And seven for Lionel Messi.
Author of a great year with Barça and especially Argentina, the new number 30 of Paris Saint-Germain inherited the Golden Ball for the seventh time in his career Monday evening, at the Théâtre du Châtelet.
"
The Copa America made the difference for me to win this new trophy,
" acknowledged the "Pulga" at a press conference.
And to add: “
It is a pride for me to be the first player to win it with the jersey of PSG.
It's very special, an honor.
“It will be recalled all the same that George Weah won the Golden Ball in 1995, a few months after his transfer to AC Milan.
It is nevertheless for his performance at PSG that the current president of Liberia was rewarded.
To discover
Ballon d'Or 2021: follow the ceremony live from the Châtelet theater
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Ballon d'Or: prize list, results, full ranking ...
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Read also 2021 Golden Ball: why Messi beat Lewandowski, Jorginho and Benzema
Still, Messi has beaten Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) in the winners of this 65th edition. 33 point difference between the two players. “
Lewandowski had a great year. He demonstrated the class of the striker he is. The ease he has to score. Maybe he can win it next year, he's in a big club,
”said Messi, who had already had very elegant words about the Polish gunner in the podium. "
I would like to say to Robert that it is an honor to be in competition with him
", he declared initially, before addressing him directly: "
I think you would have won it there. 'last year. It was not possible with the pandemic but you deserve the
have at your place ”. The champion's class.
“This award gives me a lot of strength for the next stage, in a new club. "
Leo messi
With seven coronations, Messi increases his lead over his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, holder of five Golden Balls and who was not in Paris on Monday because of his quarrel with the boss of France Football, Pascal Ferré .
No other player has won more than three.
“
I don't know if this record is going to be broken.
It's something impressive, I'm very happy, to be able to fight to win other titles,
“loose Messi, who does not hide his ambitions in the Champions League.
"
This award gives me a lot of strength for the next stage, in a new club.
I really enjoyed seeing my happy family tonight.
It's an individual prize, but the Copa America is the title of a whole group.
We will do everything to win a new trophy with Argentina.
"
Read also Ballon d'or 2021: Messi joins Weah in the legend of Paris-SG
Asked about the prospect of winning an eighth Golden Ball, Messi plays it collectively.
“
I believe one thing leads to another.
The most important thing is to get there at the collective level, as happened at the Copa America.
I have to adapt to my new club, my new environment.
This trophy gives me a lot of energy.
Good news for Paris Saint-Germain.
After 21 years at Barcelona, Messi is having a mixed start in Red and Blue.
He has a record of four goals and as many assists, including three last Sunday in Saint-Etienne (3-1 victory), with Paris.
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