Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or for the seventh time in his career. The ceremony of presenting the Ballon_d’Or and other awards at the end of 2021 took place on Monday in Paris.
Messi attended the ceremony in person accompanied by his family. In his speech, the footballer thanked his teammates from Barcelona, PSG and Argentina.
“Today I’m here in Paris. I am very happy, really very happy, I really want to continue to fight and reach new objectives,” Messi said. “I don’t know how many more years but I am really enjoying myself. I thank my teammates at Barça, Paris & Argentina,” he said.
The legendary forward thanked Lewandowski for the rivalry and expressed confidence that he would have won the main award last year, although the awards ceremony was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I would like to say to Robert that it’s an honor to be your rival, and everyone would say you deserved to win it last year,” Messi said.
The current Ballon d’Or added to the forward’s trophies from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2019.
This year has been quite difficult in Messi’s glittering career, as he was forced to emotionally bid farewell to Barcelona, his lifelong club, but it concludes with him winning a record-extending seventh Ballon d’Or at the age of 34.
For a spectacular season with Barcelona and the Spanish national team, midfielder Alexia Putellas became the third winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or this year.
Putellas scored 26 goals in 42 appearances for Barcelona, helping them win the treble. In August, she was named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year after scoring in the Champions League final against Chelsea.
“I’m very emotional, it’s a very special moment,” she said at the ceremony through a translator. “I would like to start by thanking all my teammates, especially my current teammates. For me, it’s a collective success, “she said.