Who won the Ballon d'Or in 2021? Final results as Lionel Messi takes home 7th player of the year award

Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi won the 2021 Ballon d'Or, his record-extending seventh player of the year award in his career. He beat out Bayern Munich and Poland forward Robert Lewandowski, who was the other top contender.  

Messi won the last Ballon d'Or award in 2019. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Lewandowski was widely believed to be the likely winner before it was controversially scratched.

FC Barcelona star attacking midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women's award, PSG goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma was voted the best goalkeeper in the world, and another Barcelona player, 19-year-old Pedri , was named the best men's Under-21 player in the world.

Lewandowski was named the inaugural Striker of the Year as the top scorer for club and country, while Chelsea FC took home the Club of the Year with the most candidates across the Ballon d'Or awards.

Media around the world voted for three of the awards — the men's and women's Ballon d'Or and the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper — and 32 former Ballon d'Or winners are voting on the best young men's player. Two new awards, Striker of the Year and Club of the Year were introduced by France Football, the French sports weekly which has run the Ballon d'Or awards since 1956.

Sporting News will be following the Ballon d'Or event and announcements as they happen, providing live updates, the latest rankings and the most interesting reaction throughout the day.

Ballon d'Or final results — Men

2021 Kopa Trophy final voting (Best U21 player)

Ballon d'Or awards — live updates

All times ET

4:07 p.m.: They lit up the Eiffel Tower for Messi. After seven Ballon d'Or awards, why not?

PUSH THE MAGIC BUTTON! 👀

small surprise for Lionel Messi #ballondor pic.twitter.com/UtMcaQyIdE

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

4:00 p.m.: Cool that Messi went out of his way in his speech to tell Robert Lewandowski that he should've won it last year and that France Football should give him one for his trophy case.

3:55 p.m. : And we have the winner: It's Lionel Messi at No. 1, with Robert Lewandowski coming in at No. 2. That's a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or for Messi.

3:48 p.m.:  Chelsea was named Club of the Year, a new award given to the team with the most players with candidates at the Ballon d'Or.

The club of the year award goes to @ChelseaFC ! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/U1eyVwgqyB

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

3:46 p.m.:  We have the No. 3-5 finishers in the men's Ballon d'Or: N'Golo Kante, Karim Benzema and Jorginho.

3:30 p.m.:  The Yashin trophy award is up next: It goes to Gigi Donnarumma of PSG and Italy. He was the star in Italy's run to the Euro 2021 title.

3:27 p.m.:   The next three players in the men's Ballon d'Or were named: De Bruyne (No. 8), Salah (No. 7) and Cristiano Ronaldo (No. 6).

3:18 p.m.:  FC Barcelona attacking midfielder Alexia Putellas wins the third women's Ballon d'Or.

3:16 p.m.:  Kylian Mbappe will be presenting the women's Ballon d'Or next.

3:06 p.m.:  The No. 9 and No. 10 players in the men's Ballon d'Or ranking are revealed — PSG teammates Kylian Mbappe and Gigi Donnarumma.

Kylian Mbappé's historical Ballon D'Or Rankings (Top 10):

2017: 7th

2018: 4th

2019: 6th

2021: 9th

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) November 29, 2021

2:59 p.m.:  One of the two new awards in this edition, Striker of the Year, goes to Robert Lewandowski. It's given to the player who scored the most goals for club and country combined. Is this a consolation award for Lewa? Remember, he was deemed the favorite for last year's award, before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The striker of the year award goes to… Robert Lewandowski ! 🦾 #ballondor pic.twitter.com/OEy9mlSjki

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

2:51 p.m.:  Now there's a video tribute for legends Diego Maradona and Gerd Muller, who passed away in the last year (Nov. 25, 2020 and Aug. 15, 2021, respectively).

2:45 p.m.:  Pedri wins the Kopa award. He also finished No. 24 in the Ballon d'Or voting. He says that this was the best way to celebrate his 19th birthday which happened just a few days ago on Nov. 25.

2:45 p.m.:  The Kopa award for best men's Under-21 player is about to be unveiled by Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro. Only former Ballon d'Or winners vote for the best young player award.

2:39 p.m.:  The two new awards are going to be Striker of the Year and Club of the Year:

Here are our two new awards! ✨

The striker of the year & The club of the year ! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/Tcwzr9J7zJ

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

2:39 p.m.:  Formula 1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon deliver the two Ballon d'Or trophies (for men and women).

2:30 p.m.:  The show is underway in Paris. Didier Drogba and Sandy Heribert are the hosts.

2:20 p.m.:  Zendaya and Tom Holland are also at the event:

Welcome to @Zendaya and Spiderman @TomHolland1996 , at the 2021 Ballon d'Or Ceremony ! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/0fWFRzQTgC

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

2:12 p.m.:  And now it's Lionel Messi and his family's arrival. Messi and his boys in identical attire:

Leo Messi et toute sa famille brillent sur le tapis rouge du Ballon d'Or 2021 ✨ #ballondor pic.twitter.com/TUaSr4HPVE

— la chaine L'Équipe (@lachainelequipe) November 29, 2021

2:05 p.m.:  It's no doubt a short trek for PSG star Kylian Mbappe, who's walking the red carpet:

The Eiffel Tower is shining... and Kylian Mbappé appears! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/l7y7Rc6P5X

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

1:49 p.m.:  It's Robert Lewandowski's arrival at the Théâtre du Châtelet:

📣 WHAT AN ARRIVAL! 📣

Robert Lewandowski is here! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/bnr2nqUOEu

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

1:06 p.m.:  What is happening in Paris:

🧭 48°49'59.99"N, 2°15'0"E

📍 France Football headquarter

The trophees are ready! Follow our journey through Paris to Théâtre du Châtelet… and open your eyes, you might see something 👀 #ballondor pic.twitter.com/Jl4eet4Vm6

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

12:55 p.m.:  If you're a gala that matters, of course you have a red carpet:

What a view! 👀

Welcome to Paris!

Let's get ready for the #ballondor red carpet! pic.twitter.com/lGv7sEcZpn

— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021

12:52 p.m.:  And so here are the players who will finish in the Top 10: Benzema, De Bruyne, Donnarumma, Jorginho, Kante, Lewandowski, Mbappe, Messi, Ronaldo, Salah. Not a bad bunch.

12:51 p.m.:  Erling Haaland couldn't break the Top 10! The media vote placed him at No. 11.

12:47 p.m.:  Hmmm. That smile could easily come from someone who was notified that he won the award. And based on a New York Times interview with the France Football chief editor, the winner is in fact notified ahead of time.

Ready for the #BallonDor ! 🤳 pic.twitter.com/FBlHhpw1cx

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) November 29, 2021

12:46 p.m.:  They're coming in fast and furious now. Romelu Lukaku (No. 12) is two spots short of the top 10 after a spectacular 2021.

12:44 p.m.:  It's only right that Giorgio Chiellini would be right there alongside Leonardo Bonucci in the Ballon d'Or standings. They're inseparable. Chiellini comes in at No. 13.

12:42 p.m.:  In addition to coming in at No. 24 in the men's Ballon d'Or voting, Pedri is also up for the Kopa trophy as top young player. He's also in Paris:

¡Qué bien te queda, @Pedri ! 🤵‍♂️ #BallonDor pic.twitter.com/ZHP2yGg2ze

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) November 29, 2021

12:34 p.m.:  Another Italian player with the Euro 2021 bump is Leonardo Bonucci. Surprise entry at No. 14.

12:21 p.m.:  Next Man City star: Raheem Sterling. Ranked ahead of Mahrez, Foden and Dias at No. 15.

12:16 p.m.:  Neymar finished a ways away from the Top 5 with voters placing him No. 16.

12:04 p.m.:  Atletico Madrid and Uruguay's Luis Suarez is announced at No. 17. He was one of Atletico's most important players in its run to the La Liga title.

11:59 a.m.:  A surprise finish for AC Milan and Denmark defender Simon Kjaer at No. 18. His 2021 was marked by more than just football.

11:55 a.m.:  Another Premier League player in the Top 20: Chelsea's Mason Mount, who's just getting started at age 22.

11:34 a.m.:  The latest Man City player Riyad Mahrez clocks in at No. 20.

11:31 a.m.:  Another tie in the votes between Bruno Fernandes (Man United) and Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) for 21st place.

11:13 a.m.:  Harry Kane (Tottenham) has had a quiet start to the 2021-22 season and comes in at No. 23. Interesting to imagine how a summer move could have impacted his place.

10:59 a.m.:  Phil Foden is hoping for a big 2022, but he's in at No. 25 for the 2021 rankings. Also, not bad for a Ballon d'Or debut for Barcelona's Pedri, who comes in at No. 24.

10:58 a.m.:  We got a drop of three players tied for No. 26 in the voting: Ruben Dias (Man City), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal) and Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan).

10:36 a.m.:  The two players finishing bottom in the men's Ballon d'Or voting were revealed. It's two vets: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) and 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric (Real Madrid) are tied for last.

How to watch 2021 Ballon d'Or in Australia?

• Date: Tuesday, Nov. 30
• Time: 6.30am (AEDT)
• TV channel: SBS and SBS on Demand
• Streaming: L'Equipe's You Tube channel , SBS

The 2021 Ballon d'Or winners will be announced at a gala in Paris on Tues, Nov. 30 (AEDT). The event will be telecast live on Australian TV via SBS, while it can also be streamed online via SBS and L'Equipe's You Tube.

The ceremony at the Théâtre du Chatelet will reveal the male and female Ballon d'Or winners, the Kopa Trophy (best Under-21 young player) and the Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper).

Who will it be?? 🏆⚽️ Retrouvez-nous pour la 65eme cérémonie du ballon d’or lundi soir en direct sur la chaîne l’équipe à 20h30. Be tuned ! #Ballondor #ballondor2021 @didierdrogba @francefootball @lequipe @lachainelequipe pic.twitter.com/FRr9uPZsVi

— Sandy Heribert (@SandyHeribert) November 24, 2021

There were six editions (2010 through 015) in which the Ballon d'Or, run by French weekly France Football, was known as the FIFA Ballon d'Or after it fused with the FIFA Player of the Year award. FIFA broke away and started The Best FIFA Football Awards  beginning with 2016 (awarded in January 2017). 

How does voting for the Ballon d'Or work?

The France Football editorial staff compiles the shortlist of finalists for each award before distributing it to voters with voting closing on Oct. 24.

A panel of 180 journalists around the world was asked to vote (via a secure email system) based on criteria including individual and team performance in 2021, the player's talent and sportsmanship, and the player’s overall career.

About 40 to 50 women's football journalists vote on the women's Ballon d'Or, while 32 former men's Ballon d'Or winners vote for the best Under-21 men's player (Kopa Trophy).

Each voter for the Ballon d’Or (men and women) voted for their top five and each vote carried a points total: 

• 1st place: 6 points
• 2nd place: 4 points
• 3rd place: 3 points
• 4th place: 2 points
• 5th place: 1 point

Voters for the Kopa Trophy and Yashin Trophy submitted a top three and that points system works slightly differently: 

• 1st place: 5 points
• 2nd place: 3 points
• 3rd place: 1 point

The voting results will be published in the Dec. 4 edition of weekly publication France Football.

Who are the Ballon d'Or finalists?

There are 30 names for the men's award, 20 for the women's Ballon d'Or and 10 each for the Kopa and Yashin trophies.

2021 Ballon d'Or — Men

2021 Ballon d'Or — Women

2021 Kopa Trophy finalists

2021 Yashin Trophy finalists