Champions League finalists dominate 2021 Ballon d’Or shortlist
Mendy, Courtois, Donnarumma nominated for Yashin Trophy
The 30-man 2021 Ballon d’Or shortlist has been revealed by France Football, with Champions League finalists Chelsea and Manchester City the best-represented sides with five players apiece in the shortlist.
At the top of the 2021 Ballon d’Or shortlist, Paris Saint Germain ace Lionel Messi appears alongside Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo, with UEFA Player of the Year Jorginho also listed. A surprise inclusion in the 30-man shortlist is 18-year-old Barcelona and Spain midfielder Pedri, the youngest nominee on this year’s list.
European champions Chelsea are represented by Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Romelu Lukaku and captain Cesar Azpilicueta. Runners-up Manchester City have Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling. Manchester United’s Portuguese duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes also made the shortlist.
The 2021 Ballon d’Or shortlist in full:
Lionel Messi (PSG), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Jorginho (Chelsea), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Neymar (PSG), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Pedri (FC Barcelona), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
Also, nominees for the Yashin Trophy for the Best Goalkeeper have been named, with Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, Manchester City’s Ederson Moraes, PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel, PSG’s Keylor Navas, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and Inter Milan’s Samir Handanovic making up the shortlist.
Nominees for the Kopa Trophy for the Best U21 player in the world were also named, with Barcelona’s Pedri named alongside Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham, Stade Rennais’ Jeremy Doku, Ajax’s Ryan Gravenberch, Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood, PSG’s Nuno Mendes, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Borussia Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna.
From the Ballon d’Or shortlist, five-time winner Lionel Messi remains a firm favourite, with Robert Lewandowski also a favourite after a strong season. UEFA Player of the Year Jorginho and Chelsea teammate N’Golo Kante are also strong contenders for the award.
