Many are the stars who shone in 2021, and who led their teams to titles and achieved personal awards, and this brilliance is their proximity to winning the Ballon d'Or, which is given to the best player in the world.
According to international media, the players closest to winning the award are:
1- Belgian Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City):
In 2021, De Bruyne scored 9 goals and scored 8 more, and with his team won the Premier League and League Cup titles, as well as led his team to the Champions League final.
2- Lionel Messi (Barcelona):
In 2021, he scored 28 goals and scored 9 more, and won the King's Cup.
3- Polish Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich):
In 2021, he scored 26 goals and scored 3 more, and with his team won the German League and German Cup titles.
4- Frenchman Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain):
In 2021, he scored 28 goals, scored 4 more, and won the French Cup with his team.
5- The Norwegian Erling Haaland (Dortmund):
In 2021, he scored 24 goals, scored 9 more, and won the German Cup with his team.
6- German Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City):
In 2021, he scored 15 goals and scored 6 more, winning the Premier League and League Cup titles with him, as well as leading his team to the Champions League final.
7- Belgian Romelu Lukaku (Inter):
In 2021, he scored 17 goals and scored 7 more, and won the Italian League with his team.
8- Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus):
scored 21 goals and scored 3 more, and with his team won the Italian Super Cup and the Italian Cup.
In the event that Messi - who previously won 6 gold balls - gave an exceptional performance in the "Copa America" next month and led his country to win the title, his chances of winning the award will increase.
But if Manchester City wins the Champions League and the "Red Devils" go away in the European Nations Cup or win the title, then of course the prize will go to De Bruyne.