Big favorite of bookmakers, Lionel messi, 34, won a seventh Ballon d’Or, this Monday at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, ahead of the Pole Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) and the Italian Jorginho (Chelsea). The 2020 edition had been canceled due to the Covid crisis. The Argentine is the second PSG player to lift the prestigious trophy, and the first to do so with the blue and red jersey. Before joining PSG in August, the “Pulga” won “only” the King’s Cup with the club blaugrana, but he won the Copa America with Argentina in July, 13 years after Olympic gold.
Karim Benzema at the foot of the podium
The three French who were among the 30 nominated finished in the top 10: Kylian Mbappé (PSG) is in 9th place, N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea) in 5th place and Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) in 4th place. Only the latter, absent from the ceremony, was expected on the podium despite an unfinished collective season with Real Madrid and an early elimination with France at the Euro.
Lewandowski top scorer
The top scorer trophy has been awarded to the Pole Robert Lewandowski, rewarded for his achievements with Bayern Munich and Poland. “I thank my teammates, without them I wouldn’t be the goalscorer that I am “, reacted the center forward. Top scorer in the Bundesliga, “Lewa” notably broke Gerd Müller’s famous record last season, scoring 41 goals in the German Championship. The “Bomber” had stopped at 40 in 1971-1972. Lewandowski, 33, was the favorite for this Ballon d’Or 2021, alongside Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema.
The Kopa Trophy for Pedri
Author of a remarkable season with FC Barcelona and Spain, Pedri won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player under 21. The midfielder succeeds Matthijs de Ligt (2019) and Kylian Mbappé, crowned in 2018. “Not long ago, I turned 19. The best way to celebrate my birthday is to receive this award in front of the best players in the world “, commented the FC Barcelona player. “I thank FC Barcelona, my teammates and Lionel Messi”, he added.
Designated best youngster of the last European Championship, where Spain was eliminated in the semi-final by Italy, Pedro Gonzalez followed this summer with the Olympic Games in Tokyo, concluded with a silver medal, after losing in the final against Brazil. In Japan, he completed a 2020/21 marathon season, with 73 matches played which allowed him to hatch in front of the world.
Trained in Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands where he is from, Pedri started in September 2020 at FC Barcelona. He became the second youngest player to reach 50 appearances for Barca, behind striker Bojan Krkic, thanks to an impressive volume of play and tactical ease rare at his age.
Women’s Ballon d’Or for Alexia Putellas
the Women’s Ballon d’Or was awarded to the Spanish Alexia Putellas who plays as a striker at FC Barcelona and won the Champions League. She succeeds the Norwegian Ada Hegerberg, the first winner in history in 2018, and the champion and American feminist icon Megan Rapinoe (2019).
“I am very moved”, she said, before thanking her “teammates. It’s an individual prize but it’s a collective work”. Her victory crowned an exceptional season, where she led Barça to a historic Cup-Championship-Champions League treble, with a goal in the C1 final against Chelsea (4-0). At 27, the one who plays with a flocked jersey “Alexia” is at the top of a career started at Sabadell, and continued at Espanyol Barcelona, where she took her first steps as a professional, then Levante. In 2012, she finally joined the club of her heart and won the Championship and the Queen’s Cup in her first year. International since 2013, she was twice European Under-17 Champion (2010 and 2011).
Gianluigi Donnarumma crowned best goalkeeper of the year
Finally, the evening also crowned the best goalie of the year. The Yachine trophy was awarded to the Parisian Gianluigi Donnarumma, 22, winner of the Euro this summer with Italy. “It has been an incredible year for me “, he reacted. “NOTe have done honor to all Italians. I am very, very proud. “ Donnarumma stood out last summer, winning the title of best player in the European Championship. Its performance in penalty shootouts, in the semi-final against Spain and then in the final against England, led the “Nazionale” to its first continental coronation since 1968.
The native of Castellammare di Stabia (south) joined PSG in July, after six years at AC Milan. Early bird player, specialist in the exercise of penalties, “Gigio” Donnarumma discovered the Champions League this fall with PSG. He shares the role of N.1 with Costa Rican Keylor Navas, coach Mauricio Pochettino having opted for the alternation between them.