It is not just THE Ballon d'Or in football life.
In addition to the supreme award for best player of the year, brought in Alpine by the F1 driver duo Fernando Alonso / Esteban Ocon helmeted like the late Daft Punk, and awarded for the seventh time to Lionel Messi, other trophies were awarded at the end of the red carpet at the Théâtre du Châtelet.
Pedri, Kopa trophy for best youngster
There wasn't much suspense. Pedri, the Barcelona midfielder, already consecrated by the Italian daily Tuttosport, won the title of best player under 21, after a full season with a Barça yet in decline and the Iberian national team, both at the Euro and the Olympics, with a Tokyo silver medal. "I just turned 19 and the best way to celebrate my birthday is to receive this award alongside the best in the world," smiled the blaugrana nugget, already widely compared to Iniesta. I dedicate it to Barça, my teammates, my family, but also Lionel Messi
(Editor's note: who helped him before leaving for PSG).
Pedri also took 24th place overall in the Ballon d'Or.
¡Qué bien te queda, @Pedri!
🤵♂️ # BallonDor pic.twitter.com/ZHP2yGg2ze
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) November 29, 2021
Lewandowski, the serial scorer
For the first time, the organizers rewarded the goalscorer of the year with a trophy that looks like a big cake. "These people who can go from zero to heroes or from heroes to zero in a second," sums up the former striker Didier Drogba, master of ceremonies. There too, no suspense as Robert Lewandowski crushed the figures in 2021, with 64 goals already scored over the calendar year with Bayern Munich or the Polish selection. "I am very proud, very honored", commented the Munich n ° 9, who erased from the shelves last spring the record of goals in a season in Bundesliga of the legend Gerd Muller (41 goals against 40 with a Shoe of Gold at the end of the crampons). The Pole would have largely deserved the Ballon d'Or. This distinction seems almost like a small consolation prize ...
🏆 #BallonDor
👏 Robert Lewandowski is elected top scorer of the year!
pic.twitter.com/ndzkUt7Y1O
- beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) November 29, 2021
Alexia Putellas succeeds Megan Rapinoe
The third female Ballon d'Or went to Catalonia.
The attacking midfielder and captain of FC Barcelona, Alexia Putellas, 27, has indeed seized the golden ball.
And no one would dare contest the title to the Catalan left-hander, who has won everything with his club (Champions League, Championship and Spanish Cup) in 2020/2021.
“I am very moved, it is a very special moment to experience this with my teammates who came here, relishes the young woman, who dedicated this recognition to her father who died in 2012. It is an individual prize, of course. , but for me it is above all collective.
»Her mother and sister accompanied her to the platform of the Châtelet for lovely moments of emotion ...
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A post shared by Alexia Putellas (@ alexiaps94)
Donnarumma, the man with the golden hands
Tenth in the general classification, Gianluigi Donnarumma, 22, had a better hand in the goalkeeper classification, baptized Lev Yachine, the legendary Russian of the 1960s. The last bulwark of AC Milan, then of PSG and especially of the Italian selection who reigned over Europe last summer, won the title ahead of Neuer, Ederson or Édouard Mendy. “It was an incredible year for me, blows the native of Castellammare di Stabia, who shares the Parisian cage with Navas. We did honor to all Italians this summer, they were indescribable emotions. Then there was my stint at PSG, of which I am very, very proud. It's fate. I hope to live up to this honor on the pitch. "
🎙️ Gigio Donnarumma: "A word in French? Thank you very much 🇫🇷" #BallonDor
* Big laugh in the assembly * pic.twitter.com/OqmUkIzqUp
- PSG COMMUNITY (@psgcommunity_) November 29, 2021
Chelsea, the club of the year
Winner of the Champions League last spring and with eleven players nominated in the various categories, Chelsea won the title of club of the year.
Health crisis requires, no Blues player had been able to make the trip to Paris.
It was therefore in duplex in London that Londoners shared their feelings.
"It's a very nice trophy for the club," slips coach Thomas Tuchel, former PSG coach.
We are happy to receive it, it rewards a great season… ”
And the club of the year 2021 is ... @ChelseaFC! #Ballondor pic.twitter.com/9hTEfXlijY
- the L'Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) November 29, 2021
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