Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have once again been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for the year 2021. Messi and Ronaldo feature in the 30-man shortlist announced by France Football for the award along with the likes of Jorginho, Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe among others, who are also favourites for the individual honour.

Six-time winner Messi and Ronaldo, a five-time holder, have dominated world football for over a decade and have shared as many as eleven Ballon d'Or trophies between them. Messi was the last player to win the Ballon d'Or award in 2019 as it was not handed out in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, who were instrumental in their side's success in the Champions League are among the favourites to claim the prestigious award this season. Chelsea had defeated Manchester City in the final to win the Champions League last season.

Lewandowski, who was the top scorer in Europe last season with a staggering 41 goals has also been nominated for the award. Messi led Argentina to a Copa America win this summer and also ended his trophy drought in international football. However, he failed to win both the La Liga and the Champion League with Barcelona before leaving the club for PSG ahead of the ongoing season.

Ronaldo too failed to win the Serie A with his former club Juventus last season but has been nominated for the prestigious award. He also failed to inspire Portugal to a successful Euro title defence this year. Ronaldo had finished behind winner Messi and Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk in the 2019 Ballon d'Or award.

Here is the complete list of Ballon d'Or 2021 nominees:&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo

Kylian Mbappe

Lionel Messi

Luka Modric

Robert Lewandowski

Romelu Lukaku

Riyad Mahrez

Lautaro Martinez

Mason Mount

Gerard Moreno

Cesar Azpilicueta

Nicolo Barella

Karim Benzema

Leonardo Bonucci

Giorgio Chiellini

Kevin De Bruyne

Ruben Dias&nbsp;

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Bruno Fernandes

Phil Foden

Erling Haaland

Jorginho

Harry Kane

N'Golo Kante

Simon Kjaer

Neymar

Pedri

Mohamed Salah

Raheem Sterling&nbsp;

Luis Suarez

<h2>Ballon d'Or Feminin - 20 in contention</h2>

France Football have announced 20 nominees for the Ballon d'Or Feminin award. US star Megan Rapinoe missed out on the nominations this time around with Sam Mewis making the cut as the only American on the list. The likes of Sam Kerr, Vivianne Miedema and Pernille Harder are among the favourites to win the women's award this year. UEFA Women's Player of the Year Alexia Putellas has also been nominated.

Check out the full list of nominations:

Alexia Putellas

Magdalena Eriksson

Marie-Antoinette Katoto

Sam Kerr&nbsp;

Stina Blackstenius

Wendie Renard

Samantha Mewis

Pernille Harder

Vivianne Miedema

Sandra Panos

Lieke Martens

Jessie Fleming

Irene Paredes

Ashley Lawrence

Christine Sinclair

Ellen White&nbsp;

Christiane Endler

Jennifer Hermoso

Fran Kirby

Kadidiatou Diani

Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have once again been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for the year 2021. Messi and Ronaldo feature in the 30-man shortlist announced by France Football for the award along with the likes of Jorginho, Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe among others, who are also favourites for the individual honour.

Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have once again been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for the year 2021. Messi and Ronaldo feature in the 30-man shortlist announced by France Football for the award along with the likes of Jorginho, Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe among others, who are also favourites for the individual honour. Six-time winner Messi and Ronaldo, a five-time holder, have dominated world football for over a decade and have shared as many as eleven Ballon d'Or trophies between them. Messi was the last player to win the Ballon d'Or award in 2019 as it was not handed out in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Chelsea midfielder Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, who were instrumental in their side's success in the Champions League are among the favourites to claim the prestigious award this season. Chelsea had defeated Manchester City in the final to win the Champions League last season. Lewandowski, who was the top scorer in Europe last season with a staggering 41 goals has also been nominated for the award. Messi led Argentina to a Copa America win this summer and also ended his trophy drought in international football. However, he failed to win both the La Liga and the Champion League with Barcelona before leaving the club for PSG ahead of the ongoing season. Ronaldo too failed to win the Serie A with his former club Juventus last season but has been nominated for the prestigious award. He also failed to inspire Portugal to a successful Euro title defence this year. Ronaldo had finished behind winner Messi and Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk in the 2019 Ballon d'Or award. Here is the complete list of Ballon d'Or 2021 nominees: Cristiano Ronaldo Kylian Mbappe Lionel Messi Luka Modric Robert Lewandowski Romelu Lukaku Riyad Mahrez Lautaro Martinez Mason Mount Gerard Moreno Cesar Azpilicueta Nicolo Barella Karim Benzema Leonardo Bonucci Giorgio Chiellini Kevin De Bruyne Ruben Dias Gianluigi Donnarumma Bruno Fernandes Phil Foden Erling Haaland Jorginho Harry Kane N'Golo Kante Simon Kjaer Neymar Pedri Mohamed Salah Raheem Sterling Luis Suarez Ballon d'Or Feminin - 20 in contention France Football have announced 20 nominees for the Ballon d'Or Feminin award. US star Megan Rapinoe missed out on the nominations this time around with Sam Mewis making the cut as the only American on the list. The likes of Sam Kerr, Vivianne Miedema and Pernille Harder are among the favourites to win the women's award this year. UEFA Women's Player of the Year Alexia Putellas has also been nominated. Check out the full list of nominations: Alexia Putellas Magdalena Eriksson Marie-Antoinette Katoto Sam Kerr Stina Blackstenius Wendie Renard Samantha Mewis Pernille Harder Vivianne Miedema Sandra Panos Lieke Martens Jessie Fleming Irene Paredes Ashley Lawrence Christine Sinclair Ellen White Christiane Endler Jennifer Hermoso Fran Kirby Kadidiatou Diani

Ballon d'Or 2021 nominees: Ronaldo, Messi and Jorginho in contention for prestigious award; check full list

Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale and Manchester City's Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne were among the first 10 nominees for the Ballon d'Or award announced on Monday.

Bale, who scored two goals in Real's triumph in the final of the Champions League against Liverpool, joins his club teammate Karim Benzema among the first wave of 30 nominees for the year's best player.

De Bruyne was nominated for helping his club win the Premier League and his country reach the World Cup semi-finals.

The winner of the prestigious award organised by France Football magazine will be announced on December 3.

Having lost out in the FIFA best player of the year award to Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo takes his place among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or that were being unveiled in stages throughout Monday.

The Juventus forward, currently facing allegations of rape dating back to 2009 that he strenuously denies, has already won the Ballon d'Or five times and is the current holder of the award.

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero is nominated as is another prolific South American striker, Edinson Cavani of Uruguay and Paris Saint-Germain.

Two goalkeepers are also among the first 10 -- Thibaut Courtois of Belgium and Real Madrid and Liverpool and Brazil stopper Alisson Becker.

Liverpool's Brazilian Roberto Firmino is also nominated and Uruguay's rugged defender Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid also got the nod.

For the first time, a Ballon d'Or for women players will be awarded this year, with the nominees to be announced later Monday.

In another first, the best under-21 player will receive the Kopa Trophy. Kylian Mbappe, the Paris Saint-Germain striker who burst onto the global scene with his performances as France won the World Cup, is the favourite.

The Ballon d'Or, which was first won by Englishman Stanley Matthews in 1956, is decided by a ballot of journalists from around the world.

First 10 nominees (of 30) for Ballon d'Or&nbsp;

1. Sergio Aguero

2. Alisson Becker

3. Gareth Bale

4. Karim Benzema

5. Edinson Cavani

6. Thibaut Courtois

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

8. Kevin De Bruyne

9. Roberto Firmino

10. Diego Godin

Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale and Manchester City's Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne were among the first 10 nominees for the Ballon d'Or award announced on Monday.

Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale and Manchester City's Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne were among the first 10 nominees for the Ballon d'Or award announced on Monday. Bale, who scored two goals in Real's triumph in the final of the Champions League against Liverpool, joins his club teammate Karim Benzema among the first wave of 30 nominees for the year's best player. De Bruyne was nominated for helping his club win the Premier League and his country reach the World Cup semi-finals. The winner of the prestigious award organised by France Football magazine will be announced on December 3. Having lost out in the FIFA best player of the year award to Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo takes his place among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or that were being unveiled in stages throughout Monday. The Juventus forward, currently facing allegations of rape dating back to 2009 that he strenuously denies, has already won the Ballon d'Or five times and is the current holder of the award. Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero is nominated as is another prolific South American striker, Edinson Cavani of Uruguay and Paris Saint-Germain. Two goalkeepers are also among the first 10 -- Thibaut Courtois of Belgium and Real Madrid and Liverpool and Brazil stopper Alisson Becker. Liverpool's Brazilian Roberto Firmino is also nominated and Uruguay's rugged defender Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid also got the nod. For the first time, a Ballon d'Or for women players will be awarded this year, with the nominees to be announced later Monday. In another first, the best under-21 player will receive the Kopa Trophy. Kylian Mbappe, the Paris Saint-Germain striker who burst onto the global scene with his performances as France won the World Cup, is the favourite. The Ballon d'Or, which was first won by Englishman Stanley Matthews in 1956, is decided by a ballot of journalists from around the world. First 10 nominees (of 30) for Ballon d'Or 1. Sergio Aguero 2. Alisson Becker 3. Gareth Bale 4. Karim Benzema 5. Edinson Cavani 6. Thibaut Courtois 7. Cristiano Ronaldo 8. Kevin De Bruyne 9. Roberto Firmino 10. Diego Godin

Gareth Bale, De Bruyne in first Ballon d'Or nominees

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Ballon d'Or 2021 nominees: Ronaldo, Messi and Jorginho in contention for prestigious award; check full list

Gareth Bale, De Bruyne in first Ballon d'Or nominees