Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or for seventh time, Alexia Putellas claims women's title

Argentina Stalwart Lionel Messi has won the Men's Ballon d'Or for the seventh time. Meanwhile, Alexia Putellas won women's Ballon d'Or. Earlier in July, Messi has taken Argentina to the Copa America triumph after losing in four major international finals.

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The striker was delighted to receive the award for the record time and thanked his team and country for standing by his side.

“Today I’m here in Paris. I am very happy, really very happy, I really want to continue to fight and reach new objectives. I don’t know how many more years but I am really enjoying myself. I thank my team-mates at Barça, Paris & Argentina,” Messi said after receiving the award.

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski won the “Striker of the year”. Italy stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma, on the other hand, clinched the best goalkeeper award. Barcelona’s Pedri won the Kopa trophy for best young player. The best club award went to Chelsea.

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Messi hailed Robert Lewandowski for his astounding show and said he too was equally deserving of the award. “Robert, you deserve your Ballon D’Or. Last year, everyone was in agreement to say that you were the big winner of this award,” said Messi.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo failed to make it to the top 3 for the first time since 2010

Alexia Putellas, on the other hand, became only the third woman to win the award. Norway striker Ada Hegerberg in 2018, and US forward Megan Rapinoe in 2019 are the other two winners.

“I’m very emotional, it’s a very special moment,” she said at the Paris ceremony through a translator. “I would like to start by thanking all my teammates, especially my current (Barcelona) teammates. For me it’s a collective success.”

Putellas won the award on the back of an astounding show of late. She led Barca win the treble after scoring 26 goals in 42 games overall. She was also named UEFA women’s player of the year.