Messi wins the Ballon d’Or, the seventh time

Lionel Messi has won the 22 Ballon d’Or award, making it his seventh, the highest number of Ballon d’Ors won by any layer

At the award presentation held yesterday in the on the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, Messi was presented with the prestigious award

FC Barcelona star attacking midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or award, PSG goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma was voted the best men’s goalkeeper in the world, and another Barcelona player, 19-year-old Pedri, was named the best men’s Under-21 player in the world.

Robert Lewandowski was named the inaugural Striker of the Year as the top scorer for both club and country, while European champion Chelsea FC took home the Club of the Year with the most candidates for the men’s Ballon d’Or award (tied with Manchester City at five players).

Media around the world voted for three of the awards — the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or and the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper — and 32 former Ballon d’Or winners voted on the best young men’s player. Two new awards, Striker of the Year and Club of the Year, were introduced for the first time by France Football, the French sports weekly which has run the Ballon d’Or awards since 1956.

2021 Ballon d’Or final results — Men

2021 Ballon d’Or final results — Women

2021 Kopa Trophy final results (Best U21 player)

2021 Yashin Trophy final results