Argentine professional footballer Lionel Messi has been crowned the winner of the Ballon d’Or award for the seventh time.
The Argentine forward capped off a remarkable 2021 by beating off a strong list of nominees including Bayern Munich star, Roberto Lewandowski to claim the prize at a glitzy ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris today, November 29, 2021.
While Lewandowski was highly favoured for the grand prize at least for the first time, Messi collected the gong again after leading his country to their first major trophy in 28 years with their Copa America triumph in the summer.
He also played a crucial role in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey success last season in what proved to be his final trophy at the Camp Nou before completing a shock summer transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
His latest accolade is the first he has received in his new home city and takes him two ahead of long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who was among those to miss out on the award.
