INTERNATIONAL: 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. He beats Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho to lift soccer's most prestigious trophy yet again. 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 last July.

Men’s, Ballon d’ Or Winner Lionel Messi says, "This (trophy) win is special. Previously I have had the feeling that something was missing, that I hadn't fulfilled the objectives of the (Argentine) national team, something that I was not able to get until June of last year, so it was a very special year for me. This prize also gives me the motivation for this new stage of my life, to start the coming year in the best way possible, in this new stage, in this new club, and regarding my family, my children, they like all of this. There were nerves about whether I would win or not. I enjoy seeing them happy, to enjoy this moment with them. My wife, my father, my siblings, enjoying it a lot and we will keep it up."

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. She says, "Many feelings I have at the moment. I feel privileged to represent so many people, with a lot of pride, and this trophy will certainly not be the last for Barcelona. Barcelona have had this great project at the club for women's football and it's just started. We are going to see more Barcelona players with this Ballon d'Or."

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.

^{PHOTO: COMMENTS FROM BALLON D'OR WINNERS LIONEL MESSI, ALEXIA PUTELLAS, PEDRI AND GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA}