Lionel Messi has also won the Ballon d’Or 2021. Robert Lewandowski had to admit defeat by quite a narrow margin.
For weeks, the FC Bayern officials had been advertising vehemently, but Robert Lewandowski had to give way to someone else at the Ballon d’Or on Monday evening: Record winner Lionel Messi won the prestigious award for the seventh time in his long and successful career.
Visibly emotionally touched, the attacker, who has been performing at world-class level for many years, stepped up to the lectern, aligned the microphones and said: “This is incredible to be standing here again and to return here. I didn’t know if I would be on stage here again. I always wondered when was the right moment to retire. But now I’m in Paris, where I’m also very happy and have a great desire to keep winning titles. I don’t know how many years I have left in the tank, but I know: the greatest love I have is football. And I want to keep playing football. I would also like to thank the players of FC Barcelona and the players of the Argentine national team. Because a big reason why I’m standing here is the Copa America. “
The 34-year-old Argentine, who joined Paris St Germain from FC Barcelona in the summer, received the most points (613) from the crowd of voting journalists, narrowly defending his 2019 title ahead of Munich’s goal scorer, who had 580 votes. In 2020, the trophy was not awarded due to Corona. The vote, organised by “France Football”, assesses the player’s sporting performance in the calendar year, his talent and sportsmanship, as well as his overall career.
For the first time Messi had a title to his name with Argentina
Although Messi had arguably his most turbulent season at Barça with an early Champions League exit in the last 16 and was slow to get going at PSG, this year he achieved something he has never had to offer in his previous six Ballon d’Or victories: an international title with the national side. Messi almost single-handedly ensured Argentina’s Copa America triumph with four goals and five assists in seven games. In addition, the “flea” (La Pulga) was once again La Liga’s top scorer (30 goals) and Spanish Cup winner – including a brace in the final against Bilbao (4:0).
All this obviously convinced the jurors more than Lewandowski’s 41-goal record in the Bundesliga as well as his three European Championship goals, his championship title and his Club World Cup title. The reigning FIFA World Player had already failed to win the European Footballer of the Year award in August. The title was won by Jorginho (Chelsea/Italy), who finished third with 460 votes.
I think “France Football” should still give you the award for the Ballon d’Or 2020, you deserve it.
By the way, Messi also had words of appreciation for the Munich striker, who only came second, and made a direct suggestion to “France Football”: “I’d also like to mention Lewandowski again, it’s an honour for me to compete with him. And I think that “France Football” should still give you the award for the Ballon d’Or 2020, you would have earned that. “
The ten best players
1st Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/FC Barcelona/Argentina) – 613 points
2nd Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern Munich/Poland) – 580 points
3. Jorginho (Chelsea FC/Italy) – 460 points
4. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/France) – 239 points
5 N’golo Kanté (Chelsea FC/France) – 186 points
6 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/Juventus Turin/Portugal) – 178 points
7 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool FC/Egypt) – 121 points
8 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Belgium) – 73 points
9 Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain/France) – 58 points
10th Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain/AC Milan/Italy) – 36 points