Former Real Madrid and Juventus defender, Fabio Cannavaro, has snubbed Chelsea midfielder, Jorginho, and named Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi, as the player that should win the Ballon d’ Or this year.
Cannavaro, who won the Ballon d’ Or in 2006, said he was convinced Messi will win the Ballon d’ Or this year ahead of Jorginho.
Messi won the 2021 Copa America with Argentina, while Jorginho won the Champions League with Chelsea and he was a key player in Italy’s successful Euros title triumph in the summer.
Messi and Jorginho were included in this year’s 30-man Ballon d’ Or nominees last week.
Both players are expected to rival Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, among others for the top individual prize.
“There haven’t been five Italians in the running since I won [Ballon d’ Or] in 2006,” Cannavaro told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“So, it is a good sign. Jorginho is the most accredited, although I am convinced [Lionel] Messi will win [the Ballon d’ Or].”
He added, “[Nicolò] Barella and the others all deserve it, but [Federico] Chiesa should have been in the group too, after what he showed.”
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Ballon d’ Or: I’m conviced – Fabio Cannavaro snubs Jorginho, names player to win award