Ballon d’Or 2021 LIVE as Lionel Messi beats Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho for award

The next two names are unveiled and we’ve got Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, along with Argentina and Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.

They come in tied for 21st.

Fernandes of course had an incredible start to the year with United as his scoring form continued, and his Europa League form was good too - though he didn’t have quite the required impact at the Euros. Martinez helped Inter to the Serie A title and was the starting centre-forward for his nation as they won the Copa America.

There’s the second of four English players from the shortlist: Harry Kane comes in 23rd.

The Spurs striker has had a shocker of a season so far domestically, but last year won the Golden Boot again in the Premier League and helped fire England to the Euro 2020 final, of course.

He’s in the running to win the Kopa Trophy tonight, but Barcelona’s midfield teenager Pedri doesn’t quite crack the top 20 this time around for the main event.

24th after what was effectively his second year in senior football is mightily special, all the same!

Manchester City starlet Phil Foden is next out, placed 25th best player in world football. What a phenomenal achievement for the 21-year-old.

Three more names are out and we have three tied in joint 26th.

Nicolo Barella of Inter Milan, Manchester City’s central defender Ruben Dias and Spain and Villarreal forward Gerard Moreno all announced together.

Five of the 20 shortlisted players for the Women’s Ballon d’Or play for Barcelona; given their stunning Champions League success last season it’s little surprise. As we’ve already mentioned, Alexia Putellas is the big favourite - but all her team-mates must be in the running too.

Plenty of people have something to say on who the recipients of the award should be tonight.

Dani Alves says it should go to Christian Eriksen after his Euro 2020 collapse and subsequent recovery, saying it would “send a strong message” for football to have more sensitivity.

Francesco Totti would give it to Robert Lewandowski, after years of Messi and Ronaldo domination.

And the first two players are revealed together, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and Chelsea’s Champions League-winning defender Cesar Azpilicueta both come in 29th.

The Crotian midfielder is of course a former winner of the Ballon d’Or, claiming the prize in 2018.

France Football teasing us with a mini announcement instead of the first revealed players...

Neymar is on the list of nominees for tonight, though is not expected to be anywhere near the front-runners after a fairly disappointing time of matters - including defeat in the Copa America final.

His 2021 isn’t going to get any better either, as an ankle ligament injury is set to keep him sidelined for 6-8 weeks, it has just been announced. No more action for him until after the winter break and into the new year with PSG.

How low down the list of nominees will he appear tonight? The Ballon d’Or reveal is about to begin!