Lewandowski hasnt been better than Messi so far in 2021. Nobody has come close to him.
If the Balon D or voting was in June, im sure Messi would win it. However, the international competitions may change the narrative a bit.
Ballon d'Or 2021: more interesting than usual?
- Thread starter OleBoiii
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If the Balon D or voting was in June, im sure Messi would win it. However, the international competitions may change the narrative a bit.
If Portugal win EURO 2021, can our Bruno get it?
Wait what? Lewandowski was better until his Injury. Messi has been good in 2021 but completely went invisible against good opponents.
He has the best goals + assists on 2021, plus something like 20 MOTM performances. Closest one has like 8 MOTM. Give or take a couple. Lewandowski wasnt even close to being better in any way shape or form, doesnt matter if you use eye test, statistics, or whatever.
Messi was the best player against PSG, but his team as a whole got completely outplayed. Lewandowski's team got knocked out too while he was injured, so you cant even say he performed on the toughest games.
Right now DeBruyne has 14 goals and 26 assists in all comps (including for Belgium). Should City win the Champions League and Belgium do well in the Euros he could be a very good shout for the Ballon d'Or. In fact, he will probably be more deserving than Modric was when he won it (should have gone to CR7)...
The discussion and the OP are exposing the difficulty in making this choice. It points to the fact that this is still a team game and picking one player out of any team is difficult. How would that player succeed in a different team?
I know this doesn't fit the criteria but Lewandowski has been so good for so long I would love to see him honoured.
I know this doesn't fit the criteria but Lewandowski has been so good for so long I would love to see him honoured.
Kante is a decent shout, especially if Chelsea win the CL. France are probably favourites for the Euros with the amount of talent they have.
Ah, fair enough
Yes well said, if Chelsea wins it Kante will have a good case.
De Bruyne is not even nominated for City Player of the Season. Unless he has an absolute stormer at the Euros, I don't really see it.
I think it will be something narrative driven from the international tournaments plus decent CL & domestic campaigns.
I think it will be something narrative driven from the international tournaments plus decent CL & domestic campaigns.
Give it to Giggsy till the end of the season. All of Ronaldo/Messi/Lewa/Mbappe only beat men unlike Giggs.
It's never interesting.
How does Kante factor in this discuss. He is not even the best player at Chelsea because he played well against Real doesn’t mean he is had a great season. Anybody but him will make sense.
He will likely be one of the better players for France but won’t be their talisman, if they win the Euros.
He will likely be one of the better players for France but won’t be their talisman, if they win the Euros.
Kante wasn’t even that good this season overall. Just the great games against Madrid.
It’s possible, if he is the best player in Euro
I can’t remember any Ballon D’or winner not winning any major trophies during the season (WC, Euro, CL, or at least a league title). Unless of course if the player is so far ahead of others. IMO Messi has been the best, but not so far ahead. He has a lot of motm in whoscored every year, but not every year he win Ballon D’or. People usually view goals and then assists number as more significant factors than motm (Ronaldo previous years, Messi 2013 & previous years, Lewandoski 2020) or if better narrative exist (ie Modric in 2018), but he doesn’t really clearly stands out among others in both. For Lewandowski he has exceptional goals stats and at least his team wins league title, so he may have better chance. Another reason is, he deserves Ballon D‘or as last year it was taken away from him because of COVID, yeh it may not be relevant but the people who vote may consider that as factor too.
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Good thread. Really can’t come up with a name.
Exactly. It's not based on merit at all. It's just given out to the most successful "star" forward that year. The team of the year is a joke too. I remember the year Real got knocked out by Ajax and they still made up about half the World XI. I dont think the people voting in that watch more than ten games a year.
Bruno's numbers this season should put him in the top 5 to be honest. I think Messi will win it again, it could be his last one.
Banging 20 goals at new season is surely not a decisive factor, at any previous seasons.
Doesn't matter, he's the face of City. Modric won doing less in the league.
It'll be Mbappe for me as I think France will win the euros and he's by far the most popular name there.
It’s clearly Messi IMHO, and by a rather big margin too. Rough start to the season after last summer’s drama, but he has been nothing short of sensational since late autumn, dragging Barca back in the title race and leading them to the Copa. Individually, no contest.
If not Messi, Lewandowski should receive it for (likely) breaking Müller‘s legendary record.
If not Messi, Lewandowski should receive it for (likely) breaking Müller‘s legendary record.
The reason would be that individually speaking he had an outstanding season barely anybody could match, in a rather inconsistent Barca team.
Should be Lewy
Media narrative will have big influence.
I think players who win Euro will win Ballon d'Or.
France: Mbappe, Kante (if Chelsea win UCL)
Belgium: KdB, Lukaku
Portugal: Dias, Bruno
England: Kane, Foden
Germany: Gundogan, one of Chelsea or Bayern players who has the best Euro.
Lewandowski would have good shout if Poland get to Semifinal minimum.
I think players who win Euro will win Ballon d'Or.
France: Mbappe, Kante (if Chelsea win UCL)
Belgium: KdB, Lukaku
Portugal: Dias, Bruno
England: Kane, Foden
Germany: Gundogan, one of Chelsea or Bayern players who has the best Euro.
Lewandowski would have good shout if Poland get to Semifinal minimum.
nah modric deserved that one. And remember ballon d’or is for the calendar year, de Bruyne has been injured a bit in 2021
modric wasn’t as injured as kdb was.
No but banging in 20 goals between August 2021 and late November 2021 for a new club... say mbappe at real or haaland at City of they move might be as the vote is based on a calander year and does not take place till late november
I get what you mean, but it’s never a decisive factor. In fact, early season form are often being ignored in these awards.
You cant possibly win it if you came second in a one horse race. Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe all failed in their leagues this season.
Lewandowski is in with a good shout, as he was injured for the Bayern CL loss.
KDB would be in with a shout if he wins the final and does well in the Euros. Bruno likewise.
I don't think theres a strong set of contenders any more than there is a clear set.
Lewandowski is in with a good shout, as he was injured for the Bayern CL loss.
KDB would be in with a shout if he wins the final and does well in the Euros. Bruno likewise.
I don't think theres a strong set of contenders any more than there is a clear set.
Normally not but as was being discussed there isn't currently a stand out individual... and if none of the contenders has a great euros as well then something like moving to a new league and absolutely smashing it just before the votes are cast may play an unusually large deciding part in the vote.
Some of the suggestions here are bizarre as hell. Haaland, Kante and Dias? 
The Euro’s will be a big factor. If Bruno has a good Euro’s alongside possibly winning the Europa and a 25+ goal season from CAM I think he’ll make top 3.
Messi is still comfortably the best individual footballer in the world. Trouble is his team aren't going to win anything and he's set such a ridiculous standard for himself that if he doesn't score 60 goals a season it looks like he's past it.
Lewandowski would be my next pick and with Bayern winning the league at least he might have a better chance. A standout performance by one of the top 10 players at the Euros might be enough to sway it as well.
Lewandowski would be my next pick and with Bayern winning the league at least he might have a better chance. A standout performance by one of the top 10 players at the Euros might be enough to sway it as well.
Hate this crap where it only really goes to players in teams who win something. Its supposed to be an individual award and yet unless your team are basically champion level your chances of winning are pretty much feck all. No wonder it's almost always dull.
No chance did Modric deserve that over Ronaldo. Not even close...
Lewandowski for me right now. If Portugal win the Euros Dias could have a shout.
I agree with this. I was leaning towards Lewa initially. Him breaking Muller's record makes it an easier choice, imo.
Dias might take it if he wins the CL, though. Even if Portugal does poorly.