Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas win Ballon d’Or awards

Football’s top journalists worldwide selected PSG’s Lionel Messi and Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas as the winners of the Balon d’Or winners of 2021. Football betting with the Balon d’Or contenders always has high odds among football fans.

Lionel Messi

It is Lionel Messi’s 7th Balon d’Or, and no other player in history has won seven in their football career. He won the seventh one by beating Robert Lewandowski, who had an excellent season with Bayern Munich. Now Messi is two ahead of Ronaldo in numbers. Messi won all the previous six Balon d’Ors with Barcelona. Now, he wins the seventh one with Paris Saint Germain FC, and he has become the first PSG player to win this award in their history. 

Messi had an incredible season with his national team Argentina. The 34-year-old led Argentian to their first title in 28 years by winning the Copa America earlier in July. He was also selected as the top goal scorer and the best player in the tournament. The Copa America title was crucial for the Argentine to win the Balon d’Or as he did not win major titles with Barca. It was only the Copa del Rey. But his individual performances for both the club and country was at the top level. 

“It’s incredible to be here again. Two years ago, I thought it was the last time. Winning the Copa América was key,” Messi said. “It is a special year for me with this Copa América title. It meant a lot to win at the Maracanã stadium, and I was so happy to celebrate with the people from Argentina.

Alexia Putellas

Alexia Putellas helped Barcelona to write another record in their history. Barcelona became the only football club in history where players from the men’s and women’s teams to win Balon d’Or. 

She was an integral part of the team which won the treble last season. She scored 18 goals and 12 assists in the Primera division. She was named in the team of the season of the Champions League. 

Earlier this season, she was named as the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year. 

Before Putellas, Ada Hegerberg and Megan Rapinoe, who the award in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

I’m very emotional. It’s an extraordinary moment,” she said at the Paris ceremony. I would like to start by thanking all my teammates, especially my current teammates. For me it’s a collective success.”

This season, she has started well with nine goals and nine assists from ten matches.