The most prestigious individual prize in world football will be handed out on November 29, so who is most deserving of the honour?
After being cancelled in 2020 the Ballon d’Or is back, with the great and good of the football world again eyeing the biggest individual honour the game has to offer.

The nominees for the 2021 prize have been announced, with 29 players joining 2019 winner Lionel Messi on the shortlist.

The winner will be announced on Monday, November 29 in Paris, so who holds the most power in this year’s race?

GOAL has been ranking the contenders since March, but here is where they lie with the ceremony just days away…

Lautaro Martinez Inter 2021-22

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Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
In 2021: 24 goals, seven assists. Won Copa America & Serie A.

In terms of silverware, Lautaro Martinez could not have hoped for a better 2021, as he first scored crucial goals to help Inter win their first Serie A title for 11 years before playing a similarly key role for Argentina as they claimed the Copa America trophy.

Despite not being the face of either campaign, there is no doubt that the 24-year-old is deserving of his place on the Ballon d’Or shortlist.

Nicolo Barella Italy Euro 2020

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Nicolo Barella (Inter)
In 2021: Six goals, 13 assists. Won Euro 2020 & Serie A.

Another who combined winning the Scudetto with lifting an international trophy was Nicolo Barella, who with a more well-known name around the world might have found himself higher up these rankings.

The Italy star was one of the Azzurri’s most consistent performers through Euro 2020, and if he is able to add more goals to his game going forward then he could become the complete midfield package.

Neymar PSG 2021
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Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2021: 17 goals, 18 assists. Won Coupe de France & Trophee des Champions.

Neymar’s dream of winning the Ballon d’Or looks to be slipping away from the Brazil star after another year where he combined some brilliant performances with more injuries and disappointment in the biggest games of all.

Winning two domestic cups in a calendar year is not befitting of the world’s most expensive player, and he is set to find himself way down the pecking order when the final rankings are revealed.

Harry Kane England Euro 2020

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Harry Kane (Tottenham)
In 2021: 40 goals, seven assists.

It has been a funny year for Harry Kane, who finished as the player with both the most goals and most assists in the 2020-21 Premier League season, captained England to the Euro 2020 final and was one of the most coveted players during the summer transfer market.

And yet, after his slow start to the current campaign and still being without a major trophy to his name, it feels like his career is, for the first time, beginning to stall.

An intriguing 2022 awaits.

Chiellini Italy

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Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
In 2021: Two assists, 10 clean sheets. Won Euro 2020, Coppa Italia & Supercoppa Italiana.

If Euro 2020 proves to be Giorgio Chiellini’s swansong as a top-level defender, then what a way to go out for the Italy captain.

The veteran defender was immense throughout the tournament, and though he has since found himself falling down the pecking order at both club and international level, no one can take away that one last moment in the sun for the Juventus great.

Mason Mount, Chelsea vs Norwich 2021-22

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Mason Mount (Chelsea)
In 2021: 12 goals, eight assists. Won Champions League & UEFA Super Cup.

Mason Mount’s quiet-ish start to the new season will likely have counted against him when the final Ballon d’Or votes were cast, but he can certainly lay claim to being one of the world’s outstanding midfielders in 2020-21.

His performances, particularly in the latter stages of Chelsea’s run to the Champions League final, belied his lack of experience, and he carried that form into Euro 2020 too.

This may be his first Ballon d’Or nomination, but it is unlikely to be his last.

Phil Foden Manchester City Goal50 SLIDELIST

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Phil Foden (Manchester City)
In 2021: 16 goals, 14 assists. Won Premier League & Carabao Cup.

Another young England midfielder who is up for the Ballon d’Or for the first time, Phil Foden has spent 2021 showing the world why there has been so much excitement surrounding him at Manchester City over the past decade.

Still just 21, Foden has the world at his feet regardless of which position on the pitch he finally chooses to make his own, and it would be a surprise were he not to be fighting for a place on the Ballon d’Or podium over the next 10 years.

Ruben Dias Manchester City Goal50 SLIDELIST

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Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
In 2021: One goal, two assists, 27 clean sheets. Won Premier League & Carabao Cup.

Eyebrows were raised when Manchester City paid £62 million ($79m) to sign Ruben Dias in the summer of 2020, but the centre-back was a revelation as Pep Guardiola’s side regained their domestic title.

Named the Premier League Player of the Year, the Portugal international was also outstanding as City reached the Champions League final, only to come up short against Chelsea in Porto.

Donnarumma Italy England Euro

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Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2021: 21 clean sheets. Won Euro 2020.

Voted Player of the Tournament at Euro 2020, Gianluigi Donnarumma was superb for Roberto Mancini’s side throughout before his penalty shootout heroics in the final victory over England.

His summer move to Paris Saint-Germain has not quite gone to plan as yet as he shares starting duties with Keylor Navas, but time is on the 22-year-old’s side.

Mohamed Salah

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Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
In 2021: 33 goals, 11 assists.

Recency bias is certainly prevalent when it comes to Ballon d’Or voting, and Mohamed Salah’s form since the start of the 2021-22 season looks set to put him in contention for a top 10 finish.

In truth, Salah was one of the Liverpool players whose form did not fall off a cliff during the early months of the year, and he has now taken his game to new levels after a summer break.

The early favourite for the 2022 Ballon d’Or will hope those performance levels carry into the next calendar year.

Kevin De Bruyne Manchester City 2021-22

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Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
In 2021: 14 goals, 16 assists. Won Premier League & Carabao Cup.

Voted the PFA Player of the Year for the second successive season after another mesmerising year in midfield for Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne remains the outstanding creative player in English, and perhaps European, football.

Injuries hampered him in Euro 2020 as Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ missed arguably their last chance at winning some major silverware, but he stil produced some memorable moments that will surely have caught the Ballon d’Or judges’ collective eyes.

Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United 2021-22

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Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
In 2021: 42 goals, six assists. Won Coppa Italia & Supercoppa Italiana.

Serie A top scorer, Euro 2020 Golden Boot winner and the record goalscorer in men’s international football history – 2021 has
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na messi get am....dm don gv am d award already