Ballon d’Or pendulum swinging in Messi’s direction

Word stemming from the European media on Friday spells altogether positive news for those hopeful of Lionel Messi lifting the next Ballon d’Or.

The latest round of nominees for the Ballon d’Or were of course announced early last month.

After the awarding of the prize – widely regarded as the most prestigious individual accolade in world football – was cancelled last time out due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the first ‘Golden Ball’ for almost two years will be served up in just three days’ time.

The usual big-hitters were all present on France Football’s shortlist, including the two most successful players in the accolade’s history – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – along with Robert Lewandowski, Neymar, Erling Haaland, and another previous winner – Luka Modric.

Also honoured with inclusions were Barcelona sensation Pedri, Italian Euro 2020 winners Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, and even Simon Kjaer, owing to his heroic response to Christian Eriksen’s frightening cardiac arrest during the summer.

The full list looks as follows:

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Lewandowski, Salah, Jorginho, Azpilicueta, Lukaku, Ronaldo, Foden, Gerard Moreno, Mbappe, Suarez, De Bruyne, Dias, Kjaer, Neymar, Lautaro Martinez, Messi, Pedri, Chiellini, Bruno Fernandes, Modric, Mahrez, Haaland, Kante, Mount, Bonucci, Donnarumma, Kane, Benzema, Barella, Sterling

As things stand, it is Messi who is viewed as the bookmakers‘ favourite to bag a historic 7th Ballon d’Or crown, on the back of a long overdue Copa America triumph with Argentina.

Recent word spreading across social media, however, had pointed towards an altogether different winner.

The player in question? Robert Lewandowski.

A ‘leaked’ image of the apparent final standings to have made its way online late in October named Bayern Munich’s main man as firmly on course to bag a first-ever ‘Golden Ball’, with Messi close behind in 2nd.