Barcelona legend Rivaldo gives Ballon d'Or verdict from three-horse race

Barcelona legend Rivaldo believes that the Ballon d'Or should go to Robert Lewandowski - but hasn't ruled out Lionel Messi or Mohamed Salah scooping the gong.

Voting has now closed for the award which will crown the world's best player, with the ceremony set to take place at the end of November.

The event was cancelled last year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, arguably depriving Lewandowski of winning the prize for the first time.

In 2020, the Polish international played a key role as Bayern Munich romped to the Bundesliga title and the Champions League.

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Robert Lewandowski is now the favourite to win the award for the first time ( Image:

Getty Images)

However, such has been his unerring level of consistency, the 33-year-old remains one of the favourites to win it this time around as well.

In 34 league matches, Lewandowski has scored 41 times and in midweek, marked his 100th Champions League appearance with a stunning hat-trick against Benfica.

Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann said of his forward: "I can't think of anyone else deserving the award like he does after he over the past years continuously delivered goals.

"That is what makes him a special one. He is without any doubt the world's best striker."

Lewandowski has recently moved ahead of Lionel Messi in the bookmakers' odds, with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah also in the running.

But Rivaldo, who was crowned as the world's best in 1999, believes the bookies have it right and that Lewandowski should win the prize.

"Robert Lewandowski is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or when it is awarded on 29 November. He would be a deserved winner, as would Lionel Messi and Mo Salah," he told Betfair.

Brazil legend Rivaldo thinks it will be between Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Mo Salah

"The Bayern Munich striker is a fantastic player - a prolific goalscorer - who makes the difference for the Bavarians as we saw once again on Tuesday when he scored a hat-trick against Benfica and assisted to another goal."

After breaking Gerd Muller's long standing record goals in a Bundesliga season, Lewandowski, speaking about his own chances said his "achievements speak for themselves".

"The possibility of winning the Ballon d'Or means a lot to me, it makes me feel proud, if you look at everything I've achieved, not just this year, last year as well when they cancelled the ceremony, I've won a lot of titles, scored a lot of goals," he told Marca.

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"It would mean a lot to me to win it, having won the Champions League, the Super Cup, the Club World Cup.

"Breaking Gerd Muller's record of 41 Bundesliga goals was also a big achievement, one which made me very proud and happy. Everyone can see what I have done and keep doing."

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the award in all but one year since 2007, winning it on six and five occasions respectively.