It was always going to be a straight shoot-out between Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski for the 2021 Ballon d'Or, and in the end, it was the Argentine who took home the crown.
He already held the record for six Ballons d'Or triumphs, but as has been the case throughout his career, Messi has gone one step further and shattered his own tally, now sitting pretty on seven.
As you can imagine, Twitter went a bit wild.
? ??? ????? ? pic.twitter.com/sdMWFfvqDH
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 29, 2021
MESSI ???? BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD , RONALDO IN ZI MUDDDDDDDD
— ?W4️⃣RV3️⃣Dimp? ?? (@producerswarve) November 29, 2021
Messi is PERFECTION! ??????? pic.twitter.com/c2vNwoS7rl
— Titus SCHWA Bankole (@stbanky007) November 29, 2021
The GOAT with 7 ballon d’Ors
— yousifsadeq (@yousifsadeq1) November 29, 2021
The legend
LEO MESSI???????
Just as loud as the support for Messi was the opposition, with many believing this award should have gone to Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski.
The Poland international, who finished second in the standings, has scored more goals than any other player on the planet in 2021 and would have almost certainly been the winner in 2020, had the event not been postponed.
You're still the best in our eyes, @lewy_official! Congratulations to Lionel #Messi on winning the #BallonDor. ?#MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/R0YKNVyWQX
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) November 29, 2021
Messi didn't deserve this balon d'or and this is coming from a messi fan
— Dr. Okoye(M.D) (@fresh_onyii) November 29, 2021
Absolutely criminal that Messi won it, should have been Lewandowski without even a thought https://t.co/zGdwiBZGfY
— Joshua Locke (@Joshua7Locke) November 29, 2021
Yo Bro Lewandowski really scored 120 goals in 2 years just to win a dinner plate pic.twitter.com/llAx803wnQ
— Salah Balon D'or Winner (@Love_KLopp) November 29, 2021
Messi wins the #BallonDor
— MB (@Bowx_) November 29, 2021
Meanwhile Lewandowski takes home a massive savoury snack pic.twitter.com/Cmdk4KnrDX
Behind Lewandowski came Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, who boasted the most impressive trophy cabinet of any player across the year.
The Italian won at Euro 2020 during the summer, adding that to the Champions League title he lifted with the Blues just a few months earlier, although whether that was enough to earn him a spot on the podium has left a lot of fans divided.
If Jorginho didn’t deserve the Ballon d’Or before he definitely does not now. https://t.co/6SD6szGOiu
— Sean Walsh (@SeanDZWalsh) November 29, 2021
A real shame for Lewandowski to miss out on what he's clearly owed, but at least it's the best player in the world denying him of that...not Jorginho.
— Sam Tighe - Ranks FC Podcast (@stighefootball) November 29, 2021
Jorginho has no business being anywhere near that close to the top of that list hahaha
— Aran Hogan (@Original_Hogan) November 29, 2021
In the end though, the focus remains on Messi, whose illustrious career just got even better.
Agenda or not, congrats to Messi. That's one hell of a career.
— Alhaji (@yeankhar) November 29, 2021
Messi out there breaking his own records like it's nothing.
— Shahzeb Khan (@shahzebk10) November 29, 2021
Suarez's best assist to Messi pic.twitter.com/FtushH7jdS
— ?¹⁴ ??????? (@CoutinhoBeast) November 29, 2021
Now it’s time to start playing for the 8th . Let’s go Messi pic.twitter.com/8u4RrRfB8C
— Lionel Messi ➐ (@Messi30UK) November 29, 2021
Source : 90min