Sports
IPL 2021: Delhi secure Qualifier 1 with 3-wicket win against Chennai
Delhi Capitals have secured the qualifier 1 spot in the playoffs round after defeating Chennai Super Kings by 3 wickets in Dubai. Delhi currently top the points table with 20 points and a game in hand. They will play Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday (October 8) and have a chance to finish top in the IPL 2021 round-robin league points table. On the other hand, Chennai must win their last league match against Punjab Kings on Thursday (October 7) to finish in the top two spots in the standings. The match report of CSK vs. DC is discussed in this article.
Match Report: CSK vs. DC
Delhi Capitals captain Rishab Pant chose to field first against Chennai Super Kings on Monday in Dubai.
Chennai’s Innings
Chennai Super Kings batted first and managed to score 136/5 In their allocated 20 overs. They got off to a good start, as the opening pair put up 28 runs in three overs. However, Chennai's batting collapsed when Faf Du Plessis left the crease, as they lost four wickets for 62 runs in nine overs.
Read: IPL 2021: Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan in three-way race for a playoffs spot
Indian spinner Axar Patel was the real difference-maker between the two teams. He provided the first breakthrough for Delhi by taking Faf Du Plessis' wicket. He also sent Moeen Ali back to the pavilion in the eighth over.
MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu put on a 70-run partnership to help Chennai rebuild their innings. They kept a close eye on the scoreboard in the middle but didn't strive too hard to accelerate the run rates. These two players stayed at the crease till the last over for a competitive total. However, they were unable to produce big shots in the death overs and were forced to settle for a low total. Ambati Rayudu scored the highest runs with 55 off 43 balls, while Dhoni made 18 runs.
Delhi's spinners had shown excellent discipline in the middle. They were on target and didn't let them free their arms. Axar Patel took the highest two wickets for 18 runs in his four overs. Ravi Ashwin and pacer Kagiso Rabada were both outstanding with the ball for Delhi.
Read: KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
Delhi’s Innings
Delhi Capitals bowlers did their job very well by limiting Chennai to a manageable score. Delhi reached the 137-run target with two balls to spare.
Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan gave Delhi a solid start with a 24-run opening partnership between them. Dhawan assumed control of the innings following the departure of Prithvi Shaw (18). Delhi looked strong in the middle but their batting order crumbled, and things looked worse when Dhawan (39) lost his wicket in the 15th over. Delhi were 99/6 at the time.
Delhi fought back with an undefeated 28* off 18 balls knock from West Indian power batter Shimron Hetmyer, and triumphed in 19.4 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur were outstanding with the ball. For Chennai, they each took two wickets.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh team reaches Oman
Player of the Match
Delhi Capitals spinner Axar Patel was named the best player of the match for his brilliant effort with the ball.
Bottom Line
Chennai Super Kings have now lost two consecutive games, and the momentum has shifted back to the Delhi Capitals, who have won two successive matches. Chennai must defeat Punjab in order to secure qualifier 1 spot in the playoffs. Otherwise, they will have to rely on the results of Bangalore's fixtures.
Chennai's top order struggled against Delhi, putting the middle order under strain. As a result, they had to settle for a low total to defend. Chennai's top order must rediscover their best rhythm before the crucial playoffs round. On the other side, the Rishab Pant-led Delhi Capitals team has done well as a unit. They have the depth and balance in their squad to win the IPL 2021 tournament.
Read: IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
BKSP tops National Age Group Swimming medal table
The Bangladesh Krira Sikkha Protishtan (BKSP) claimed 34 gold medals till Monday to remain a runaway leader in the Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition 2021.
The BKSP secured 103 medals, including 37 silver and 32 bronze medals, up to the second day of the three-day meet at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur.
READ: In swimming, it’s different strokes for different folks
Bangladesh Ansar remained in second place with 18 golds, eight silvers and four bronzes. The third-placed Bogura Swimming Centre collected three golds, four silvers and two bronzes.
Thirty-six events were completed today, featuring six new national records – five in swimming and one in diving.
Five swimming events were boys' and girls' 200-metre breaststroke (18-20 year group), boys' 200-metre backstroke (18-20 year group), boys' 100-metre butterfly (18-20 year group), boys' 100-metre freestyle (18-20 year group) and one-metre springboard diving.
READ: Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming begins on Sunday
Sunday, President of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal inaugurated the three-day meet at a simple ceremony, chaired by Tarafder M Ruhul Amin, the BSF vice-president and managing director of the meet's sponsor Saif Powertek.
SAFF Championship: 10-man Bangladesh come from behind to draw with India
Defender Yeasin Arafat helped Bangladesh earn a thrilling 1-1 draw against India in the SAFF Championship 2021 on Monday, with the men in red and green coming back from being a man and a goal down in the second half to earn a crucial point.
With the draw at the National Football Stadium in Male, Bangladesh are now top of the standings with four points from two matches after beating Sri Lanka 1-0 in the tournament opener.
READ: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh take on favourites India on Monday
As in the first game, Bangladesh's goal was scored by a defender, with Yeasin against India emulating Topu Barman against Sri Lanka.
Captain Sunil Chhetri put India ahead in the 26th minute, off a right-wing cross from Udoy Singh (1-0). It was his 76th international goal and sixth against Bangladesh. But Yeasin's 74th-minute equaliser ensured the teams shared the points.
Before that, Oscar Bruzon's men went down to 10 men after Bishwanath Ghosh was sent off in the 54th minute.
South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil to face Uruguay in October
South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers will resume on Thursday (October 7). All ten CONMEBOL nations will compete in three qualifiers this month. Uruguay will play three tough games this month, including one against Colombia on October 8 (Bangladesh Standard Time), another against Argentina on October 11, and the other against Brazil on October 15. The top four teams in the standings will automatically qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The fifth-placeholder team will have to compete in the Playoffs for a World Cup spot. Let's take a look at the October CONMEBOL World Cup 2022 fixtures.
Predicted Starting XI: Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay
Brazil and Argentina are the only two unbeaten teams In the South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers. With the exception of Uruguay, both South American heavyweights have relatively easy games in this October international window.
Paulo Dybala was included in Argentina's squad by Coach Lionel Scaloni. However, he was eventually ruled out due to injury. Apart from the clash against Uruguay, Argentina will play Paraguay on October 8 and Peru on October 15. Lionel Messi-led Argentina team is in excellent form after winning the Copa America in July. Scaloni has built the ideal setup for Messi to thrive on the international stage. Argentina will start as favorites in each game in the qualifiers.
Read Ballon d'Or 2021: Five favorites to win the coveted award
Argentina’s Predicted Starting XI
Emiliano Martinez (Goalkeeper), Cristian Romero, Germán Pezzella, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Alejandro Gómez, Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi (Captain)
Brazilian Coach Tite has a lot of options to choose the best players from the talented squad. Brazil presently hold an advantage of six-point over Argentina in the point standings, with 24 points. They will play Venezuela on October 8 and Colombia on October 11 before finishing this international window with a match against Uruguay. Neymar is fully fit for the matches, and his creativity in the attacking half will be crucial for Brazil. Like Argentina, the Brazilian team will be the favorite in each of their qualifying matches.
Read Barcelona coach Koeman says rumors of firing 'probably true'
Brazil’s Predicted Starting XI
Alisson (Goalkeeper), Thiago Silva (Captain), Marquinhos, Danilo, Sandro, Casemiro, Fabinho, Paqueta, Vinícius Júnior, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar
Uruguay's qualifying matches this month are extremely important. They should execute some flawless strategies to overcome Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. Uruguay may fall behind in the points table if they fail to win a match and jeopardize their chances of qualifying for the World Cup as well. Uruguay have some talented players, but their team spirit is crucial in important games. Therefore, they will have to play as a team in order to defeat tough opponents.
Uruguay’s Predicted Starting XI
Fernando Muslera (Goalkeeper); Diego Godín (Captain), José María Giménez, Ronald Araujo, Matías Viña; Federico Valverde, Matías Vecino, Rodrigo Bentancur, Nahitan Nández; Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani.
Read Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
October 2021 Fixtures for South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers
A total of 15 CONMEBOL qualifiers will be played in the month of October. Here are the fixtures.
Date
Fixture
Time (BST)
October 8 (Friday)
Uruguay vs. Colombia
5 AM
October 8 (Friday)
Paraguay vs. Argentina
5 AM
October 8 (Friday)
Venezuela vs. Brazil
5.30 AM
October 8 (Friday)
Ecuador vs. Bolivia
6.30 AM
October 8 (Friday)
Peru vs. Chile
7 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Bolivia vs. Peru
2 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Venezuela vs. Ecuador
2.30 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Colombia vs. Brazil
3 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Argentina vs. Uruguay
5.30 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Chile vs. Paraguay
6 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Bolivia vs. Uruguay
2 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Colombia vs. Ecuador
3 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Argentina vs. Peru
5.30 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Chile vs. Venezuela
6 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Brazil vs. Uruguay
6.30 AM
Verdict
Brazil and Argentina are now placed in the first and second positions respectively at the end of eight games in the South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers. In the qualifiers, each side will play a total of 18 matches. Therefore, all teams still have a chance to advance to the main event.
As per the fixtures, Uruguay have tough games in October as they will be up against the three best teams in the continent. They are presently in third place, with only two points separating them from fourth and fifth place teams. On the other hand, Argentina and Brazil are expected to win their matches and maintain their respective positions in the standings.
Read Man Utd vs. Villarreal: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal gives Manchester United a dramatic win
Bangladesh trade, investment virtual summit Oct 26-Nov 1
A week-long “Bangladesh Trade & Investment Summit” will be held virtually from October 26 to November 1, 2021.
The summit will be held to celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh’s golden jubilee of independence.
The Ministry of Commerce and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) will host the event. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate it.
Also read: DCCI plans investment summit in Singapore this year
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen assured of his fullest cooperation to the DCCI during a recent meeting with DCCI President Rizwan Rahman, said the DCCI on Monday.
The theme of the Summit is ‘Connecting the Economy of Tomorrow’ which coincides the spirit of 1971 where the number 1 stands for a single host nation, 9 stands for nine sectors, 7 stands for seven days and 1 stands for a summit.
The objective of the summit will be to promote Bangladesh as an attractive trading and FDI destination to global businesses, to extend global integration on trade and investment into a new global reality and secure investment in diverse priority and emerging industries for mutual benefits.
The summit will discuss nine sectors underscoring critical enablers and avenues of the economy, demanding massive investments, especially in infrastructure.
Also read: Bangladesh economy suffered due to Covid pandemic: DCCI Webinar
Followed by the inauguration, there will be a series of sector specific webinars where dignitaries, ministers, high government officials, researchers, think tanks, economists, policy makers and academicians both from home and abroad will also join.
More than 160+ B2B are expected to be held with the participation of 320+ business entrepreneurs.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen appreciated the endeavour of MoC and DCCI and said that it will be a very timely initiative to attract the readiness of Bangladesh to lure foreign investments.
Despite the pandemic, Bangladesh is poised to keep a positive economic growth, he said.
DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said despite the Covid crunch Bangladesh has registered a remarkable 5.47% GDP growth in FY2021.
He said the confidence of the global investors in Bangladesh has increased as some bold and strategic reforms are consistently being taken considering the changing geo-economic dynamics and private sector needs.
The DCCI President sought cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to disseminate the summit information to the businesses around the globe through all the Diplomatic Missions of Bangladesh.
IPL 2021: Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan in three-way race for a playoffs spot
Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have already qualified for the Indian Premier League's 14th season playoffs. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals are vying for the last playoff spot. Punjab Kings are still in the race mathematically, but their chances are primarily dependent on the results of the round-robin league's other fixtures. Who have a better chance of qualifying for the IPL 2021 playoffs are discussed in this article.
Read: KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
IPL 2021: Who will be the Fourth Team in the Playoffs?
Chennai Super Kings lead the IPL 2021 points standings with 18 points as of October 3rd. On the other hand, holding the bottom position with 4 points, Sunrisers Hyderabad are on the verge of getting out of the tournament.
IPL 2021 points table (as of October 3)
Team
Match
Win
Lost
Points
NRR
CSK (Q)
12
9
3
18
0.829
DC (Q)
12
9
3
18
0.551
RCB (Q)
12
8
4
16
-0.157
KKR
13
6
7
12
0.294
PBKS
13
5
8
10
-0.241
RR
12
5
7
10
-0.337
MI
12
5
7
10
-0.453
SRH
12
2
10
4
-0.475
Read IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Kolkata Knight Riders
Shakib Al Hasan was finally given an opportunity to take part in the playing XI in Kolkata's most recent encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Shakib contributed with the ball, picking up a wicket in his four overs. Kolkata won the match by 6 wickets and climbed to the fourth position in the points standings. In the round-robin league stage, the Knight Riders have only one game left. However, they outperform the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in terms of run rate. If Kolkata win their next match against Rajasthan Royals on October 7, they will qualify for the playoffs (Thursday). They won't have to rely on the outcomes of other games.
Read: IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians were beaten by Delhi Capitals by four wickets in their most recent match, dropping to second last in the points standings. The next match for Mumbai is on Tuesday against Rajasthan Royals (October 5). The Mumbai Indians must win the game by a large margin to improve their run rates. Furthermore, whoever lose the match will be eliminated from contention for a final playoffs spot.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals have struggled to put up their best performances in the UAE phase of the IPL 2021. They have won two and lost three in their last five matches. Rajasthan won their latest match against tournament favorites Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets in Abu Dhabi and showed some promise as a unit. Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman has been one of Rajasthan's most consistent players with the ball. He has the potential to play a pivotal role in their upcoming games against Mumbai Indians (October 5) and Kolkata Knight Riders (October 7). Rajasthan will move to the next round if they win both games.
Read: IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
Verdict
If the top two teams in the league stage lose their qualifier 1 match of the knockout round, they will be given another opportunity in the playoffs. Therefore, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are all hoping to finish in the top two positions in the points table.
On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are in a great position to make the final playoffs spot despite having only one match remaining. If Mumbai, Rajasthan, and Kolkata lose any of their remaining matches, they will be eliminated from the competition. The remainder of the round-robin league fixtures of IPL 2021 will surely be thrilling.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh team reaches Oman
T20 World Cup: Bangladesh team reaches Oman
Bangladesh national cricket team reached Muscat, Oman at around 9:30 am on Monday.
They left Dhaka Sunday midnight by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight.
There was uncertainty over Bangladesh’s departure due to the tropical cyclone Shaheen that hit Oman on Sunday.
Due to the cyclone, the Muscat International Airport postponed all flights indefinitely. However, the better weather helped the authorities to resume the operation of the airprot.
Read:Tigers test negative for Covid-19 before flying for WC
Bangladesh team was originally scheduled to leave Dhaka at 10:45 pm on Sunday which was delayed due to inclement weather.
After a five-day camp in Oman, Bangladesh will travel to the UAE on October 9 to play two warm-up matches against Sri Lanka and Ireland. They will return to Oman on October 15.
In the first round of the World Cup, Bangladesh will take on Scotland, Oman and Papua New Guinea on October 17, 19 and 21.
Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming begins on Sunday
The Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming and Dyving Competition 2021, arranged on the occasion of the of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, began on Sunday (Oct 3) at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur.
President of Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) and Chief of the Bangladesh Navy Admiral M Shahin Iqbal inaugurated three-day meet at a simple ceremony, chaired by BSF vice president and Managing Director of the meet’s sponsored Saif Powertek Ltd Tarafder M Ruhul Amin.
Thirty six events were decided on the very first day (Sunday) featuring two new national records.
After the first day, BKSP comfortably dominated the medal table securing 17 gold, 20 silver and 14 bronzes while Bangladesh Ansar were in distant 2nd with seven gold, four silver and two bronzes.
SAFF Championship: Bangladesh take on favourites India on Monday
Bangladesh national football team will face giant neighbor and upper ranked India in their 2nd match of the five-nation SAFF Championship 2021 on Monday (Oct 4) at 5 pm Bangladesh Time at the National Football Stadium in the Maldives capital Male.
T-Sports will telecast the match live from the big bowl at 5:pm (BST).
Earlier on Friday, Bangladesh team made a good start in the regional soccer meet beating Island nation Sri Lanka by 1-0.
Veteran defender Tapu Barman scored the match-winner for Bangladesh in the 56th minute and was adjudged man of the match.
It will be another acid test for the newly appointed Spanish interim Head Coach of Bangladesh national football team Oscar Bruzon after proving his worth in his very first assignment (against Sri Lanka).
Read: Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
In the remaining matches of the South Asian biggest soccer tournament Bangladesh will play hosts Maldives on Oct 7 at 10 pm and Nepal on Oct 13 at 5:pm , both at the National Football Stadium in Male.
Two top teams of the five–nation meet will play the final on October 16 at the small venue.
Bangladesh team made their practices at the Henveiru Training Pitch in Male on Sunday from 5:30 to 7 pm (Bangladesh Time) where defender Rezaul Karim did not take part due to sickness.
Ahead of the Monday’s vital match, Bangladesh Medio Sohel Rana, who missed the team’s first match due to fever and joined the team’s practice session on Sunday said, “Our players are morally boost-up now after winning the first match (against Sri Lanka), but we have to utilize few chances that came our way against India”.
Earlier, the recently relieved head coach Jamie Day's Bangladesh team completed their Three-nation Cup and friendly match in Kyrgyzstan, a preparatory tour for SAFF Championships, with a frustrating note losing all the three matches,
Visiting Bangladesh conceded 0-2 goals defeat against Palestine in their first match of the Three Nations Cup, suffered 1-4 goals defeat against hosts Kyrgyzstan, the unbeaten champions of the three nations cup and finally conceded 2-3 goals defeat against Kyrgyzstan U-23 team, all at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek.
Ballon d'Or 2021: Five favorites to win the coveted award
Since 1956, France Football magazine has given the Ballon d'Or to the best player of the year. Usually, the top players from the World Cup, continental football tournaments, and European club football championships fight for the prestigious award. During the selection process of the best footballer of the year, the finest individual performances in the Euro 2020 and Copa America 2021 competitions will be given more priority. Therefore, all eyes are stuck on the best performers in major events. Let’s see who are the top five potential candidates for the Ballon d'Or 2021 award.
Top Five Contenders for the Ballon d'Or 2021 Award
We have compiled a list of the top five individual performers this year for the renowned Ballon d'Or award 2021. Take a look at the players who made our list.
05) N'Golo Kante (France & Chelsea)
Kante’s accomplishments in 2021: Champions League and UEFA Super Cup
N'Golo Kante has been Chelsea's most consistent performer this season. Chelsea qualified for the Champions League final thanks to Kante's outstanding performances in the knockout stages. He was outstanding in the CL final against Manchester City, helping the Blues win the tournament for the second time last May. Kante's influence on the current Chelsea squad can't be denied despite the fact that he was relatively quiet in the Euro 2020 tournament for France. Kante is expected to be one of the top five candidates for the Ballon d'Or 2021 award.
Read Barcelona coach Koeman says rumors of firing 'probably true'
04) Romelu Lukaku (Belgium & Inter Milan)
Lukaku’s accomplishments in 2021: Serie A
Striker Romelu Lukaku's fortunes turned around after transferring from Manchester United to Inter Milan in 2019. He helped Inter Milan win the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years with 24 goals and 11 assists. He was Serie A's most valuable player for the 2020/2021 season. Lukaku had a quiet EURO campaign for Belgium, which might affect his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or award. The charismatic forward joined Chelsea from Inter Milan during the summer transfer window of 2021. Lukaku has been one of the top performers for Chelsea in the 2021-2022 season.
03) Robert Lewandowski (Germany & Bayern Munich)
Lewandowski’s accomplishments in 2021: Bundesliga & DFL Super Cup
Robert Lewandowski has been one of the finest strikers in the world in the last ten years. He broke Gerd Muller's record for most goals in a single Bundesliga season with 41 goals in the 2020/2021 season. Bayern Munich's most prolific striker has made an excellent start this season. However, Lewandowski failed to lead Poland to the knockout round of the EURO 2020 competition. Despite this, he scored three goals for the Polish national team in the tournament.
Read Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
02) Jorginho (Italy & Chelsea)
Jorginho’s accomplishments in 2021: Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and UEFA European Championship 2020
Italian creative midfielder Jorginho has won more trophies than anybody else on the list in terms of winning silverware. Jorginho was a key player for Italy at EURO 2020, and he helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021. Jorginho is one of the leading candidates for the Ballon d'Or 2021.
01) Lionel Messi (Argentina & Barcelona)
Messi’s accomplishments in 2021: Copa del Rey, Copa America 2021
Individually, Lionel Messi had done well for Barcelona last season, assisting them in winning the Copa del Rey. However, Lionel Messi has emerged as one of the leading contenders for the Ballon d'Or 2021 award after winning the Copa America 2021. Lionel Messi's first major trophy with the Argentina national team came in this tournament. Messi was a standout performer for Argentina at the South American Championship. Deservedly, he is now in the lead in the race for the coveted individual trophy.
Read SAFF Championship: Bangladesh kick off against Sri Lanka in opener Friday
Bottom Line
The Ballon d'Or 2021 award will be presented to the best player of the year on November 29, at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris. Personal performance is taken into consideration when picking the best footballer of the year. That’s why sports journalists, national team captains, and coaches will evaluate the individual performances of the nominated footballers before selecting the eventual winner.
Based on the achievements of the players, Argentina's Lionel Messi is the overwhelming favorite to win his seventh Ballon d'Or award this year. The diminutive Argentine magician won his first trophy with the national team last July and this success is likely to influence many panelists to vote for Messi. Italy's Jorginho and Polish striker Lewandowski also have a fair chance of winning the award since they have done well for their respective teams. On the other hand, Kante and Lukaku are also on the list by virtue of their praiseworthy performance in 2021
Read Man Utd vs. Villarreal: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal gives Manchester United a dramatic win