ENTERTAINMENT
Messi Scoops Record Seventh Ballon d’Or
Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world for a record-stretching seventh time on Monday, beating Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho to lift soccer’s most prestigious trophy.
The forward added to his 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019 trophies after winning the Copa America for the first time with his country in July.
“It’s incredible to be here again. Two years ago I thought it was the last time. Winning the Copa America was key,” Messi said at Paris’s Theatre du Chatelet.
“It is a special year for me with this Copa America title. It meant a lot to win at the Maracana stadium and I was so happy to celebrate with the people from Argentina.
“I don’t know if it’s the best year of my life, I’ve had a long career, but it was a special one with the title with Argentina after the tough times and the criticism.”
Messi, who joined Paris St Germain on a free transfer from Barcelona during the close season after finishing as La Liga’s top scorer with the Spanish club, collected 613 points, with Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski, named best striker on Monday, getting 580.
Jorginho, who won the Champions League with Chelsea and the European championship with Italy, ended up third on 460, ahead of France’s Karim Benzema and Ngolo Kante in fourth and fifth places respectively.
Chelsea, named club of the year, also had keeper Edouard Mendy finishing second in the Yashin trophy behind Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The women’s Ballon d’Or went to Alexia Putellas after the Spain midfielder guided Barcelona to Champions League glory.
“The key moment was the Champions League final against Olympique Lyonnais,” she said.
Putellas is the third winner of the Ballon d’Or Feminin after Ada Hegerberg in 2018 and Megan Rapinoe in 2019.
There was no ceremony last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On a good night for Barcelona, 19-year-old Pedri was awarded the Kopa trophy for the best Under-21 player.
“The best way to celebrate turning 19 is receiving this award. I’d like to thank everyone at Barcelona for helping me here,” he said.
BREAKING: Fire Engulfs Federal Mortgage Bank Headquarters in Abuja
Freedom Of Religion Is Guaranteed — President Tinubu Assures Nigerians
Kano Police Recover ₦59.2m Stolen Solar Inverters, Arrest Four Over Fuel Pump Theft
“I Don’t Know The Source”- Kwara CP Debunks Claim 176 Residents Abducted In Kaiama Attack
I’m Vindicated of Criticism of Delta Govt ‘White-elephant Projects’ – Omo-Agege
Why FIFA Scrapped $20 Billion World Cup Sell-off Plan
“He Bit Me, I’m Bigger Than The Money”- Portable Storms Out Of Boxing Ring
Xenophobia: Delta Returnees to Receive ₦2m Grant, ₦300,000 Monthly Stipends
Judiciary Has Become the ‘Lost Hope’ of the Common Man – Mike Igini
Killers of DELSU Student, Elozino Ogege to Die by Hanging – Court Rules
NUJ Warri Decries “Death Trap”on Effurun-Sapele Road, Cult-related Killings, Tankers, Flooding Menace
Minister: Tinubu Took Over Economy In Crisis, Now Driving Major Reforms
Millions Lost as Fire Guts Furniture Workshop, Residential Buildings in Warri
‘U Matter Charity’: Succour as Hundreds of Special Needs Children Receive Free Medicare; Isoko South Boss Lauds Initiative
