Lionel Messi has beaten Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho to the Ballon d'Or 2021 award. The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) superstar finished above the Bayern Munich striker and Chelsea midfielder to bag the accolade for the seventh time.
Many were hoping to see Lewandowski win the Men's Ballon d'Or this year. But France Football deemed Messi worthy of the award. Jorginho stood third on the podium after helping Chelsea and Italy win the Champions League and European Championship respectively.
Real Madrid talisman Karim Benzema finished fourth in the race for the Ballon d'Or on the back of an impressive 2020-21 campaign. Jorginho's Chelsea team-mate N'Golo Kante came fifth. Meanwhile the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe missed out on the top five spots.
This year's Women's Ballon d'Or was awarded to Barcelona superstar Alexia Putellas. Putellas' Blaugrana team-mate Jennifer Hermoso finished just behind her. Chelsea forward Sam Kerr came third on the podium.
Champions League winners Chelsea won the 'Club of the Year' award. Both the men's and women's teams of the Blues had a successful year, thanks to the efforts of Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes.
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma bagged the Lev Yashin award following his heroics with Italy in their European Championship winning run. Chelsea's Edouard Mendy could only manage a second-place finish, while Atletico Madrid custodian Jan Oblak came third.
Although Lewandowski missed out on the Ballon d'Or, he won the newly announced 'Striker of the Year' award. The 33-year-old deservingly bagged the award after breaking Gerd Muller's long-standing Bundesliga goalscoring record, having netted 41 goals last term.
Barcelona midfielder Pedri was named the winner of the Kopa Trophy, an award handed to the best performing player under the age of 21. Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham finished second, while Bayern Munich attacker Jamal Musiala came third.
Lionel Messi bags seventh Ballon d'Or
PSG superstar Lionel Messi won his seventh Ballon d'Or award in Paris today.
Lionel Messi scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists from 47 appearances across all competitions in what was his last season at Barcelona. The talisman has contributed seven goals in 11 matches for new club PSG across all competitions so far this campaign.
However, many would say that Lionel Messi's biggest achievement over the course of the year was leading Argentina to the Copa America in the summer. The former Barcelona superstar added to his legacy by winning his first major trophy with his country.
Apart from the Copa America, Lionel Messi also won the Copa del Rey with Barcelona. It is hard to deny that he is deserving of the Ballon d'Or award.
Nandha77
958
Lionel Messi Tested Positive For Being a Goat 🐐🦁
TheFutBolFan
859
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
Holyiphe4336
393
Why is this sentimental award rated over FIFA award Imagine journalists deciding the fate of footballers Ballon D’Or is based on favoritism not achievement We have seen a lot of players been robbed in the past The likes of Henry, Sneidjer, Riberry, Xavi and Iniesta I lost interest in this award long time ago Why not Lewandowski Why Why Why How can Messi won it because of just a month of Copa America, that’s not normal, the award is based on a year work not just a tournament
SH3012
348
They call me 007 0 UCL finals lost 0 Europa League matches lost 7 Ballon D'Or won
Mosanya
321
Carried a struggling Barca on his back. Took Argentina to their first major title in 28 years. Messi deserved this Ballon d'Or 👑
sanjoy2018
315
lewe just robbed !!!so sad man , so sad .
Miaclmptu
263
Haters
Alexandrov
192
I believe Messi won his record breaking 7th Ballon d'Or here , Copa America , congratulations GOAT 👏
Vaabcdepyz
163
A man that started his career almost two years before Ronaldo now has more ballon d’or at a younger age and they still want to compare, Enjoy your day Lionel Messi no one is taking this from you Congratulations
JmoneyZ
114
Ronaldo should change his iconic number to 10 so that Messi can set a new Target...Thinking out loud🤔🤔
Brightberry
82
Congratulations to Messi for winning the Ballon d’Or. “But Ballon d’Or doesn’t make you the greatest”.
ofekemoabe
39
The debate is over.... 🐐 🐐 🐐 🐐 🐐 🐐 🐐
fueacmnu
30
Congratulations to Messi for winning the Ballon d’Or. “But Ballon d’Or doesn’t make you the greatest”.
I agree Ballon D’or doesn’t make you the best ever . Leo is the best ever with it with out B’Dor . B’Dor doesn’t justify Leo at all . Leo justifies B’Dor
KelvinSkycom
21
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
This Balon Dor belongs to Lewandowski
eddie_iwnl
18
Congratulations to Messi for winning the Ballon d’Or. “But Ballon d’Or doesn’t make you the greatest”.
Winning seven does though
SH3012
15
Messi taking his 7th Ballon D'Or be like:
Godsboi
14
Congratulations to Messi for winning the Ballon d’Or. “But Ballon d’Or doesn’t make you the greatest”.
Please tell us what makes a great player if not the Ballon D or.
Constantine15810
13
Why is this sentimental award rated over FIFA award Imagine journalists deciding the fate of footballers Ballon D’Or is based on favoritism not achievement We have seen a lot of players been robbed in the past The likes of Henry, Sneidjer, Riberry, Xavi and Iniesta I lost interest in this award long time ago Why not Lewandowski Why Why Why How can Messi won it because of just a month of Copa America, that’s not normal, the award is based on a year work not just a tournament
even tho I am a bayern fan, and I am sad lewa didn't win, but it is so damn obvious why messi was chosen over lewa. there is no robbery here fam, just hate blinding your judgment.
vacbcdklt
13
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
He has robbed sneijder, Iniesta and now Lewandowski... Good PR work and money spend by Messi
Mosanya
13
Lionel Messi is the GOAT: 🏆 2009 🏆 2010 🏆 2011 🏆 2012 🏆 2015 🏆 2019 🏆 2021 7 Ballon d'Ors. SEVEN! 🐐
The_Truth
12
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
I understand you pain, but plz cry more!! [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh] If you think Goals plus Assist wins you Ballondor - Then Messi would have won it 9 times by now. Ronaldo will have only 2. So whats your logic Mr Hater!!
Mosanya
12
And so it is official, Lionel Andrés Messi wins his historical 7th Ballon d'Or! An achievement that will never be reached again. An achievement that suits only the greatest football player in the history of the sport! 🇦🇷🐐
FRozenPoPcoRn72
11
Congratulations to Messi for winning the Ballon d’Or. “But Ballon d’Or doesn’t make you the greatest”.
Yeah only the Dubay d'or right?
ray_light44
10
Why is this sentimental award rated over FIFA award Imagine journalists deciding the fate of footballers Ballon D’Or is based on favoritism not achievement We have seen a lot of players been robbed in the past The likes of Henry, Sneidjer, Riberry, Xavi and Iniesta I lost interest in this award long time ago Why not Lewandowski Why Why Why How can Messi won it because of just a month of Copa America, that’s not normal, the award is based on a year work not just a tournament
You can’t say players are robbed of the Balon D’Or when the Balon D’Or itself is voted by people Any person who’s nominated for the Balon D’Or deserves it It was very close between Lewandowski and Messi You can’t say it’s a robbery
I-am-Groot
10
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
keep crying 😂😂
houdiklmu
10
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
Cry more
Irbaazmahedvi
9
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
For those who thinks that this ballond'or is a robbery..... and most important thing i want to tell you is "keep crying"
Lotcemnsu
8
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
You should all see this.
StevieGLoves
8
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
All due respect Messi deserved it for what he did alone and the titles that he won last season. Lewandoski deserve only last years balón d oro not this one. Jorginho deserved third place.
Botdkmnz
8
Congratulations to Messi for winning the Ballon d’Or. “But Ballon d’Or doesn’t make you the greatest”.
If scoring 800+ goals makes you greatest then Joseph bican is the goat
Botdkmnz
8
Congratulations to Messi for winning the Ballon d’Or. “But Ballon d’Or doesn’t make you the greatest”.
so scoring 800 goals make a player greatest ?
delicreeps
8
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
here for some medicine [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
GAMEMAKERVA
8
Congratulations to Messi for winning the Ballon d’Or. “But Ballon d’Or doesn’t make you the greatest”.
cry me river penaldoberry
sanjaa
8
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
Sobah
8
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
For LM haters it’s robbery, but for majority it’s not. Only goal scoring RL is higher than LM, goal contribution LM is higher(goal+assist), LM has more individual achievements, more man of the matches more important titles, more dribble, more free kick goals, more outside box goals, more keypasses, etc etc
Debby30
8
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
Tell me which robbery was that??…lewa is a goal scorer ..we agree but he can’t be compared to someone who assists,do whole sought of things..lewa scored goals that’s it..tell me what he did again apart from scoring??don’t destroy the game with mentality of jux scoring goals get u up there..
Kecbikru
8
Why is this sentimental award rated over FIFA award Imagine journalists deciding the fate of footballers Ballon D’Or is based on favoritism not achievement We have seen a lot of players been robbed in the past The likes of Henry, Sneidjer, Riberry, Xavi and Iniesta I lost interest in this award long time ago Why not Lewandowski Why Why Why How can Messi won it because of just a month of Copa America, that’s not normal, the award is based on a year work not just a tournament
If you lost interest then stop writing about it,rest!
SH3012
8
Lionel Messi Tested Positive For Being a Goat 🐐🦁
[image]
not gonna lie i am no more a Ronaldo fan nor a Messi fan but this guy is absolutely the GOAT(i still like Ronaldo)
Gifted97b
8
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
Story story 😂😂😂
Fofanah10
8
The biggest robbery in the history of Ballon d'Or.. Shame!!
Cry more fools 😹