Italy’s Euro 2020 win has seen some unlikely and improbable names touted as possible Ballon d’Or candidates over the last week, with Jorginho being the most spoken about candidate. The Brazil-born Azzurri midfielder has had a year like nobody else – Chelsea and Italy teammate Emerson Palmieri aside – by winning the Champions League and then the European Championship six weeks apart.

However, there are other candidates and Lionel Messi could be set for his seventh after winning the Copa America.

Chiellini’s case

Giorgio Chiellini‘s name has even been mentioned after his Euro 2020 heroics, although no defender has won the prize since Fabio Cannavaro led Italy to success at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

But, in truth, Chiellini didn’t have his best club season with Juventus and injuries have plagued the last couple of years for him, so to award him the Ballon d’Or off the back of a summer tournament – during which he also missed out at times due to injury – would be a disproportionate reaction to what was an impressive contribution.

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Messi’s award

Having finally won the Copa America with Argentina and ending a 28-year wait for silverware, nobody should win this year’s Ballon d’Or above Messi. It’s easy to forget, as well, that the No.10 was excellent for Barcelona last season, finishing as LaLiga Santander’s Pichichi and leading an unlikely title challenge in the second half of the season.

In truth, as long as Messi is playing at the elite level, there’s no footballer out there who should win the Ballon d’Or above him. That Cristiano Ronaldo – with five – is even within touching distance of Messi‘s six so far does a disservice to the Argentine, who has been far and away the greatest player of his generation and arguably of all time.

It’s time that his superiority was made clear. It’s time that for daylight to appear between Messi and Cristiano‘s Ballon d’Or counts. Give Messi his seventh this year, and let his eighth and ninth follow.