Lionel Messi is the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time).
On Monday, the 34-year-old Argentinian football star won an historic seventh Ballon d’Or after picking up the prestigious individual award at a ceremony in Paris, France.
The forward added to his 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019 trophies after winning the Copa America for the first time with his country in July.
Now with the 2021 victory, he has lifted the prize handed to world’s best football player more times than any other male player in its history, two clear of Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal.
Ronaldo was absent at the ceremony.
Messi defeated Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski, who finished in second place and Chelsea midfielder, Jorghino, who was ranked third in the voting.
Messi, who wore a sparkly dinner jacket at the ceremony in Paris, said at Paris’s Theatre du Chatelet:
“I’m really proud to win the France Football Ballon d’Or once again. It’s incredible to win it for the seventh time. I would like to thank my family, my friends and all the people who follow me and always support me, because without them, I couldn’t have done it.
“It’s incredible to be here again. Two years ago, I thought it was the last time. Winning the Copa America was key.
“It is a special year for me with this Copa America title. It meant a lot to win at the Maracana Stadium and I was so happy to celebrate with the people from Argentina.
“I don’t know if it’s the best year of my life, I’ve had a long career, but it was a special one with the title with Argentina after the tough times and the criticism.”
Messi, who joined Paris St Germain on a free transfer from Barcelona during the close season after finishing as La Liga’s top scorer with the Spanish club, collected 613 points, with Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski, named best striker on Monday, getting 580.
Jorginho, who won the Champions League with Chelsea and the European championship with Italy, ended up third on 460, ahead of France’s Karim Benzema and Ngolo Kante in fourth and fifth places respectively.
Chelsea, named club of the year, also had keeper Edouard Mendy finishing second in the Yashin trophy behind Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The women’s Ballon d’Or went to Alexia Putellas after the Spain midfielder guided Barcelona to Champions League glory.
“The key moment was the Champions League final against Olympique Lyonnais,” she said.
Putellas is the third winner of the Ballon d’Or Feminin after Ada Hegerberg in 2018 and Megan Rapinoe in 2019.
There was no ceremony last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On a good night for Barcelona, 19-year-old Pedri was awarded the Kopa trophy for the best Under-21 player.
“The best way to celebrate turning 19 is receiving this award. I’d like to thank everyone at Barcelona for helping me here,” he said.
