goalkeeper | Italy | Euro 2020 victory, Lev Yashin Award, moved to PSG |
Ballon d’Or 2021 Top 10 Ranking In Detail
1. Lionel Messi (PSG)
Lionel Messi broke his own record for most Ballon d’Or awards won after he took home his seventh. The Argentine won the award with 41 goals and 17 assists with Barcelona and PSG and Argentina. He also won Copa del Rey with Barça and his first major International trophy for Argentina after winning Copa America and in the same winning the golden boot and Player of the Tournament.
With the huge gap in goal contributions between Messi and Lewandowski, the main talking point remains if Messi should’ve won the 2021 Ballon d’Or award ahead of Lewandowski.
But stats clearly show that Messi was a deserved winner ahead of Lewandowski.
2. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
The one event that caused the most controversy among football fans in the ceremony was Robert Lewandowski finishing second on the rankings.
Many people believed he should have emerged first and won the award. The Polish International had arguably the best individual performance in 2021 scoring a whopping 64 goals and assisting 10. The same year, he won the Bundesliga, Club World Cup and DFL Supercup with Bayern Munich.
Lewandowski would’ve easily won the award in 2020 when he scored a staggering 69 goals that year if the ceremony wasn’t cancelled by France football. Now let’s take a look at the winner of the award.
3. Jorginho (Chelsea)
Champions League winner, UEFA Super Cup winner and Euro 2020 winner. Jorginho had the best year in 2021 so far in his career and was one of the favourites to win the award.
Being an integral player for both Chelsea and Italy national teams, the Italian finished third, his highest-ever Ballon d’Or ranking and was also voted UEFA Player of the Year.
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4. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Benzema had a fantastic 2021 in which he scored 43 goals and provided 14 assists. The French striker is considered one of the best number 9s in his generation with his stats. He also made a return to International football with France, helping his team qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
5. N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)
N’Golo Kante finally won his first Champions League trophy followed by the UEFA Super Cup. Producing world-class performances in the heart of Chelsea’s midfield, Kante emerged as Man of the Match in both semi-final legs against Real Madrid and in the final against Man City in the Champions League. What he does on the football pitch is absolutely sublime and when fit, there’s no one stopping him.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
We experienced one of the biggest and most shocking returns to a football club by a footballer in 2021 as Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United at the age of 36. His second debut was against Newcastle United where he scored two goals in the theatre of dreams.
Even at that age, Ronaldo was able to score 43 goals and provide 6 assists in 2021. The same year he won the Copa Italia and Super Coppa Italiana with Juventus, also came out as Serie A’s top scorer, Euro 2020 Golden Boot winner and the record goal scorer in men’s international football history.
2021 was a fantastic year for the Portuguese legend and 6th placed Ballon d’Or ranking wasn’t a bad one for him.
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7. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
The Egyptian produced another brilliant season in which he scored 34 goals and provided 12 assists for the mighty Reds of Liverpool.
Liverpool, generally, had a disappointing season after finishing trophyless and just managed to qualify for the Champions League in the final game of the season. Liverpool’s lack of silverware in 2021 couldn’t help Salah secure a top 5 finish although 7th place finish was a bit controversial among football fans.
8. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
After winning the Premier League and Carabao Cup for Manchester City, Kevin de Bruyne had an eighth-place finish on the rankings.
The Belgian had yet again another outstanding season for the Cityzens which helped him secure consecutive PFA Player of the Year awards. Unfortunately for the midfield maestro, he couldn’t deliver for Belgium at the Euros as injuries became a problem for him.
Not to forget the injury he picked up at the Champions League final where they ended up losing the final 1-0 to Chelsea. Kevin de Bruyne wrapped up 2021 with 14 goals and 16 assists.
9. Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
One of the biggest surprises in 2021 was Mbappe finishing 9th in the rankings. The France International scored a total of 45 goals and provided 22 assists for PSG and France in 2021, in the same year winning the Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions and the UEFA Nations League.
He also secured the golden boot in the French Ligue 1 after scoring a total of 27 goals but unfortunately, France had a disappointing Euro 2020 performance as they couldn’t get past the quarter-finals after being eliminated by Switzerland. The Euros tournament might have had a huge impact on his ranking as many people predicted he’d finish in the top 5.
10. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
The PSG shot-stopper finished 10th in the 2021 Ballon d’Or rankings. That same year, he won the Lev Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper in European football which had a lot of people asking how he beat Edouard Mendy to claim the award.
Donnarumma joined PSG in the summer of 2021 after leaving AC Milan. The Italy International recorded 14 clean sheets in 45 matches for AC Milan in all competitions helping the Rossoneri finish second in Serie A to qualify for the Champions League. His performance with Italy in their Euro 2020 victory had a lot of impact on his rankings and his Yashin award as he played in all seven of their matches at the tournament and also saved a couple of penalties in the final against England thereby clinching the title.
But the main argument is if Donnarumma should’ve actually finished ahead of Edouard Mendy. The Senegalese had a fantastic season for the Blues, keeping 16 clean sheets in 31 Premier League games and 9 in the Champions League including the final against Man City where they emerged as Champions League winners.
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Conclusion
The Ballon d’Or 2021 Top 10 showcased the incredible talent and achievements of some of the finest footballers in the world. From Lionel Messi’s record-breaking seventh win to Robert Lewandowski’s outstanding individual performance, each player in the top 10 left an indelible mark on the sport.
Controversies and debates may surround the rankings, but there is no denying the immense skill and dedication displayed by these football icons. The Ballon d’Or 2021 Top 10 serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment to the beautiful game and their enduring legacy in the world of football.
