Paris Saint Germain’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi won the 65th edition of the Ballon d’Or at the ceremony in Paris. This is the seventh success for ‘La Pulce’ who in 2021 won the Copa America with the Albiceleste selection and the Spanish Cup in the Blaugrana jersey. In second place the Polish forward of Bayern Munich, Robert Lewandoski, who instead received the award as the best forward of the calendar year. On the lowest step of the podium the Chelsea midfielder Jorginho who raised during the year the Champions League, Uefa and European Super Cup.
Chelsea was awarded club of the year at the Ballon d’Or Gala. The blues won the Champions League last season.
Cristiano Ronaldo, absent from Paris today, he finished sixth in the 2021 Ballon d’Or standings. Behind him Momo ‘Salah, of Liverpool and former Roma, eighth Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City.
The goalkeeper of PSG and the Italian national team Gianluigi Donnarumma won the Lev Jascin award for best goalkeeper. «I lived a spectacular year with the victory of the European Championship this summer – declared the 22-year-old Neapolitan in the golden ball ceremony in Paris-. I then arrived at PSG, it was destiny because they have always looked for me and now I hope to win many trophies here. I want to thank my family, but also my brother who has always been close to me. I want to thank all the people who have allowed this to happen ». In front of him, in ninth place, the teammate in the PSG Kylian Mbappé.
Alexia putellas wins the women’s golden ball. The Barcelona midfielder was awarded by PSG forward Kylian Mbappé during the ceremony at the Theater du Chatelet in Paris. «It is an individual award but it is also a collective award, for this I thank all my teammates, my coaches and fans – says Putellas-. I also thank the club, it is a privilege to play for Barcelona. Obviously the dedication is for my family and friends. But if you allow me I want to dedicate this award to someone who will always be special to me, my father, I hope you are proud of your daughter, wherever you are ».
Robert Lewandowski was awarded as the best striker on the stage of the Golden Ball. «I am very proud to be here after almost two years, a very difficult period due to the pandemic – said the Bayern Munich player-. I am very proud of this award because I know what it’s like to be in the box and try to score a goal. I have to thank my teammates because every goal I manage to score is thanks to them. I know what it means to have synergy with the team and have a great team behind me. I thank my family because with their love I can make the best of it ».
The Kopa Prize of best under-21 footballer in the world went instead to Pedri of Barcelona. «Days ago (last Thursday ed) I turned 19 – the Spaniard commented – and the best way to celebrate is to win such an important prize alongside the best players in the world. I want to thank Barca, starting with the captain but also Leo Messi who is here in the audience. I dedicate it to my family who supports me every day. They are the first to deserve it. I also dedicate it to the inhabitants of Las Palmas (Pedri is originally from the Canaries ed) who are going through a bad period. I hope that soon they can have a much better period than the current one ».
The controversy of Cristiano Ronaldo
A few hours after the awarding of the Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo attacks the editor-in-chief of France Football, Pascal Ferrer, who had revealed that CR7’s main goal was to win Lionel Messi’s prestigious trophy several times. “He lied, he used my name to promote himself and the newspaper he works for – thundered the Manchester United striker in a post on Instagram – It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a coveted prize could lie in this way, disrespecting those who have always respected France Football and the Golden Ball. And he lied even today, justifying my absence at the Gala with an alleged quarantine that has no reason to exist ». The former Juventus and Real Madrid star specified that “I always want to congratulate those who win, as a sign of sportsmanship and fair play that have guided my career from the beginning, and I do it because I am never against anyone – has added – I always win for myself and the clubs I represent, I win for myself and for those who love me. I don’t win against anyone ». “The greatest ambition of my career is to win national and international titles for the clubs I represent and for the national team of my country – reiterated the Portuguese ace – The greatest ambition of my career is to be a good example for all those who are or want to be professional footballers. The greatest ambition of my career is to leave my name written in gold letters in the history of world football ». “I conclude by saying that my focus is already on the next Manchester United match and on everything that, together with my teammates and our fans, we can still achieve this season”.
The captain of Juventus and the national team Giorgio Chiellini ranks 13th in the ranking of the Golden Ball that ‘France Football’ is gradually unveiling. He immediately places himself in front of his teammate in blue and black and white Leonardo Bonucci. Out of the top ten two purebred bombers like Romelu Lukaku, 12/o ed Erling Haaland, 11/o.
“At 37 I consider it another unforgettable moment in my career”. So on Twitter Giorgio Chiellini comments on the thirteenth place in the ranking of the Golden Ball. «I am very honored for this thirteenth place in the prestigious classification of the Golden Ball and I thank those who voted for me – adds the defender from Livorno -. It is the culmination of the feat made together with my team-mates from the National team at the European Championships, but also of many years of victories with the Juventus shirt ».
The champion of PSG and the Brazilian national team Neymar it is only 16th in the ranking of the golden ball. The former Barcelona is behind Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling of Manchester City. In 17th place the Uruguayan from Atletico Madrid Luis Suarez placeholder image, leader of the Colchoneros champions of Spain. The captain of Denmark and Milan defender, Simon kjaer, is the 18th classified. In nineteenth place in the standings is the attacking midfielder from Chelsea and England, Mason Mount.
Meanwhile, ‘France Football’ is progressively unveiling the ranking of the Golden Ball, starting with those who, among the ‘finalists’, were placed at the bottom of the Top 30 ranking. Chelsea defender César Azpilicueta, Spaniard who won the Champions League with the Blues, on par with those who won the ‘France Football’ trophy in 2018, namely the Croatian of Real Madrid Luka Modric.
The blue Nicolò Barella is instead 26 / o, on par with Gerard Moreno of VIllarreal winner of the Europa League and with Ruben Dias, Portuguese defender of Manchester City proclaimed best player of the last Premier League. The other Interista Lautaro Martinez is 21 / o on par with the Portuguese Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United. Only 23 / o is the England and Tottenham striker Harry Kane, 24 / o is the ‘golden boy’ (born in 2002) of Barcelona Pedri and 25 / o Phil Foden of Manchester City.