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United Kingdom
Summary
- Lionel Messi wins another Ballon d’Or award
- Messi now has 2 more awards than Ronaldo
- Women’s Ballon d’Or award goes to Alexia Putellas
Some of the biggest names in football gathered together on Nov 29 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris to see who will win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in the men’s and women’s division.
There were a total of 29 players nominated in the men’s division and the list featured the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi who all play for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Karim Benzema from Real Madrid, Mohamed Salah from Liverpool, Jorginho from Chelsea and Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.
Fans felt that the two players who were worthy contenders for the award were Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski. In the end, the award was given to Messi while Lewandowski ended up getting the Striker of the Year award.
This was the seventh Ballon d’Or award that Messi has bagged and he now has two more than his closely rival Cristiano Ronaldo who has 5. The debate for the best football player in the world for the last decade has been between Ronaldo and Messi. If we are going by Ballon d’Or awards, then we got to give the best player of the decade award to Messi as well!
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Messi last won the Ballon d’Or award in 2019 and also a further fives times in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015. The Ballon d’Or award wasn’t handed out in 2020 as the ceremony was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Messi was very moved to win his 7th award and said that when he won it in 2019, he thought it would be his last Ballon d’Or award. He said leading Argentina to win the Copa America in Brazil in July was a big achievement for him and it contributed to him winning the 2021 Ballon d’Or award.
Controversially Lewandowski though had a better season then Messi this year as he finished with 41 goals breaking a record that was held by Gerd Muller’s in the Bundesliga. Lewandowski’s performances this season has helped him win the European Golden Shoe.
Women’s Ballon d’Or award goes to Alexia Putellas
The women’s Ballon d’Or award went to Spaniard Alexia Putellas who had a great season with Barcelona. She played a key role in helping Barcelona win the Spanish Cup, Spanish League and Champions League. This was her first Ballon d’Or award.
