Ballon d’Or 2021 LIVE! Reaction, results, updates and winners after Lionel Messi claims seventh crown

Ballon d’Or - LIVE!

Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world for a record-stretching seventh time on Monday, beating Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho to lift football’s most prestigious trophy yet again.

The forward added to his 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019 trophies after winning the Copa America for the first time with his country last July.

“It’s incredible to be here again. Two years ago I thought it was the last time. Winning the Copa America was key”, Messi said at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Messi, who joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer from Barcelona during the summer, collected 613 points, with Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski, named best striker on Monday, getting 580.

Jorginho, who won the Champions League with Chelsea and the European Championship with Italy, ended up third on 460, ahead of France’s Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante in fourth and fifth places respectively.

You can follow the ceremony as it happens with Standard Sport’s blog below...

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Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or for record seventh time after Copa America triumph

Key Points

• Ballon d’Or winner: Lionel Messi makes it seven titles!

• Final results: 1st to 10th

• Final results: 11th to 20th

• Final results: 21st to 30th

• Kopa Trophy: Pedri wins young player award

• Ballon d’Or Feminin: Alexia Putellas takes women’s honour

• Yashin Trophy: Gianluigi Donnarumma named best goalkeeper

Kroos: Messi didn’t deserve award

11:53 , Malik Ouzia

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos is one of a number of football greats who have taken issue with Lionel Messi being awarded the trophy last night.

“It is absolutely not deserved,” the German said.

“There is no doubt that Messi, with Cristiano [Ronaldo], has been the player of the last decade, but this year there should’ve been others ahead of him.”

Through gritted teeth...

11:07 , Malik Ouzia

Jorginho targeting another golden year

10:27 , Malik Ouzia

Jorginho is targeting another golden year with Chelsea after missing out on the Ballon d’Or last night.

The Italian came third behind winner Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, after an incredible 12 months, which saw him crowned European champion for both club and country.Jorginho’s third place was the club’s best performance in the Ballon d’Or since Frank Lampard was runner-up to Ronaldinho in 2005.

Now the Euro 2020 winner has immediately set his sights on more trophies, with Chelsea currently leading the way in the Premier League and through to the knockout stages Europe.

Jorginho said: “We have a lot to play for, which keeps us working hard to try to win trophies, because they are what this club is about.

“I am very happy, but I achieved this not by myself, but with the help of the whole team. I’m just really grateful for that and I’m really happy and proud of myself and proud of the whole group and proud of this team because we deserve it, all together.”

Not sure about the trainers...

09:53 , Malik Ouzia

Future bright for England

09:10 , Malik Ouzia

Gareth Southgate must’ve been a happy man watching last night’s ceremony. While the likes of Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Mason Mount all featured in the shortlist for the main award, it was in the Kopa Trophy for best U21 player that Englishmen did particularly well.

Three of the top six places were occupised by Three Lions stars, with Jude Bellingham finishing second to Spain’s Pedri and Mason Greenwood and Bukayo Saka claiming 5th and 6th. It could have been even better had Jamal Musial - who finsihed third - not opted to play for Germany...

Chelsea crowned club of the year

08:17 , Malik Ouzia

Chelsea have enjoyed plenty of special nights in 2021 and last night was another of them as they were crowned club of the year by France Football.

They became the first club to ever have both men’s and women’s team reach the final of the Champions League in the same season and while it was only the men that lifted the trophy, Emma Hayes’ side claimed a dominant domestic treble.

07:54 , Malik Ouzia

Robert Lewandowski was perhaps the unluckiest party last night, with Lionel Messi even suggesting France Football should award him last year’s award, which was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, it looks like he had a good time...

What about the other awards?

07:30 , Malik Ouzia

The shortlist for the Kopa Trophy for best U21 player included three young England stars in Bukayo Saka, Mason Greenwood and Jude Bellingham but, somewhat unsurprisingly, the award went to Barcelona star Pedri, who shone for the Catalan club and announced his arrival on the international stage with his performances at Euro 2020 before also reaching the final of the Olympics.

Elsewhere, Gianluigi Donnarumma’s monstrous Euro 2020 performances, including those penalty saves in the final against England, earned him the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper.

Seventh heaven for Messi

07:12 , Malik Ouzia

First of all, then, a recap of what happened last night.

Lionel Messi, already the record-holder for the most Ballon d’Or wins in history, claimed his seventh prize as he pipped Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski to the award by a narrow margin of just 33 points.

Messi fired Argentina to Copa America glory last summer and dazzled once more in an underwhelming Barcelona side before leaving to join PSG in the summer.

There was cause for celebration at the Catalan club, however, as Alexia Putellas claimed the Ballon d’Or Feminin after her starring role in Barcelona’s all-conquering women’s team.

Good morning!

07:05 , Malik Ouzia

Welcome back to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the 2021 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony.

We’ll have plenty of reaction and fallout from last night’s gala as we go through the morning...

Recap: 1st to 10th

Monday 29 November 2021 23:30 , Marc Mayo

Here is the top ten of the 2021 Ballon d’Or:

1st - Lionel Messi

2nd - Robert Lewandowski

3rd - Jorginho

4th - Karim Benzema

5th - N’Golo Kante

6th - Cristiano Ronaldo

7th - Mohamed Salah

8th - Kevin De Bruyne

9th - Kylian Mbappe

10th - Gianluigi Donnarumma

Recap: 11th to 20th

Monday 29 November 2021 23:27 , Marc Mayo

Next, how the middle order finished up:

11th - Erling Haaland

12th - Romelu Lukaku

13th - Giorgio Chiellini

14th - Leonardo Bonucci

15th - Raheem Sterling

16th - Neymar

17th - Luis Suarez

18th - Simon Kjaer

19th - Mason Mount

20th - Riyad Mahrez

Recap: 21st to 30th

Monday 29 November 2021 23:22 , Marc Mayo

Let’s recap how the full Ballon d’Or results shook out...

21st - Lautaro Martinez & Bruno Fernandes

23rd - Harry Kane

24th - Pedri

25th - Phil Foden

26th - Gerard Moreno, Ruben Dias & Nico Barrella

29th - Cesar Azpilicueta & Luka Modric

Monday 29 November 2021 23:14 , Marc Mayo

Simon Kjaer finished 18th in tonight’s ceremony and earned special praise for his role in helping Christian Eriksen after his Denmark teammate collapsed at Euro 2020.

The defender’s agent, Mikkel Beck, wrote on Twitter: “Congratulations to my long-time client and dear friend Simon Kjaer for being classified in 18th place in the voting for the best player in the world.

“I am so proud of you, you deserve it more than anyone else after your fantastic 2021.”

Monday 29 November 2021 23:06 , Marc Mayo

Private jet selfie time for our Ballon d’Or Feminin winner...

Monday 29 November 2021 22:59 , Marc Mayo

Another one for “crazy” Leo - and more congratulations this time from Argentina pal Giovani Lo Celso.

Monday 29 November 2021 22:53 , Marc Mayo

Certainly not everybody is up for a Leo love-in tonight.

German newspaper Bild have dubbed Robert Lewandowski “cheated” after “only” finishing second, which it says is a “scandal”.

Monday 29 November 2021 22:43 , Marc Mayo

Here’s how Alexia Putellas reacted to winning the Ballon d’Or Feminin:

"I'm a bit excited. It's a very special moment. Having my teammates here makes me very happy. I want to thank all the teammates that I have met in my career, but especially those that I currently have.

“It is an individual award but it is also a collective success, that’s how it feels. Thank you to the coaches I have had in my career and that have trusted me. The fans and the club, which is a pleasure to represent here.

“My family, I have my aunt here, my sister, my mother... and someone who has always been, is and will always be very special to me. I hope you are very proud of your daughter wherever you are, dad.”

Monday 29 November 2021 22:35 , Marc Mayo

Picture perfect.

Monday 29 November 2021 22:25 , Marc Mayo

More Chelsea love, from Mateo Kovacic.

Monday 29 November 2021 22:17 , Marc Mayo

Awards season always brings out the sharpest dressers and what a dapper young chap that Mason Mount is...

Monday 29 November 2021 22:10 , Marc Mayo

Gianluigi Donnarumma has reacted to winning the Yashin Trophy for top goalkeeper.

He says: “Receiving the Trophée Yachine is a source of great pride for me. From my birth town of Castellammare di Stabia to Milan and now to Paris. Such a long road, so many changes.

“Life is a journey and I consider myself a lucky man who has already been able to fulfill some important dreams - and this award is one of these. But there are still many others I want to pursue.”

Monday 29 November 2021 22:03 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea’s players couldn’t take home any individual award tonight but there was the first Ballon d’Or Club of the Year trophy for the Blues nevertheless.

Monday 29 November 2021 22:01 , Marc Mayo

Check out the full voting results for each player, with Lionel Messi claiming the win tonight by just 33 points.

Monday 29 November 2021 21:49 , Marc Mayo

Speaking of Liverpool, you simply cannot escape The Banter.

Monday 29 November 2021 21:43 , Marc Mayo

It may not have been the Ballon d’Or for Mohamed Salah tonight, but he hasn’t gone completely empty handed.

Monday 29 November 2021 21:37 , Marc Mayo

A gracious response from your runner-up:

Monday 29 November 2021 21:32 , Marc Mayo

PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi gives his congratulations to Lionel Messi.

“I would like to warmly congratulate Leo. It is a great pride for the club that one of our players has won the most prestigious and coveted title,” he says.

“Leo marks the history of football a little more. Like all our supporters around the world, we are delighted to see one of the greatest players of all time playing in the PSG kit.”

Monday 29 November 2021 21:29 , Marc Mayo

Another extension to the trophy cabinet may be in order!

Monday 29 November 2021 21:24 , Marc Mayo

Worth remembering PSG didn’t pay a transfer fee when signing Lionel Messi in the summer...

Monday 29 November 2021 21:19 , Marc Mayo

Let’s recap the top ten for the 2021 Ballon d’Or:

1st - Lionel Messi

2nd - Robert Lewandowski

3rd - Jorginho

4th - Karim Benzema

5th - N’Golo Kante

6th - Cristiano Ronaldo

7th - Mohamed Salah

8th - Kevin De Bruyne

9th - Kylian Mbappe

10th - Gianluigi Donnarumma

What Messi said:

Monday 29 November 2021 21:13 , Marc Mayo

“It is incredible to be here again. Two years ago I thought that it was my last year and now I am here again. I am very happy, very excited and wanting to fight for new challenges.

“I do not know how long I have left but I hope it will be a long time. I want to thank my teammates from Barcelona and PSG, and especially the Argentina team. I won this award and I had the feeling that I was missing something and this year I was able to achieve it.

“A large part of this trophy is because of what we did in the Copa America, so thanks to my teammates, this is also yours. My wife, my children, my father, my mother are here.

“It is a huge honor to fight with Robert [Lewandowski]. Last year you were the winner and I think France Football should give it to you.”

Monday 29 November 2021 21:10 , Marc Mayo

It just looks... natural.

Monday 29 November 2021 21:09 , Marc Mayo

Big hugs from his contemporaries, particularly Luis Suarez, as Messi returns to his seat for the end of the ceremony.

Monday 29 November 2021 21:06 , Marc Mayo

The final vote tallies are drifting out now with Messi taking 613 points, ahead of Lewandowski on 580 - a very fine winning margin!

Jorginho took 460 points, ahead of Benzema on 239 and Kante on 186.

Monday 29 November 2021 21:03 , Marc Mayo

Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez and Messi’s kids appear in a video sending personal messages to the striker.

Aguero describes his achievements as “crazy” with one youngster describing him as Superman.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:59 , Marc Mayo

That historic Copa America triumph, Lionel Messi’s first major international honour is getting a montage of its own. A major achievement for the Paris Saint-Germain star that cannot be forgotten with this award.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:57 , Marc Mayo

One proud family as the Messi kids and his father watch his acceptance speech.

Ballon d’Or winner: Lionel Messi

Monday 29 November 2021 20:53 , Marc Mayo

Seven times! He’s done it again!

Monday 29 November 2021 20:53 , Marc Mayo

The winner shall be announced shortly. Watch this space.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:53 , Marc Mayo

That poll is tipping 60 per cent towards Robert Lewandowski...

Monday 29 November 2021 20:50 , Marc Mayo

Decision time!

Monday 29 November 2021 20:50 , Marc Mayo

Emma Hayes, Cesar Azpilicueta and Co are back in London watching via video link on a pretty fierce delay.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:49 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea win Club of the Year! Another trophy for the cabinet after several players were nominated for the Feminin, Yashin and Ballon d’Or award.

3rd place: Jorginho

Monday 29 November 2021 20:47 , Marc Mayo

The only man to win both the Champions League and Euro 2020 this year. Plus he scored a penalty against Manchester United on the weekend.

4th place: Karim Benzema

Monday 29 November 2021 20:46 , Marc Mayo

Having been by far Real Madrid’s best player all year, and then some, it is fourth for Karim Benzema.

5th place: N’Golo Kante

Monday 29 November 2021 20:46 , Marc Mayo

The Chelsea star takes fifth place after a storming display in the Champions League final!

Monday 29 November 2021 20:41 , Marc Mayo

The men left in the game are Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Lionel Messi.

Who wins it?

Monday 29 November 2021 20:37 , Marc Mayo

Back to the main award... and the final five!

Monday 29 November 2021 20:35 , Marc Mayo

There had been calls for Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy to make the Ballon d’Or shortlist but he did make the Yashin Trophy nominations.

And it was second place for Mendy, with Jan Oblak third.

Yashin Trophy winner: Gianluigi Donnarumma

Monday 29 November 2021 20:31 , Marc Mayo

It was always going to be him! The Italy Euro 2020 penalty hero takes the goalkeeper prize.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:30 , Marc Mayo

We’re moving on quickly with the Yashin Trophy up next!

6th place: Cristiano Ronaldo

Monday 29 November 2021 20:29 , Marc Mayo

The veteran striker cannot claim a sixth Ballon d’Or as he comes home sixth.

7th place: Mohamed Salah

Monday 29 November 2021 20:28 , Marc Mayo

A touch harsh on the Liverpool star, perhaps...

Ballon d’Or 8th place: Kevin De Bruyne

Monday 29 November 2021 20:28 , Marc Mayo

A fantastic year for the Belgian and yet it didn’t even feel like he was always producing his best. A scary thought for non-Man City fans.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:26 , Marc Mayo

Didier Drogba calls Alexia Putellas’ family onto the stage to enjoy this moment. Lots of nice hugs.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:23 , Marc Mayo

Not a bad night for Barcelona so far, taking home two main awards.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:20 , Marc Mayo

Top ten spots for Fran Kirby (10th), Jessie Fleming (ninth), Pernille Harder (seventh), Vivianne Miedema (fourth) and Sam Kerr (third) from the WSL.

Barcelona’s Jennifer Hermoso was voted second.

Ballon d’Or Feminin winner: Alexia Putellas

Monday 29 November 2021 20:18 , Marc Mayo

The Barcelona star takes home the gong after a fine run to the Champions League title!

Monday 29 November 2021 20:17 , Marc Mayo

Here we go with the Feminin award...

Monday 29 November 2021 20:16 , Marc Mayo

Kylian Mbappe is out next ahead of the Feminin award for the top player of the women’s game.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:15 , Marc Mayo

Not long until our next award is handed out...

9th place: Kylian Mbappe

Monday 29 November 2021 20:07 , Marc Mayo

A good but not great finish for a young striker many tipped to be a contender this year, only for PSG and France to fall short when it mattered.

Ballon d’Or 10th place: Gianluigi Donnarumma

Monday 29 November 2021 20:06 , Marc Mayo

Back to the countdown and the only goalkeeper of the longlist comes home 10th after leading Italy to Euro 2020 penalty shootout glory.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:03 , Marc Mayo

The Premier League leaders are well represented in Paris tonight.

Monday 29 November 2021 20:02 , Marc Mayo

The Pole pays tribute to his teammates and coach for his incredible goal tally of 60 for 2021.

His family, with his mother and wife sat next to each other in the crowd, also get a thank you from Lewandowski.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:59 , Marc Mayo

Next award: the inaugural Striker of the Year... Robert Lewandowski!

Monday 29 November 2021 19:54 , Marc Mayo

We now have a tribute to the late Diego Maradona and Gerd Muller ahead of the next award.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:52 , Marc Mayo

The runners-up in the Kopa Trophy.

Of the English players, Jude Bellingham finished second with Mason Greenwood fifth and Bukayo Saka sixth,

Kopa Trophy winner: Pedri

Monday 29 November 2021 19:48 , Marc Mayo

The Barcelona youngster takes the first award of the night!

Monday 29 November 2021 19:46 , Marc Mayo

Fabio Cannavaro is here to present the Kopa Trophy.

Here are the nominees: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Mason Greenwood (Man United), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Julian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Nuno Mendes (PSG).

Monday 29 November 2021 19:45 , Marc Mayo

We also have the identity of our two new awards, coming later tonight: the Striker of the Year and Club of the Year. Very exciting.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:45 , Marc Mayo

Drogba hands out a Spain shirt to Alonso and a French kit to Ocon, and gets them signed by Pedri and Mbappe.

A lovely crossover for F1 and football fans, this.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:41 , Marc Mayo

Didier Drogba jokes that the pair are Daft Punk (invoice is in the post, Didier) and they reveal themselves to be Alpine Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon!

Ocon jokes the drive was “too short” - they clearly enjoyed it though.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:39 , Marc Mayo

Here come the trophies with those Daft Punk-alike men in suits with helmets on having successfully negotiated the Paris rush hour traffic.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:37 , Marc Mayo

We’re underway in Paris with a montage of the final ten candidates for the crown.

They are Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Kevin De Bruyne, Jorginho, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, and Robert Lewandowski.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:34 , Marc Mayo

First, some more Lionel Messi. Just because.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:32 , Marc Mayo

Here we go...

Monday 29 November 2021 19:25 , Marc Mayo

Just five minutes to go until the ceremony begins so let’s all enjoy some lovely Simon Kjaer, with partner Elina Gollert.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:18 , Marc Mayo

A big cheer for Lionel Messi and family on the red carpet - the Argentine who has been in *ahem* sparkling form lately.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:15 , Marc Mayo

Kylian Mbappe, who is into the top ten for the main award, has brought his father Wilfried with him to the ceremony. A lovely touch.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:12 , Marc Mayo

A dash of Hollywood glamour on the red carpet next, with Spiderman stars Tom Holland and Zendaya slinging into Paris.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:06 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is among those in attendance tonight.

Monday 29 November 2021 19:02 , Marc Mayo

Barcelona president Joan Laporta leads his club’s troop of nominees through, with Pedri up for the Kopa Trophy and five players in the Feminin category.

Monday 29 November 2021 18:56 , Marc Mayo

Former striker Luis Garcia knows how Cesar Azpilicueta must be feeling tonight, as the joint lowest-ranked vote-winner himself back in 2005.

The Spaniard thanked his mother for the single vote after winning the Champions League with Liverpool!

Monday 29 November 2021 18:48 , Marc Mayo

Back at the red carpet, one man who could win tonight’s gong is here.

Robert Lewandowski is all smiles as he rocks up with wife Anna.

That Cristiano Ronaldo statement in full:

Monday 29 November 2021 18:41 , Marc Mayo

“Today's outcome explains why Pascal Ferre made statements last week, when he stated that I confided in him that my only ambition was to finish my career with more Ballons d’Or than Lionel Messi.

“Pascal Ferre lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for. It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a prestigious prize could lie in this way, in absolute disrespect for someone who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d'Or.

“And he lied again today, justifying my absence from the Gala with an alleged quarantine that has no reason to exist.

“I always want to congratulate those who win, with the sportsmanship and fair play that have guided my career since its beginning, and I do so because I'm never against anyone.

“I always win for myself and for the clubs I represent, I win for myself and for those who love me. I don't win against anyone.

“The biggest ambition of my career is to win national and international titles for the clubs I represent and for the national team of my country.

“The biggest ambition of my career is to set a good example for all those who are or who want to be professional footballers. The biggest ambition of my career is to leave my name written in golden letters in the history of world football.

“I will end by saying that my focus is already on Manchester United's next game and on everything that, together with my team-mates and our fans, we can still achieve this season. The rest? The rest is just the rest…”

Monday 29 November 2021 18:35 , Marc Mayo

Cristiano Ronaldo has hit back at France Football editor Pascal Ferre, following claims the Manchester United striker only cared about winning more Ballon d’Or trophies than Lionel Messi.

Ferre had told the New York Times: "Ronaldo has only one ambition, and that is to retire with more Ballons d’Or than Messi, and I know that because he has told me."

In the last hour, Ronaldo has tweeted: “Pascal Ferre lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for.”

Read more.

Monday 29 November 2021 18:28 , Marc Mayo

Giorgio Chiellini has responded to his 13th place in the Ballon d’Or, tweeting: “I am very honoured for this 13th place in the prestigious classification of the Ballon d’Or and I thank those who voted for me.

“It is the culmination of the feat made together with my team-mates from the national team at the European Championship, but also of many years of victories with the Juventus shirt.

“At 37 I consider it another unforgettable moment in my career.”

Monday 29 November 2021 18:24 , Marc Mayo

The game’s great and good are in Paris tonight, with the red carpet abuzz ahead of the ceremony.

Monday 29 November 2021 18:19 , Marc Mayo

Erling Haaland: Future Ballon d’Or winner?

Already tonight we’ve seen a host of young stars make their mark on the award, with plenty more to come who could show a very promising path ahead for the game’s elite.

Monday 29 November 2021 18:10 , Marc Mayo

The trophies are on their way to Theatre du Chatelet, and appear to be being delivered by Daft Punk.

Reminder!

Monday 29 November 2021 18:06 , Marc Mayo

French outlet L’Equipe will be streaming the ceremony live on their Youtube channel from 7:30pm.

The ceremony will also be available to stream via Eurosport’s website and app.

Monday 29 November 2021 18:00 , Marc Mayo

Here are the remaining ten candidates in the race for the 2021 Ballon d’Or:

Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Kevin De Bruyne, Jorginho, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, and Robert Lewandowski.

(For what it’s worth, that’s this writer’s ranking - from ten to one - feel free to slaughter me in the comments).

Monday 29 November 2021 17:56 , Marc Mayo

Who wants to see some rather dapper looking footballers?

Recap: 11th to 20th

Monday 29 November 2021 17:54 , Marc Mayo

Here’s how the final rankings looked in the middle positions:

11th - Erling Haaland

12th - Romelu Lukaku

13th - Giorgio Chiellini

14th - Leonardo Bonucci

15th - Raheem Sterling

16th - Neymar

17th - Luis Suarez

18th - Simon Kjaer

19th - Mason Mount

20th - Riyad Mahrez

11th place: Erling Haaland

Monday 29 November 2021 17:52 , Marc Mayo

The Borussia Dortmund striker began the year a goal machine, he continued to be a goal machine throughout, and he finished it a goal machine.

Monday 29 November 2021 17:51 , Marc Mayo

This is where picking between the best players gets very tough. Not many would argue Cesar Azpilicueta is better than Romelu Lukaku, but is Lukaku worse than Erling Haaland?

Is Erling Haaland better than N’Golo Kante? Is Cristiano Ronaldo better than Karim Benzema?

All tough questions that fans could spend hours arguing over. We’re about to find out how the world of football has decided between them.

12th place: Romelu Lukaku

Monday 29 November 2021 17:47 , Marc Mayo

He led Inter Milan to a famous Scudetto title and hit four goals at Euro 2020 - but Romelu Lukaku misses out on a spot in the top ten!

Monday 29 November 2021 17:46 , Marc Mayo

After finishing 24th in the main award, Kopa Trophy nominee Pedri could well be taking to the stage to collect an award of his own later tonight...

Click here to read the full blog on The Evening Standard's website