Five Serie A players and five Italians are among the nominated for the Ballon d’Or 2021.
Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci was named among the first five names nominated for the Ballon d’Or and other Italians followed quickly.
Juventus have two players on the list, with the Azzurri captain Giorgio Chiellini also nominated for the prize.
Chelsea star Jorginho, who picked up both the Champions League and the European Championship in 2021 has been tipped to be one of the favourites for the award, while Inter midfielder Nicolò Barella and former Milan goalkeeper Gigio Donnarumma are on the list.
Denmark international Simon Kjaer, who has been praised for his actions when Christian Eriksen collapsed in the first game of the Euros at Parken Stadium, has also been nominated for the award.
Inter forward Lautaro Martinez is one of four non-European players on the list.
The 30 players nominated for the Ballon d’Or 2021.
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria, Manchester City)
N’Golo Kanté (France, Chelsea)
Erling Haaland (Norway, Borussia Dortmund)
Leonardo Bonucci (Italy, Juventus)
Mason Mount (England, Chelsea)
Cesar Azpilicueta (Spain, Chelsea)
Nicolò Barella (Italy, Inter)
Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid)
Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City)
Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester United)
Ruben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain)
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal, Manchester United)
Phil Foden (England, Manchester City)
Jorginho (Italy, Chelsea)
Harry Kane (England, Tottenham Hotspur)
N’Golo Kanté (France, Chelsea)
Simon Kjaer (Denmark, Milan)
Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern Munich)
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium, Chelsea)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter)
Kylian Mbappé (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Paris Saint-Germain)
Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid)
Gerard Moreno (Spain, Villarreal)
Neymar (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Pedri (Spain, Barcelona)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
Raheem Sterling (England, Manchester City)
Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid)
Here are our first nominees for the 2021 #ballondor!
🇩🇿 Riyad Mahrez
🇫🇷 Ngolo Kanté
🇳🇴 Erling Haaland
🇮🇹 Leonardo Bonucci
🏴 Mason Mount pic.twitter.com/HdtZwVa74N— France Football #BallondOr (@francefootball) October 8, 2021
We still have a lot to announce! Here are five new 2021 #ballondor nominees!
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi
🇵🇹 Bruno Fernandes
🇪🇸 Pedri
🇭🇷 Luka Modrić
🇮🇹 Giorgio Chiellini pic.twitter.com/PXQSYjSlyO— France Football #BallondOr (@francefootball) October 8, 2021
We still have a lot to announce! Here are five new 2021 #ballondor nominees!
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi
🇵🇹 Bruno Fernandes
🇪🇸 Pedri
🇭🇷 Luka Modrić
🇮🇹 Giorgio Chiellini pic.twitter.com/PXQSYjSlyO— France Football #BallondOr (@francefootball) October 8, 2021
We still have a lot to announce! Here are five new 2021 #ballondor nominees!
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi
🇵🇹 Bruno Fernandes
🇪🇸 Pedri
🇭🇷 Luka Modrić
🇮🇹 Giorgio Chiellini pic.twitter.com/PXQSYjSlyO— France Football #BallondOr (@francefootball) October 8, 2021
🇮🇹 @chiellini @juventusfc#ballondor pic.twitter.com/uXUaZSkZBS
— France Football #BallondOr (@francefootball) October 8, 2021
🇮🇹 Nicolò Barella@Inter#ballondor pic.twitter.com/wrGjFSC5Tw
— France Football #BallondOr (@francefootball) October 8, 2021
🇮🇹 @gigiodonna1 @PSG_inside#ballondor pic.twitter.com/zkOwshggG5
— France Football #BallondOr (@francefootball) October 8, 2021
Chiesaaa????
Jorginho deserves it. NOT only for the trophies, but for the contribution to win them.
Imo only Barella could take it from him. Title with Inter and European Cup Winner with Italy. Both pivotal within their team.
I don’t include Lautaro because I dont believe he was vital either for Inter nor Argentina . Plus the Coppa America isn’t that good as the EU.
Mahrez only won the EPL, same for De Bruyne so yeah, that’s it for me.
Insane that Sterling and Foden are nominated but Chiesa is not.
Luis Suarez over Ciro Immobile seems based a nod to past performance. Similat league stats, Ciro had UCL goals and won the Euros.
I think probably Jorginho is the best bet, due to winning the UCL and Euros. Although a lot of the star names are with PSG, they won nothing.