The Ballon d’Or – cancelled last year owing to the coronavirus pandemic – nominees have been leaked, revealing 30 players in the race for footballer’s most prestigious prize.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi won the men’s award in 2019, comfortably beating Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo to the prize, making it the sixth time he has won the prestigious and most-coveted Ballon d’Or.
France Football – organizers of the annual event – are moments away from revealing their 30-man shortlist, although Get French Football News has leaked the nominees in advance on Twitter.
According to the leak, eleven players from the Premier League have been nominated, which include: Cesar Azpilicueta, Kevin de Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Bruno Fernandes, Jorginho, Harry Kane, N’Golo Kante, Romelu Lukaku and Riyad Mahrez.
Representing Serie A on the list are Nicolas Barella, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Simon Kjaer and Lautaro Martinez.
Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed an amazingly strong summer transfer window and two of their newest recruits make the shortlist, including Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Kylian Mbappe. Messi is apparently pipped to be the favorite again this year.
Brazil star Neymar fails to make the shortlist.
Credit: Football Tribe Malaysia
