(Football news) A 30 player shortlist was announced with Lionel Messi, who won the Copa America with Argentina favourite to be awarded his seventh Ballon D’Or with the likes of Jorginho, who won the Euro 2020 and Champions League, N’Golo Kante, Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo the leading contenders.
Five Chelsea players are amongst the nominees including Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Romelu Lukaku and Mason Mount. Kante was awarded the UEFA Player of the Match in the semi-final legs against Real Madrid while Lukaku enjoyed a successful domestic campaign in Italy by winning the Serie A title and Mason Mount won the Champions League with Chelsea and reached the Euro 2020 finals with England.
Premier League champions Manchester City also have five players shortlisted while Man Utd have two. Harry Kane is amongst the 13 nominated Premier League players for his successful Euro 2020 campaign while Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is also shortlisted.
Nominees
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), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Pedri (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid)
