Cedric Chasseur, edited by Clément Perruche 7:35 am, November 29, 2021

The Ballon d'Or will be awarded Monday evening in Paris.

Among the favorites: Argentine striker Lionel Messi, of course, winner of the award in 2019, but also Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Pole Robert Lewandowski, the Italian Jorginho and of course the French Karim Benzema could also create the surprise.

TO ANALYSE

Who is the best player in the world this year?

The answer will be given this Monday evening with the presentation of the Ballon d'Or France Football.

In 2020, the trophy was not awarded because of the Covid-19 epidemic.

But this year, the suitors are jostling at the gate.

Starting with the regulars.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have shared, with one exception, all the Ballons d'Or since 2008.

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The Portuguese Manchester United seem a bit behind this year, unlike the Argentinian PSG, whose rumors are already predicting a seventh Ballon d'Or. Lionel Messi, 34, in addition to the class he shows on the pitch, this year won the Copa America, his first title with Argentina.

Apart from the two greatest players in history, the most serious outsider is called Robert Lewandowski. The Polish forward, German champions with Bayern Munich, broke a 49-year-old record by scoring 41 goals in a season in the Bundesliga, the German league, one more than the eternal Gerd Muller. No one has done better on the Old Continent. Also watch out for the Italian Jorginho. The Brazilian-born defensive midfielder has won almost everything: the Champions League with Chelsea, the Euro with Italy and he was crowned UEFA player of the year. 

Finally, on the French side, how can we not quote Karim Benzema, author of a remarkable comeback in Blue.

He is one of the great architects of the French victory in the League of Nations.

The 33-year-old Real Madrid striker, who has appealed his one-year suspended sentence in the "sextape" case, could become the first Frenchman to lift the Ballon d'Or since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.