The Brazilian winger twisted several Shakhtar Donetsk defenders inside-out to score a gorgeous solo goal and extend Real Madrid’s advantage in their eventual 5-0 hammering of the Ukrainian side on Tuesday.
(Available to view in U.S. only)
VINICIUS JR. IS RIDICULOUS ? pic.twitter.com/ev7rRrlVVk
— CBS Sports Golazo ?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 19, 2021
(Available to view in Canada only)
Vinicius dances around the defense and finishes for Real Madrid’s 3rd goal ?? pic.twitter.com/GMK0Ddgkes
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Robert Lewandowski headline France Football’s 30-man shortlist for the prestigious Ballon d’Or, with Barcelona’s 18-year-old midfielder Pedri becoming the second-youngest player to be nominated in the history of the award on Friday.
Messi is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner from 2019. France Football scrapped the award in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Champions League winners Chelsea and finalists Manchester City lead all clubs with five nominations each. Chelsea’s star signing, Romelu Lukaku, finished second to Ronaldo in Serie A scoring last season with Inter Milan.
Five players from Italy’s Euro-winning side also made the list, though Federico Chiesa – who scored twice in the knockout stage – missed out.
Player
Club
Country
Cesar Azpilicueta
Chelsea
Spain
Nicolo Barella
Inter Milan
Italy
Karim Benzema
Real Madrid
France
Leonardo Bonucci
Juventus
Italy
Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City
Belgium
Giorgio Chiellini
Juventus
Italy
Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United/Juventus
Portugal
Ruben Dias
Manchester City
Portugal
Gianluigi Donnarumma
PSG/Milan
Italy
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United
Portugal
Phil Foden
Manchester City
England
Erling Haaland
Borussia Dortmund
Norway
Jorginho
Chelsea
Italy
Harry Kane
Tottenham Hotspur
England
N’Golo Kante
Chelsea
France
Simon Kjaer
Milan
Denmark
Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich
Poland
Romelu Lukaku
Chelsea/Inter Milan
Belgium
Riyad Mahrez
Manchester City
Algeria
Lautaro Martinez
Inter Milan
Argentina
Kylian Mbappe
PSG
France
Lionel Messi
PSG/Barcelona
Argentina
Luka Modric
Real Madrid
Croatia
Gerard Moreno
Villarreal
Spain
Mason Mount
Chelsea
England
Neymar
PSG
Brazil
Pedri
Barcelona
Spain
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
Egypt
Raheem Sterling
Manchester City
England
Luis Suarez
Atletico Madrid
Uruguay
Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma is the only shot-stopper to appear after clinching Euro 2020 for his country with two vital saves in the shootout against England at Wembley Stadium. Prior to joining PSG on a free transfer, the 22-year-old helped AC Milan reach the Champions League for the first time in seven years, posting 14 clean sheets in Serie A.
Milan’s Simon Kjaer is one of the most surprising entries on the list. The 32-year-old defender captained his native Denmark to the semifinals of Euro 2020 and earned praise for the life-saving measures he took when teammate Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field earlier in the tournament. Gerard Moreno, who scored 30 goals in all competitions and won the 2020-21 Europa League title with Villarreal, is another newcomer to the nominees’ list.
Pedri is nominated for both the Ballon d’Or and Kopa Trophy, the latter of which is handed to the best performing player under the age of 21. The Spaniard made 28 starts in his first top-flight season with Barcelona and featured at Euro 2020 and the UEFA European Under-21 Championship immediately after.
At 18 years and 317 days old, Pedri nearly overtook Kylian Mbappe as the youngest player to receive a nomination. Mbappe was 18 years and 293 days old when he first made the list in 2017.
Lewandowski is looking to capture his first-ever Ballon d’Or after missing out on what many believed would be a sure win last year. Bayern’s 33-year-old sharpshooter broke Gerd Muller’s long-standing single-season Bundesliga scoring record with 41 goals in the 2020-21 campaign.
France Football also named 20 nominees for the women’s Ballon d’Or on Friday. Megan Rapinoe, who won the last award in 2019, wasn’t included on this year’s list.
Spain leads all countries with four nominations, while Canada has three, including record goalscorer Christine Sinclair.
Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees
Player
Club
Country
Stina Blackstenius
Hacken
Sweden
Kadidiatou Diani
PSG
France
Christiane Endler
Lyon
Chile
Magdalena Eriksson
Chelsea
Sweden
Jessie Fleming
Chelsea
Canada
Pernille Harder
Chelsea
Denmark
Jennifer Hermoso
Barcelona
Spain
Marie-Antoinette Katoto
PSG
France
Sam Kerr
Chelsea
Australia
Fran Kirby
Chelsea
England
Ashley Lawrence
PSG
Canada
Lieke Martens
Barcelona
Netherlands
Samantha Mewis
North Carolina Courage
Canada
Viviane Miedema
Arsenal
Netherlands
Sandra Panos
Barcelona
Spain
Irene Paredes
Barcelona
Spain
Alexia Putellas
Barcelona
Spain
Wendie Renard
Lyon
France
Christine Sinclair
Thorns FC
Canada
Ellen White
Manchester City
England
Finally, three players from England’s national team feature on France Football’s 10-man shortlist for the Kopa Trophy.
Kopa Trophy nominees
Player
Club
Country
Jude Bellingham
Borussia Dortmund
England
Jeremy Doku
Rennes
Belgium
Ryan Gravenberch
Ajax
Netherlands
Mason Greenwood
Manchester United
England
Nuno Mendes
PSG
Portugal
Jamal Musiala
Bayern Munich
Germany
Pedri
Barcelona
Spain
Giovanni Reyna
Borussia Dortmund
United States
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
England
Florian Wirtz
Bayer Leverkusen
Germany
The Ballon d’Or will be awarded on Nov. 29 in Paris.
The finalists for the 2021 Ballon d’Or award were unveiled Friday, with many of football’s biggest stars occupying a spot on the prestigious list.
As is the case every year after France Football releases its 30-man shortlist, there are a handful of controversial omissions.
Here are five of the biggest snubs for the 2021 Ballon d’Or award:
Heung-min Son (Tottenham/South Korea)
Adam Davy – PA Images / PA Images / Getty
On the heels of another sensational season at Tottenham Hotspur, Heung-min Son somehow failed to make the cut for the revered honor.
Son was brilliant for Spurs last term, forming a dynamic partnership with Harry Kane on his way to finishing the 2020-21 Premier League campaign with 17 goals and 10 assists. But even though his statistics eclipsed the figures that earned him a place in the top 30 two years ago, the South Korean’s best season in north London went unrewarded by the French outlet.
Federico Chiesa (Juventus/Italy)
There’s not much more Federico Chiesa could’ve done to earn his place among football’s elite.
The 23-year-old winger developed into an integral component for both club and country last season. But even after playing an influential role in spearheading Italy’s journey toward capturing the Euro 2020 title and emerging as a star for Juventus, his heroic efforts weren’t enough for some, apparently.
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich/Germany)
Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Joshua Kimmich is perhaps the most puzzling omission of the lot. The versatile German is one of Bayern Munich and Germany’s most consistent players, yet he’s been overlooked by France Football for the second time running.
There’s no doubting the 26-year-old will eventually get recognized in the near future. But there’s also no doubt that, right now, Kimmich is arguably one of the most important and talented players for a Bayern Munich side that habitually competes for – and wins – titles.
Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid/Slovenia)
There wasn’t any room for Jan Oblak in this year’s list of Ballon d’Or contenders, with Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma singled out as the lone representative of the goalkeeping brotherhood.
While there are cases to be made for other goalkeeper snubs – such as Manchester City’s Ederson, Liverpool’s Alisson, Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, and Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy – Oblak’s exclusion may be the most egregious considering his commanding performances in helping Atletico Madrid end their seven-year wait for a La Liga title.
Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil)
Simon Stacpoole/Offside / Offside / Getty
A trophy-less season at Paris Saint-Germain could be one of the explanations for overlooking Marquinhos. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good reason to omit one of the world’s top defenders.
While it was a disappointing season overall for PSG, Marquinhos was a force throughout the campaign before going on to play a vital role during Brazil’s journey to the Copa America final last summer.
Lionel Messi notched his first goal since moving to Paris Saint-Germain, finishing off a slick interchange with Kylian Mbappe by picking out the top corner during Tuesday’s Champions League clash against former boss Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.
The picturesque strike sealed a 2-0 win for PSG in their Group A tilt.
(Available to view in U.S. only)
LEO MESSI SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL FOR PSG ? pic.twitter.com/loIXhBzESC
— CBS Sports Golazo ?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 28, 2021