Sports

Messi sets record and wins 7th career Golden Ball

Spanish Alexia Putellas wins among women

Published on 29/11/2021 - 20:01 By * Agência Brasil - Rio de Janeiro

Argentine star Lionel Messi won the seventh Golden Ball for best player in the world of his career this Monday (29), beating Polish Robert Lewandowski and Brazilian-born Italian Jorginho to once again lift one of the most prestigious trophies in world football.

What more to say? Lionel Messi!

🖐✌️ #ballondor pic.twitter.com/NLlAXZu4Xb
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

The Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo was in 6th place in the award promoted by the French magazine France Football , while Neymar finished in 16th place.

With the award received this Monday, Messi reached a total of seven, with those from 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2019. Thus, the Argentine matched Pelé in the number of diamonds won in his career.

“It's amazing to be here again. Two years ago I thought it would be the last time, winning the Copa America [with Argentina's national team] was key,” Messi said at the Theater du Chatelet in Paris.

“It was a special year for me with this Copa América title. It meant a lot to win at the Maracanã stadium and I was very happy to celebrate with the Argentine people”, he added.

"I don't know if it's the best year of my life, I have a long career, but it was special with the title with Argentina after difficult times and criticism", declared the player.

Messi, who arrived at PSG (France) on a free transfer earlier in the season, scored 613 points, with Bayern Munich (Germany's Lewandowski) named best striker on Monday, reaching 580.

Jorginho, who won the European Champions League with Chelsea (England) and the Euro Cup with Italy, finished with 460, ahead of French Karim Benzema and Ngolo Kanté, fourth and fifth respectively.

Among the women, the big winner was the Spanish striker Alexia Putellas, from Barcelona (Spain).