Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi reacts after being awarded the Ballon d’Or award during the 2021 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 (November 30 in Manila). AFP PHOTOPARIS: Lionel Messi admitted winning the Copa America with Argentina might have been the determining factor in him claiming the men's Ballon d'Or prize for the seventh time after a turbulent year, as Spain's Alexia Putellas took the women's award. Messi also won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and in 2015. Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the final in Rio de Janeiro as Messi won a major title with his country for the first time. Between them, Messi and Ronaldo have won 12 of the last 13 editions of the Ballon d'Or with the exception coming in 2018 when Luka Modric claimed the prize.

Source: Manila Times November 30, 2021 22:34 UTC