Leaked Ballon d'Or list has Lewandowski as the winner

A ‘leaked’ list of the 2021 Ballon d’Or results has been dismissed but Robert Lewandowski is now favourite for the top prize.

An image appeared on social media on Thursday naming the Poland striker as the 2021 winner with 627 votes, with six-time winner Lionel Messi in second and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo in ninth.

But the image has now been dismissed by France Football´s own Philippe Auclair, who says that the organisation has never printed any copies of the lists before the actual reveal.

Voting has already closed for the 2021 award, but fans won’t know for sure who the winner is until it is officially announced on November 29.

A leak took place in 2018 when Luka Modric took home the gong, with the list on that occasion an exact indication of the final results.

If Lewandowski does turn out to be the winner, few could argue against him taking home the prize.

The 33-year-old has been the most devastating striker on the planet for the last two years – he has scored the most goals in Europe’s ‘big five leagues since the start of the 2019-2020 season with 113, with Kylian Mbappe in second with 76.

He had been a huge favourite to win the prize last year following Bayern Munich´s 2020 Champions League victory, but the award was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But the striker has continued his tremendous form and it looks like he may still receive the award after all if the leaked list is indeed to be believed.

This year’s Ballon d’Or awards will decide the best player in men’s and women’s football over the past year.

These awards are scheduled to take place in November after the 2020 event was cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Both the men’s and women’s nominees will find out the winner on 29 November in Paris, France. Thirty men and twenty women are nominated for the respective rewards.

The women’s award began in 2018 when it was first awarded to Ada Hegeberg, and the current holder is American Megan Rapinoe. The men’s award was launched in 1956, with the current holder being Lionel Messi.

The judgments are made on the basis of the last 12 months’ performances from players.

WHEN IS THE 2021 BALLON D’OR CEREMONY?

The ceremony will take place on 29 November 2021.

LEAKED 2021 BALLON D’OR LIST

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Leo Messi (PSG)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Jorginho (Chelsea)
Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
N’ Golo Kanté (Chelsea)
Erling Haaland (Dortmund)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester.United)
Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
Gianluiggi Donnarumma (PSG)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Pedri (Barcelona)
Neymar (PSG)
Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)

WHO IS NOMINATED FOR THE WOMEN’S 2021 BALLON D’OR?

Kadidiatou Diani (PSG)
Fran Kirby (Chelsea)
Jennifer Hermoso (Barcelona)
Christiane Endler (Lyon)
Christine Sinclair (Thorns FC)
Ashley Lawrence (PSG)
Irene Paredes (PSG, Barcelona)
Jessie Fleming (Chelsea)
Lieke Martens (Barcelona)
Sandra Panos (Barcelona)
Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal)
Ellen White (Manchester City)
Pernille Harder (Chelsea)
Sam Mewis (North Carolina Courage)
Wendie Renard (Lyon)
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (PSG)
Stina Blackstenius (Hacken)
Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea)
Sam Kerr (Chelsea)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Something similar happened in 2018 when Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or, where a list was leaked that got each position spot on.

The result for 2021 is already decided, because the voting has closed, so now it remains to be seen whether this list will prove to be correct on November 29 when the results are announced.

Leaked Ballon d'Or list has Lewandowski as the winner — Leaked Ballon d’Or list has Lewandowski as the winner

The pictures went viral on Thursday, which happens to be a printed document and possibly a mobile snap shows the likely winner of the 2021 edition. The so-called result shows that PSG and Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi will be winning the Ballon’Dor for a record 7th time, followed by Poland and Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski who will finish second to the former Barcelona man, losing by only 14 votes. Real Madrid forward, Karim Benzema will finish third in the list. Other footballers among the top 5 are Chelsea and EURO 2020 winner with Italy, Jorginho, and the all-time top scorer in international football, Cristiano Ronaldo. Also Read – La Liga: Osasuna Hold Real Madrid to Goalless Draw

Messi was the last winner of the award in 2019 and was actually tipped by experts to be the obvious winner once again, as his all-around performance helped Argentina clinch their 15th Copa America title and first international crown in 28 years. Lewandowski is also considered a strong contender for his prolific goal-scoring season, but it seems as of now, the Argentine will be taking the award away.

The prestigious award was not handed out in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The winner will be announced on 29th November in Paris.

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