PSG-Bayern: Mbappé and Neymar, an opportunity to hit hard for the Golden Ball

The coronavirus will not cause a second injustice in a row.

There will be a Golden Ball in 2021 and the outcome of the double confrontation between PSG and Bayern Munich should decide the fate of one or more candidates.

Moral winner last year, Robert Lewandowski will have little chance of seeking the prestigious award if the Bavarians leave the competition on Tuesday evening.

The absent are always wrong.

The Pole pays a heavy price with a knee injury without which the first leg result could have been different.

Enough to leave the field open to Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, to a lesser extent, opposite.

Of the two Parisian forwards, the Frenchman has taken a (good) length ahead of the Brazilian.

Back at a very good level against Munich last week, the latter missed almost all of the first three months of 2021. In his absence, Mbappé tortured Lionel Messi's FC Barcelona (4 goals in 2 games).

Against Bayern, despite the talents of Neymar's ball handler, decisive double passer, the 2018 world champion has inflated his scorer statistics.

With a brace from the quarter-final first leg, Mbappé has scored eight goals in his last four European outings.

Cristiano Ronaldo in the text.

The weight of continental competitions

"I do not know if he is the big favorite but we can say that he is on the right road, even if the season is still long until December, notes Jean-Pierre Papin, Ballon d'or 1991. But if he keeps up the pace, he really won't be far.

If the vote took place today, it would not be far from unanimous.

Today, he is ahead of the rest.

A point on which the former French striker joined David Trezeguet.

"He is asserting himself as the legitimate successor of Messi or Ronaldo," the 1998 world champion told us last week.

He is best placed to take their place.

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VIDEO.

Bayern-PSG: "Kylian Mbappé comes to place in the race for the Golden Ball"

The Argentinian and the Portuguese have ignition delay.

Top scorers in Liga with Barça and Serie A with Juventus, the two legends scrambled their season with an elimination from the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Predominant in view of the Golden Ball, the C1 will not however be the only justice of the peace in this international year.

Portugal from CR7 defends its title at the Euro.

As for Messi's Argentina, she will be keen to shine at the Copa America whose holder is ... Brazil (and indirectly Neymar, forfeit the competition in 2019).

You will understand, the continental trophies will have a role to play before the big final vote, scheduled for November 2021. This also offers more possibilities to Mbappé with the Blues than to Lewandowski with Poland, or to Erling Haaland and Norway, absent from the Euro.

In the event of qualification for the semi-finals of the Champions League, Mbappé and Neymar would therefore only take one more step towards this Golden Ball.

To ensure it, we will have to continue to be decisive.

In the semi-final, another competitor, little mentioned, could appear on their way: Kevin De Bruyne, main architect of the brilliant season of Manchester City and potential opponent of the Blues at the Euro with Belgium.