Messi Wins 7th Ballon d’Or

PSG’s Lionel Messi Beats Out Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski

Lionel Messi, once again, is the recipient of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award for the world’s greatest soccer player. The PSG star was honored Monday in Paris at the Theatre du Chatelet. The award was Messi’s seventh — 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021 — to add to his record. Messi led Argentina to the Copa America title this summer before transitioning from Barcelona to PSG in the summer. He beat out Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) who won the Striker of the Year award.

Most Ballon d’Or Awards

Lionel Messi (7)

Cristiano Ronaldo (5)

Johann Cruyff (3)

Michel Platini (3)

Marco van Basten (3)

Additional Storylines

CNN: Messi Wins 7th Ballon d’Or; Alexia Putellas Wins First Women’s Title

Sporting News: Why Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or Win Was a Snub of Robert Lewandowski

Photo: Franck Fife / Getty Images