- MESSI GIVES LEWANDOWSKI A MENTION
"I don't know how many years I have left, but I hope there will still be many because I am having enormous fun," Messi said at the France Football ceremony where he picked up his seventh Ballon d'Or before praising Lewandowski, who was the favourite to win the 2020 Ballon d'Or until it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"You deserve your Ballon d'Or," the Argentine added. "Last year, everyone was in agreement to say that you were the big winner."
21:00 - LEGEND!
Messi has made history this evening by winning a SEVENTH Ballon d'Or! What a player he is! Is he the greatest of all time? His record in this award certainly suggests so!
The 34-year-old won this award for the first time back in 2009. Luis Suarez is now on stage to hand Messi the trophy.
20:55 - MESSI WINS THE 2021 BALLON D'OR!
Lionel Messi has won an historic seventh Ballon d’Or after picking up the prestigious individual award at a ceremony in Paris.
The 34-year-old has now won the Ballon d’Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021, meaning he has lifted the prize handed to the best player in world football more times than any other male player in its history, two clear of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi beat out Robert Lewandowski who finished in second place and Chelsea midfielder Jorghino who was ranked third in the voting.
Leo Messi (PSG)Leo Messi (PSG)
Leo Messi (PSG)
Image credit: Getty Images
20:50 - CHELSEA ARE CLUB OF THE YEAR
2021 was a memorable one for Chelsea and they have been handed the award for the Club of the Year!
Of course, Thomas Tuchel's team won the Champions League and are top of the Premier League while Emma Hayes' side made the final of the Women's Champions League last season.
20:47 - KANTE 5TH, BENZ 4TH, JORGINHO 3RD!
Two Chelsea players in the top five of the 2021 Ballon d'Or! N'Golo Kante is ranked fifth with Jorginho, who had been tipped to win the award after success with Chelsea and Italy, in third place!
Karim Benzema split the two after an exceptional year for France and Real Madrid!
Jorginho bacia la Champions League vinta con il Chelsea nella stagione 2020-21Jorginho bacia la Champions League vinta con il Chelsea nella stagione 2020-21
Jorginho bacia la Champions League vinta con il Chelsea nella stagione 2020-21
Image credit: Getty Images
20:40 - DONNARUMMA WINS YASHIN TROPHY!
Italy and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has won the 2021 Yashin Trophy, beating out Chelsea's Edouard Mendy who had been tipped for the award.
Donnarumma won the Best Player award at Euro 2020 and made the switch from AC Milan to the French capital in the summer.
20:35 - CR7 IN 6TH!
There will be no sixth Ballon d'Or for Cristiano Ronaldo this evening with the Portuguese forward finishing sixth in the ranking!
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid poses for photos with his FIFA Ballon Dor TrophiesCristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid poses for photos with his FIFA Ballon Dor Trophies
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid poses for photos with his FIFA Ballon Dor Trophies
Image credit: Getty Images
20:30 - KDB 8TH, SALAH 7TH!
Kevin de Bruyne has been ranked sixth in the Ballon d'Or voting with Mohamed Salah in seventh place! Both players have enjoyed brilliant years with Salah arguably in the form of his life right now!
Of course, de Bruyne helped Manchester City to their third Premier League title in four years.
20:15 - PUTELLAS WINS WOMEN'S BALLON D'OR!
Barcelona Femeni's Alexia Putellas has won the 2021 Women's Ballon d'Or following an exceptional season which saw her help her club to the 2020/21 Champions League title!
Jennifer Hermoso finished in second place in the voting with Chelsea's Sam Kerr rounding off the top three!
20:05 - MBAPPE 9TH, DONNARUMMA 10TH!
Mbappe has been ranked ninth in the Ballon d'Or voting with Gianluigi Donnarumma in 10th. The former has been in excellent form for PSG in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Donnarumma found his best form for Italy during Euro 2020 with the goalkeeper awarded the prize for the tournament's best player!
20:00 - LEWANDOWSKI IS STRIKER OF THE YEAR!
Bayern Munich and Poland striker Lewandowski has won the Striker of the Year award! He enjoyed an excellent 2021, breaking Gerd Muller's long-standing record for the most Bundesliga goals in a single season!
Will Lewandowski add the Ballon d'Or trophy itself to his haul this evening?
Robert Lewandowski is one of the favourites for the Ballon d'OrRobert Lewandowski is one of the favourites for the Ballon d'Or
Robert Lewandowski is one of the favourites for the Ballon d'Or
Image credit: Getty Images
19:48 - PEDRI WINS THE KOPA TROPHY!
Pedri has won the Kopa trophy handed to the best male player age 21 or under. It's certainly true that the teenager had an incredible year for Barcelona and Spain!
Bukayo Saka came sixth in the voting with Mason Greenwood fifth and Jude Bellingham in second place!
19:30 - HERE WE GO!
The 2021 Ballon d'Or ceremony is under way! Will Messi win an historic seventh Ballon d'Or? Or will Lewandowski get the prize he probably should have won last year?
Robert Lewandowski, «Ballon d'or»Robert Lewandowski, «Ballon d'or»
Robert Lewandowski, «Ballon d'or»
Image credit: Getty Images
19:20 - THE MAIN MAN HAS ARRIVED!
Messi is the favourite to win a record seventh Ballon d'Or this evening and the main man has arrived at the venue in Paris for the ceremony!
The Argentine won his first international honour at the Copa America and switched Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer!
Messi and sons rock matching shiny suits on red carpetMessi and sons rock matching shiny suits on red carpet
Messi and sons rock matching shiny suits on red carpet
19:10 - MBAPPE IS HERE
Kylian Mbappe has made his way down the red carpet. You'd expect that he will be making an appearance at a few of these ceremonies in the years to come...
Mbappe arrives on red carpetMbappe arrives on red carpet
Mbappe arrives on red carpet
19:00 - SPIDER-MAN IS HERE!
The Ballon d'Or ceremony brings together the great and good of the football world, but it also attracts some celebrities too!
Spider-man himself, Tom Halland, spoke on the red card ahead of entering the venue!
18:50 - LEWANDOWSKI'S NIGHT?
Most agree Lewandowski would have won the 2020 Ballon d'Or had it not been cancelled, so will the Polish international finally get his hands on the award tonight?
18:45 - EXCITEMENT BUILDING
Lewandowski has just turned up at the venue ahead of the ceremony. Will tonight be the night the Polish striker finally gets his hands on the Ballon d'Or?
A reminder - you can watch the live stream of the ceremony this evening on the Eurosport website and app!
Ballon d'Or trophyBallon d'Or trophy
Ballon d'Or trophy
Image credit: Getty Images
18:15 - STARS ARRIVING
Players, managers and representatives of some of Europe's biggest clubs are arriving in Paris for the ceremony. Simon Kjaer has just spoken to the press on the red carpet!
The trophies are also on their way to the venue from France Football's offices!
18:00 - CROWDS GATHERING
The anticipation is building ahead of the ceremony where the winner of the 2021 Ballon d'Or will be announced. This is the scene in Paris right now!
17:55 - HAALAND NEXT UP!
Erling Haaland is 11th in the Ballon d'Or voting. The Norwegian striker has been in exceptional form for Borussia Dortmund, although he failed to fire his country to the 2022 World Cup.
Nonetheless, Haaland is one of the best young players in the game. He will be on this list many times in the coming years...
Erling Braut Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)Erling Braut Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)