Journalism of Courage
Ballon d’Or 2021: Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas win awards
Lionel Messi won the men's Ballon d'Or for a record-extending seventh time on Monday, ending the year in style after a brilliant final season with Barcelona and earning his first major international trophy with Argentina.
Updated: November 30, 2021 09:21 IST
1 / 9PSG player Lionel Messi, his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their sons Thiago, Matteo and Ciro arrive for the 65th Ballon d'Or ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet, in Paris, Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
2 / 9Alpine's Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon during the awards REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
3 / 9FC Barcelona's Pedri the with the Kopa Trophy. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
4 / 9Alexia Putellas became the third winner of the women's award for an outstanding season with Barcelona and Spain. (Reuters)
5 / 9Awarded by France Football magazine, the Ballon d'Or has been given out to men every year since 1956 when Stanley Matthews won. (Reuters)
6 / 9Messi finished with 613 points to top prolific Bayern Munich and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski on 580. (Reuters)
7 / 9Atletico Madrid's Luis Suarez presents the Ballon d'Or award to Paris St Germain's Lionel Messi REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
8 / 9The 34-year-old Messi led Argentina to the Copa America title in July after losing in four major international finals. (Reuters)
9 / 9``I'm very happy to be here, happy to keep fighting for new trophies,`` Messi said through a translator. ``I don't know how many years I have left, but I hope many more. I'd like to thank all my (former) teammates at Barcelona and Argentina.'' (Reuters)
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