30-Man Ballon D’or Shortlist Released
A 30-man shortlist for the 2021 Ballon d’or has been released by organisers France Football.
The Ballon d’or is widely regarded as the highest individual honour in world football.
It was not awarded in 2020 for the first time since its inception in 1956 because the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the footballing calendar around the world.
Lionel Messi won the honour the last time it was held in 2019 and the Argentine has been nominated again this year alongside five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo and last year’s favorite Robert Lewandowski.
European champions Chelsea have five players on the list.
A ceremony to select the winner will be held on November 29 at Paris' Theatre du Chatelet.
Ballon d'Or nominees:
Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea, Spain)
Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan, Italy)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France)
Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus, Italy)
Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus, Italy)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG, Italy)
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, Portugal)
Phil Foden (Manchester City, England)
Erling Braut Haaland (Borussia Dortmund, Norway)
Jorginho (Chelsea, Italy)
Harry Kane (Tottenham, England)
N'Golo Kante (Chelsea, France)
Simon Kjaer (AC Milan, Denmark)
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Poland)
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, Belgium)
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City, Algeria)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
Kylian Mbappe (PSG, France)
Lionel Messi (PSG, Argentina)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia)
Gerard Moreno (Villarreal, Spain)
Mason Mount (Chelsea, England)
Neymar (PSG, Brazil)
Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City, England)
Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid, Uruguay)
