By Daily Sports on October 9, 2021

Chelsea’s Jorginho, Paris St-Germain’s Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski are on the shortlist for the men's Ballon d’Or award.

Messi was the 2019 winner of the award for a record sixth time.

The forward picked up a first major international title when he in helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa America.

Italy midfielder Jorginho helped Chelsea win the Champions League last season before victory at Euro 2020 with his country in the summer.

Poland striker Lewandowski won the 2020-21 European Golden Shoe, having scored 41 Bundesliga goals as Bayern Munich won the German league title last season.

There are 14 Premier League players on the 30-man 2021 shortlist and five members of Italy's European Championship-winning squad.

The Ballon d’Or, organised by France Football, is awarded annually to the world's best footballer.

The prize was not given out in 2020 – for the first time since 1956 – because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ballon d’Or has been awarded by France Football every year since 1956, with England’s Stanley Matthews the first winner.

It was only for European players until 1995, when it expanded to become open for any player at a European club. From 2007 it opened up to the rest of the world.

The 30-man list of nominees is compiled by the editorial staff of the French magazine, with the winner voted for by journalists from around the world, with one representative per nation.

From 2010 to 2015 it merged with Fifa’s awards, but they split and the world governing body set up its own awards again in 2016. (BBC)

•PHOTO: Lewandoski, Jorginho and Messi

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 9, 2021

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