Who will succeed Lionel Messi, last winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2019 (it was not awarded in 2020)? While the Euro and the Copa America have just delivered their verdicts, we take stock of the main favorites for the title of best player on the planet. This year, no doubt more than ever, the fight promises to be as intense as it is indecisive until December.
By Philippe Gerday and Jean-François Patte
Dsince the 2008 edition, two extraterrestrials have dominated the Ballon d’Or charts, Lionel Messi ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo with a trophy. The debate is divisive between the supporters of two stars, to the point of directly contesting the legitimacy of the trophy to another player as long as the Argentinian and the Portuguese are active.
In 2018, having won the same trophies as CR7 with Real in addition to the place of vice-world champion with Croatia still earned a few “eyebrows” (the term is weak) at the choice of Luka Modric. Because of the strange choice of France Football, Robert Lewandowski will never be able to know if he was able to imitate the Croatian in 2020. The memory of 2010, where Lionel Messi still beat his teammate Andres Iniesta (world champion! ) and the Dutchman Wesley Sneijder (vice-world champion with the Netherlands and winner of all the trophies – including the C1 to the detriment of Barcelona – with Inter Milan), is just as striking.
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