Messi only third as fans vote for Ballon d’Or winner ahead of 2021 ceremony

Lionel Messi has only finished third in a fan-voted Ballon d’Or ceremony ahead of the official announcement.

The real winner will be crowned at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris on Monday 29 November from a list of 30 candidates, including Paris Saint-Germain stars Messi, Neymar, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Kylian Mbappe.

Reports point towards Messi picking up his record-extending seventh Ballon d’Or prize aged 34, with RTP Sports claiming the Argentine has already been informed and told his friends and family of the historic achievement.

But not everyone thinks Messi should win the award, according to a fan poll run by Transfermarkt using social media platform Instagram.

The well-known data site sought to find out who the real Ballon d’Or winner should be by putting it to the public.

And Messi, along with five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, both failed to make the final for the 2021 edition.

Manchester United forward Ronaldo, who picked up his first Ballon d’Or during his first stint with the Red Devils, was knocked out by Robert Lewandowski in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Messi was thwarted by Egyptian king Mohamed Salah who went on to lose to Bayern Munich's Lewandowski in the final.

Do you think Lionel Messi deserves to win the Ballon d'Or this year? Let us know in the comments section.

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The Pole, 33, is believed to be favourite alongside Messi to pick up the real award, having only missed out last year due to the event being scrapped after Covid-19’s impact on the football calendar.

Lewandowski broke Gerd Muller’s record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga season this year on his way to winning the title, while already netting a staggering 25 goals in 19 games this season.

Second-placed Salah’s own performances have resembled a prime Messi this season as the Liverpool striker ends November having scored 17 goals across 17 matches.

Yet Messi has netted just one Ligue 1 goal this season after his transfer to the Parisian giants, which may impact the Ballon d'Or outcome.

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