For the seventh time in twelve years, Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or.
A distinction obtained in front of Robert Lewandowski for whom the Argentinian who also had a few elegant words Monday evening at the Châtelet theater for his inevitably unhappy dolphin.
“
Lewandowski has 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 at a big club,
"Messi said before adding:"
I think you would have won it last year.
It was not possible with the pandemic but you deserve to have it at home
”.
To discover
Ballon d'Or 2021: follow the ceremony live from the Châtelet theater
Ballon d'Or: prize list, results, full ranking ...
Read also Messi elegant towards Lewandowski, his runner-up for the Golden Ball: "You deserve to have him at home"
But in Germany, the non-coronation of Robert Lewandowski, Polish striker of Bayern Munich does not pass.
Bild
even considers it a real “
scandal
” given the exceptional performance of the striker who should have obtained the award last year before the cancellation of the 2020 edition due to the coronavirus crisis. The German newspaper lists the new lines of the international prize list: 41 league goals (a record), Bundesliga champion, Champions League top scorer with 14 goals. "
But this is obviously not enough
", regrets the daily.
An opinion shared by Lothar Matthaüs, former winner in 1990 and legend of German football.
“
Honestly, I don't understand a thing anymore,
” explained the former midfielder.
"
With all due respect to Messi and the other great players named, none had deserved it as much as Lewandowski
", regretted the world champion.
More fair play, Bayern Munich still expressed its disappointment through Oliver Kahn, chairman of the board: "
Lewandowski would have deserved the Ballon d'Or just as much as his top scorer's trophy, because 'it has performed absolutely at the highest level for years.
Congratulations nevertheless to Lionel Messi!
"
LiveMessi sacred, Benzema 4th: the full list after the Golden Ball ceremony
Elsewhere, the crowning of Messi is also debated given the disappointing debut of Argentina's No. 10 at Paris SG.
In Italy, the
Gazzetta dello Sport
prefers to highlight the excellent place of Jorginho, crowned at the Euro with his selection and with Chelsea in C1.
"
It ends as planned, no bad surprise
", relativizes the transalpine newspaper.
Read also Messi, a Golden Ball still in the running at PSG
In Spain, on the other hand, the new triumph of La Pulga is well deserved according to the local media. It's a bit like Spanish football and FC Barcelona that is rewarded as Pedri received the Kopa trophy for best youngster and Alexia Putellas was awarded in the women's category with the Catalan jersey. "
Golden Triplet
", enthuses the daily
Sport
, "
L'Or blaugrana
", congratulates
El Mundo Deportivo
with a photo of Messi and Putellas, trophies in hand. "
They are gold
", title
Marca
on his side
, referring to the duo.
As for England, it gives a reasonable place but not disproportionate to the event, preferring to insist on the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo against the editor-in-chief Pascal Ferré: “
Lionel Messi wins the seventh Ballon d'Or - but the event was overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo's attack on organizer Pascal Ferré.
"
The Daily Mail
does not take a position but notes that Robert Lewandowski"
must be satisfied with the new award for striker of the year
"in a"
scintillating ceremony
". “
Lionel Messi has changed clubs this year, but some things never change
,” adds the daily. Finally,
The Team
wishes to celebrate the new winner without arguing with a clever play on words "
Game, 7 and match
" illustrating the Argentinian genius all smiles with his trophy.