Ballon D'Or Voting Revealed: Messi Wins 7th Trophy; Ronaldo Finishes 6th in 30-Man Shortlist
The 2021 Ballon d'Or was handed out in Paris on Monday, where France Football once again crowned Lionel Messi as the best men's player in the world. Alexia Putellas, the Spain and Barcelona star, was named best women's player in the world to headline the festivities.
The 2020 edition was canceled on account of the pandemic, likely robbing Robert Lewandowski of what would have been his first award after a Champions League-winning season with Bayern Munich. The Polish striker was very much in the mix for the 2021 men's award, though, finishing second, while Jorginho, who won the Champions League with Chelsea and Euros with Italy, finished third. Cristiano Ronaldo finished out of the top three for the first time since 2010, winding up sixth in the voting.
The voting was conducted by journalists around the world, who pick a first-, second- and third-place finisher that they determine based on individual and collective honors (statistics, titles won, etc.), player talent and fair play and an overall view of the player's career. So while it is ostensibly meant to honor the best player of the calendar year, a wider scope can be taken when selecting the winner.
France Football slowly unveiled the top 30 in the men's award voting throughout the course of the day, leading up to the main event in the French capital. Here is the final result:
29 (tied). Luka Modrić; Croatia, Real Madrid
29 (tied). César Azpilicueta; Spain, Chelsea
26 (tied). Nicolò Barella; Italy, Inter Milan
26 (tied). Gerard Moreno; Spain, Villarreal
26 (tied). Rúben Dias; Portugal, Manchester City
25. Phil Foden; England, Manchester City
24. Pedri; Spain, Barcelona
23. Harry Kane; England, Tottenham
21 (tied). Lautaro Martínez; Argentina, Inter Milan
21 (tied). Bruno Fernandes; Portugal, Manchester United
20. Riyad Mahrez; Algeria, Manchester City
19. Mason Mount; England, Chelsea
18. Simon Kjaer; Denmark, AC Milan
17. Luis Suárez; Uruguay, Atlético Madrid
16. Neymar; Brazil, PSG
15. Raheem Sterling; England, Manchester City
14. Leonardo Bonucci; Italy, Juventus
13. Giorgio Chiellini; Italy, Juventus
12. Romelu Lukaku; Belgium, Chelsea/Inter Milan
11. Erling Haaland; Norway, Borussia Dortmund
10. Gianluigi Donnarumma; Italy, PSG
9. Kylian Mbappé; France, PSG
8. Kevin De Bruyne; Belgium, Manchester City
7. Mohamed Salah; Egypt, Liverpool
6. Cristiano Ronaldo; Portugal, Manchester United
5. N'Golo Kanté; France, Chelsea
4. Karim Benzema; France, Real Madrid
3. Jorginho; Italy, Chelsea
2. Robert Lewandowski; Poland, Bayern Munich
1. Lionel Messi; Argentina, PSG/Barcelona
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