Ballon d'Or Feminin 2021 Power Rankings: Can anyone beat Barcelona's treble-winners?

In 2021: 15 clean sheets. Won Olympic gold medal.

Stephanie Labbe will not win the Ballon d’Or this year, but she may well get a few votes after her incredible performances for Canada this summer, particularly if a rumoured move to Paris Saint-Germain materialises before the window shuts.

The goalkeeper made huge penalty saves both during games and in shootouts as her country won gold at the Olympics, most notably in the final against Sweden.

In 2021: Nine goals, four assists.

Debinha’s season got off to a great start. The Brazil international was named MVP of the NWSL Challenge Cup, also finishing as top scorer, before putting in some great performances as the regular season got underway as she was named in the league’s team of the month for May.

She tasted disappointment with her country at the Olympics, losing to Canada in the quarter-finals, but she has plenty of the season left to shine.

Like many players in the NWSL, many of whom are not even on this list at the moment, expect her to rise up these rankings as the year goes on.

In 2021: Seven goals, five assists. Won Frauen-Bundesliga.

Bayern Munich won their first league title in five years in 2021 - and Lina Magull played a huge part.

The German champions may see their achievement overshadowed in the Ballon d’Or voting by the treble-winners at Barcelona, or double-winners at Chelsea, but there are names in their squad that deserve to be on the list, and Magull will be a contender to represent them.

In 2021: Four goals, three assists, 17 clean sheets. Won Primera Iberdrola, Copa de la Reina and Women’s Champions League.

Defenders do not often get the accolades they deserve when it comes to individual awards, but should voters be wanting to recognise those in less glamorous positions, Mapi Leon is one of the best centre-backs in the world.

With Irene Paredes, her partner in the heart of defence for Spain, joining her at Barcelona, both will only impress further together as the year continues.

In 2021: Four goals, 15 clean sheets. Won Division 1 Feminine.

PSG’s attacking talent has absorbed a lot of the attention following their league title triumph, but the role of the defence in their success was huge, and Irene Paredes was crucial to that.

The centre-back helped her team keep two clean sheets in the league against Lyon - results which made the biggest difference in the end - before leaving for Barcelona this summer.

In 2021: Three goals, four assists, 10 clean sheets. Won Frauen-Bundesliga and Olympic silver medal.

There are not many names on this list who had both great success with their club last season and with their country in the summer, but Hanna Glas is one.

The full-back announced herself on the biggest stage with some top Champions League performances, helped Bayern win the league and then picked up an Olympic silver medal with Sweden.

That consistency deserves to be rewarded with some votes, for sure.

In 2021: 14 goals, two assists. Won Women’s Super League and Continental Cup.

Pernille Harder swept the individual awards last year, including Goal 50, and had the Ballon d’Or not been cancelled, she almost certainly would have won that too.

The Dane has not hit those same heights this year, adapting to a new role with Chelsea. But she has a few months until votes will be cast and, as one of the best players in the world, can certainly build on what was still a strong first season in England.

In 2021: 12 goals, five assists. Won Division 1 Feminine.

After finishing as top scorer in the Division 1 Feminine in for the last two seasons, Marie-Antoinette Katoto was just one behind Bordeaux's Khadija Shaw - who has since joined Manchester City - this year.

But that will not matter to the French striker, as her 21 league goals last season meant more than any before, helping Paris Saint-Germain win their first ever league title, finally toppling Lyon in a feat that cannot be underestimated.

That success should help her and many of her team-mates in this year's voting.

In 2021: One goal, 14 clean sheets. Won Division 1 Feminine and Olympic gold medal.

Ashley Lawrence is another who has had a great year with both club and country.

She was named in the Team of the Season in France after PSG won the league, then shone as a stand-out performer at the Olympics as Canada won gold.

It is highly unlikely she will get her hands on the Ballon d’Or, but she deserves plenty of respect in the voting.

In 2021: Two goals, 15 clean sheets. Won Women’s Super League, Continental Cup and Olympic silver medal.

Chelsea captain Magdalena Eriksson was instrumental in the Blues' double-winning campaign last season, in which they also reached the Champions League final. She then flew to Japan to continue that fine form with Sweden, collecting an Olympic silver medal.

With great individual and team performances defining her year to date, she could rise up the voting.

In 2021: 20 goals, seven assists.

It speaks volumes of how good Vivianne Miedema is that, while she did not win any titles with Arsenal or the Netherlands this past year, she still sat fourth when nominees were decided for the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year award.

The Dutch forward has had another year of shattering records, particularly at the Olympics, and she is sure to be continue that form as 2021 goes on.

In 2021: Five goals, one assist. Won Division 1 Feminine.

Named the best player in the French league last season by her peers, Kadidiatou Diani’s name could be in the picture for more individual prizes towards the end of this year too.

Should she continue that electric form into the new campaign, she will only raise her stock as the votes begin to be cast.

In 2021: 10 goals, five assists. Won Olympic silver medal.

A contender for player of the tournament at the Olympics, the stats do not do Kosovare Asllani’s contributions to Sweden’s summer justice.

Her excellent form only continued from what she had shown in Spain last season, where the creative midfielder helped Real Madrid clinch a Champions League place for the first time.

In 2021: 17 goals, 12 assists. Won Primera Iberdrola, Copa de la Reina and Women’s Champions League.

After struggling with injuries in 2019-20, Lieke Martens had some to contend with last season too, but when she got on the pitch, she made it count.

Her performance in the UWCL final will no doubt help her make up for that when it comes to voting, as it has in making her a nominee for the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year accolade.

That she was a huge part of the Netherlands free-scoring attack at the Olympics will have an impact too.

In 2021: 21 goals, 13 assists. Won Women’s Super League and Continental Cup.

There was no better player in the Women’s Super League last season than Fran Kirby. The Chelsea star thrived on a consistent basis, on big occasions and bagged tons of goals and assists.

Injury limited her ability to contribute to Team GB’s Olympic campaign, but she should be high up on the Ballon d’Or voting list nonetheless, as she is likely to continue such form into the new campaign.

In 2021: 33 goals, nine assists. Won Primera Iberdrola, Copa de la Reina and Women’s Champions League.

For the third campaign running, and fifth time in six seasons, Jennifer Hermoso was crowned the top goalscorer in Spain as Barcelona won the treble, despite being in and out of the team due to injuries.

The 31-year-old was also the top scorer in Europe as her all-round game helped Barca enjoy an incredible season.

However, her push for the Ballon d’Or may be hindered, as it was announced in August that she will be out for two months with an ankle injury.

In 2021: 26 goals, 11 assists. Won Women’s Super League and Continental Cup.

After a sublime season for Chelsea, which saw her claim the Golden Boot in her first full WSL campaign, Kerr continued that form at the Olympics.

Scoring six goals in six games while sporting the captain’s armband, she so nearly led Australia to a podium finish, only to lose 4-3 to the USWNT in the bronze medal match.

Expect her to be knocking on the door of the top spots in this year’s voting.

In 2021: 11 goals, eight assists. Won Primera Iberdrola, Copa de la Reina and Women’s Champions League.

After being one of Spain's most exciting young players for several years, Aitana Bonmati announced herself to the world this year with a Player of the Match performance in the Women's Champions League final.

She has been a top performer throughout the year, but shining for Barcelona in the biggest game in European club football could certainly help her rack up even more votes.

In 2021: Six goals, 16 assists. Won Primera Iberdrola, Copa de la Reina and Women’s Champions League.

There is no better winger in world football than Caroline Graham Hansen. Her dribbling ability and flair make her a nightmare for full-backs, while her chance creation is a massive reason for Barcelona’s success.

After a torrid time with injuries, winning the treble this year was all the sweeter. Recognition in the Ballon d’Or voting would cap it all off.

In 2021: 22 goals, 16 assists. Won Primera Iberdrola, Copa de la Reina and Women’s Champions League.

What more is there to say about Alexia Putellas?

The 27-year-old played a huge role in Barcelona’s treble-winning season, often wearing the captain’s armband as she contributed goals and assists aplenty throughout the year.

Scoring from the spot in the UWCL final and named MVP in the Copa de la Reina final after netting twice, Putellas is the woman for the biggest occasion, but also a model of consistency in midfield for the Catalans.

Should she scoop the biggest individual prize on offer this winter, it would be incredibly well deserved.