The Ballon d'Or returns this year after being cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and excitement is ramping up about who will be presented with one of the highest individual honours in European football.
The shortlist of 30 Men's players for the award has already been announced, and Lionel Messi has the chance to win a record seventh title (his sixth win in 2019 allowed him to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo's total of five).
Goal has what you need to know about when the ceremony this year, who the nominees are and more.
When will Ballon d'Or 2021 take place?
The Ballon d'Or 2021 ceremony will take place on November 29, 2021 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
The ceremony is expected to start at approximately 7:30pm GMT (2:30pm ET), with the build-up commencing a number of hours before.
In addition to announcing the Men's Ballon d'Or award, the Women's winner, Kopa Trophy (presented to the best performing player under the age of 21) and the Yashin Trophy (recognising the best goalkeeper) will also be revealed.
How to watch Ballon d'Or 2021
The ceremony will be available to stream live for free on L'Equipe's YouTube channel and website.
It will also be available to watch on Eurosport's official website and the Eurosport app.
Who are the Men's Ballon d'Or 2021 nominees?
Below is the Men's shortlist of 30 players, announced on October 8, 2021.
Player | Club | National team |
|---|---|---|
Nicolo Barella | Inter | Italy |
Karim Benzema | Real Madrid | France |
Leonardo Bonucci | Juventus | Italy |
Giorgio Chiellini | Juventus | Italy |
Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | Belgium |
Ruben Dias | Manchester City | Portugal |
Gianluigi Donnarumma | AC Milan / PSG | Italy |
Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | Portugal |
Phil Foden | Manchester City | England |
Erling 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 | Inter / Chelsea | Belgium |
Riyad Mahrez | Manchester City | Algeria |
Lautaro Martinez | Inter | Argentina |
Kylian Mbappe | PSG | France |
Lionel Messi | Barcelona / PSG | Argentina |
Luka Modric | Real Madrid | Croatia |
Gerard Moreno | Villarreal | Spain |
Mason Mount | Chelsea | England |
Neymar | PSG | Brazil |
Pedri | Barcelona | Spain |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Juventus / Manchester United | Portugal |
Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | Egypt |
Raheem Sterling | Manchester City | England |
Luis Suarez | Atletico Madrid | Uruguay |
Who are the favourites to win Ballon d'Or 2021?
Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is the bookies' favourite to be named the Men's winner with odds of 4/11, despite a disappointing season with Barcelona in which the Blaugrana finished third in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League round of 16.
On an individual basis, however, Messi impressed, scoring 30 goals in La Liga and a further six in the Champions League – not to mention successfully guiding Argentina to a first-ever Copa America title in the summer.
Robert Lewandowski is 5/1 to win the Ballon d'Or. Had the award been presented in 2020, the Poland international surely would have won, scooping up the treble with Bayern and scoring an astonishing 54 goals in 48 games with the Bundesliga side.
Rounding out the top three favourites is Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho, with odds of 13/2 to win. Jorginho has enjoyed the most fruitful period of his career, winning the Champions League with Chelsea and being crowned Euro 2020 champions with the the Azzurri. The 29-year-old has been pivotal for both club and country, pulling the strings from his position in midfield.
Who has won the most Ballons d'Or?
Rank | Winner | Ballon d'Or wins | Years won |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lionel Messi | 6 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 |
2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 | 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
=3 | Michel Platini | 3 | 1983, 1984, 1985 |
=3 | Johan Cruyff | 3 | 1971, 1973, 1974 |
=3 | Marco van Basten | 3 | 1988, 1989, 1992 |
=6 | Franz Beckenbauer | 2 | 1972, 1976 |
=6 | Ronaldo | 2 | 1997, 2002 |
=6 | Alfredo Di Stefano | 2 | 1957, 1959 |
=6 | Kevin Keegan | 2 | 1978, 1979 |
=6 | Karl-Heinz Rummenigge | 2 | 1980, 1981 |
Lionel Messi has won six Ballons d'Or, making him the record holder for most awards.
The Barcelona and Argentina legend has one more Ballon d'Or trophy than Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won it on five occasions.
After those two, three players - Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten - have three Ballons d'Or each.
Legendary Brazil striker Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or twice, a feat also achieved by Franz Beckenbauer, Alfredo Di Stefano, Kevin Keegan and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.