FC Barcelona, which saw the "Pulga" leave for Paris this summer, still has a trophy in its ranks as its captain Alexia Putellas lifts the third women's Ballon d'Or in history, and the young Pedri won the trophy. Best youngster Kopa (under 21).
Finally, the goalkeeper of the European champion Italy, Gianluigi Donnarumma, wins the Yachine trophy for best goalkeeper.
And seven!
Messi has already been crowned six times before (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019) under the shirt of Barça, which he left in tears this summer to join PSG, after 20 years in "blaugrana".
This time he most likely dominated the ballot for guiding the "Albiceleste" to their first trophy in 28 years, and the first major "La Pulga" (La Puce) trophy in this jersey, after four lost finals, three in Copa America (2007, 2015 and 2016), one in the World Cup (2014).
This new success also represents a triumph for the PSG, which touches there its very first Ballon d'Or, the second for a French club after that of Jean-Pierre Papin with Marseille (1993).
The Liberian George Weah, crowned in 1995, had played the first half for PSG but lifted the trophy in the jersey of AC Milan.
Paris Saint-Germain striker, Argentinian Lionel Messi with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three children Ciro, Mateo and Thiago upon their arrival at the Ballon d'Or France Football 2021 ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on the 29th November 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP
Previously the best place for a Parisian was the 3rd, for Neymar, in 2017, the year started at FC Barcelona.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2013) and Kylian Mbappé (2018) finished 4th.
Cristiano Ronaldo 6th
The price of "Gigio" Donnarumma further embellishes the Parisian evening.
Sullen gala on the other hand for Cristiano Ronaldo, "only" sixth in the 2021 edition, and who shunned the ceremony presented by Didier Drogba and Sandy Heribert and grumbled on his Instagram account, writing all the same: "I always send my congratulations to those who win ".
With five trophies, he falls behind in his competition with Messi and the years go by, making it less and less likely that the Argentine will be caught.
Lewandowski is also disappointed.
This year it will not become the first Polish Golden Ball.
The Bayern striker probably missed the boat when France Football decided not to award its prestigious trophy in 2020, a year truncated by the Covid-19 epidemic.
Polish Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski after receiving the trophy for best striker at the Ballon d'Or France Football 2021 ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on November 29, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP
Ranked 4th in 2015, 8th in 2019, "Lewy" still obtains the best ranking for a Polish player, after the third places of Kazimierz Deyna (Legia Warsaw) in 1974 and Zbigniew Boniek (Widzew Lodz / Juventus) in 1982.
He also consoles himself with the award for top scorer of the year, created for this edition by France Football.
"I'm very honored with this trophy, I know what it means to be there on the pitch, to be a goalscorer, to achieve what it means," said Lewandowski.
Benzema also dreamed of the Ballon d'Or.
Long announced among the favorites, he finished at the foot of the podium (4th), by far his best ranking.
Ranked for the seventh time, its best place was so far 16th in 2014.
Alexia Putellas crowned
The third place is occupied by the Italo-Brazilian Jorginho, defensive midfielder of Italy and Chelsea (named club of the year by the jury), and winner of this title of the Euro and the Champions League this year.
The women's Ballon d'Or crowned her the captain of FC Barcelona and winner of the Women's Champions League, Alexia Putellas.
"Alexia", the name on her jersey, succeeds the Norwegian Ada Hegerberg, the first winner in history in 2018, and the American champion and activist icon Megan Rapinoe (2019).
Putellas (27) is ahead of his teammate Jennifer Hermoso and their victim in the C1 final, Australian Blues Sam Kerr.
Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma also collected the trophies this year.
European champion with Italy, best player of Euro-2020, he also won the Yachine trophy for best goalkeeper.
"It was an incredible year for me," smiled the giant "Gigio", who "hopes to live up to this honor on the pitch", where he is in fierce competition with Keylor Navas, with whom he shares the cage. of the PSG.
Finally the Kopa trophy for best youngster, where 32 former Ballons d'Or voted, rewarded Pedri, who shone with Spain at the Euro (semi-finalist) and in the League of Nations (finalist) and at Barça.
But there is still some way for the prodigy to win seven Ballons d'Or, like the untouchable Messi.
© 2021 AFP