Messi pipped much-fancied rivals like Lewandowski and Benzema to take the award in a glittering ceremony on Monday
AFP
Publish : 30 Nov 2021, 01:27 PMUpdate : 26 Dec 2021, 04:46 PM
Lionel Messi admitted winning the Copa America with Argentina might have been the determining factor in him claiming the men's Ballon d'Or prize for the seventh time after a turbulent year, as Spain's Alexia Putellas took the women's award.
Now 34, Messi pipped much-fancied rivals like Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema to take the award in a glittering ceremony on Monday in Paris, the city he now calls home after leaving boyhood club Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in August.
Despite his tearful goodbye from Barcelona and his relatively underwhelming start to life in France, the jury of journalists from around the world rewarded him in particular for captaining Argentina to their first major international title since 1993.
"Two years ago I thought I was coming into my final years but here I am again back here," said Messi, who won the last edition of the Ballon d'Or in 2019 before last year's awards were cancelled due to the pandemic.
Messi also won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and in 2015.
"People were starting to ask me when I was going to retire but now I am here in Paris and I am very happy," he said at the Chatelet Theatre in central Paris, where he was joined by his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their three children.
"I don't know how many more years I have left but I hope there will be many because I am really enjoying myself this year.
"What I achieved with Argentina was a dream come true. I think I won this trophy thanks to what we did at the Copa America, so I dedicate it to my teammates."
Men's Ballon d'Or top 10
1. Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona)
2. Robert Lewandowski (POL/Bayern Munich)
3. Jorginho (ITA/Chelsea)
4. Karim Benzema (FRA/Real Madrid)
5. N'Golo Kante (FRA/Chelsea)
6. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Juventus - Manchester United)
7. Mohamed Salah (EGY/Liverpool)
8. Kevin De Bruyne (BEL/Manchester City)
9. Kylian Mbappe (FRA/Paris SG)
10. Gianluigi Donnarumma (ITA/AC Milan - Paris SG)
2021 Ballon d'Or ceremony winners list
Lionel Messi admitted winning the Copa America with Argentina might have been the determining factor in him claiming the men's Ballon d'Or prize for the seventh time after a turbulent year, as Spain's Alexia Putellas took the women's award.
Now 34, Messi pipped much-fancied rivals like Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema to take the award in a glittering ceremony on Monday in Paris, the city he now calls home after leaving boyhood club Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in August.
Despite his tearful goodbye from Barcelona and his relatively underwhelming start to life in France, the jury of journalists from around the world rewarded him in particular for captaining Argentina to their first major international title since 1993.
"Two years ago I thought I was coming into my final years but here I am again back here," said Messi, who won the last edition of the Ballon d'Or in 2019 before last year's awards were cancelled due to the pandemic.
Messi also won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and in 2015.
"People were starting to ask me when I was going to retire but now I am here in Paris and I am very happy," he said at the Chatelet Theatre in central Paris, where he was joined by his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their three children.
"I don't know how many more years I have left but I hope there will be many because I am really enjoying myself this year.
"What I achieved with Argentina was a dream come true. I think I won this trophy thanks to what we did at the Copa America, so I dedicate it to my teammates."
Men's Ballon d'Or top 10
1. Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona)
2. Robert Lewandowski (POL/Bayern Munich)
3. Jorginho (ITA/Chelsea)
4. Karim Benzema (FRA/Real Madrid)
5. N'Golo Kante (FRA/Chelsea)
6. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Juventus - Manchester United)
7. Mohamed Salah (EGY/Liverpool)
8. Kevin De Bruyne (BEL/Manchester City)
9. Kylian Mbappe (FRA/Paris SG)
10. Gianluigi Donnarumma (ITA/AC Milan - Paris SG)
Women's Ballon d'Or top 10
1. Alexia Putellas (ESP/Barcelona)
2. Jennifer Hermoso (ESP/Barcelona)
3. Sam Kerr (AUS/Chelsea)
4. Vivianne Miedema (NED/Arsenal)
5. Lieke Martens(NED/Barcelona)
6. Christine Sinclair (CAN/Portland Storms)
7. Pernille Harder (DAN/Chelsea)
8. Ashley Lawrence (CAN/Paris SG)
9. Jessie Fleming (CAN/Chelsea)
10. Fran Kirby (ENG/Chelsea)
Kopa Trophy top 3 (young players)
1. Pedri (ESP/Barcelona)
2. Jude Bellingham (ENG/Borussia Dortmund)
3. Jamal Musiala (GER/Bayern Munich)
Yashin Trophy top 3 (goalkeepers)
1. Gianluigi Donnarumma (ITA/AC Milan - Paris SG)
2. Edouard Mendy (SEN/Chelsea)
3. Jan Oblak (SLO/Atletico Madrid)
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