AFP, France
Tue Nov 30, 2021 02:42 AM Last update on: Tue Nov 30, 2021 03:09 AM
Photo: AFP
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Photo: AFP
Lionel Messi won the men’s Ballon d’Or award for a record-extending seventh time at a ceremony in Paris on Monday.
Messi, now 34, won the last edition of the Ballon d’Or in 2019 before last year’s awards were cancelled due to the pandemic.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. He won the Copa del Rey with Barcelona and then captained Argentina to Copa America glory before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in August.
Pedri, Donnarumma claim prizes at Ballon d’Or ceremony
Photo: AFP
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Photo: AFP
Spain starlet Pedri won the Kopa Trophy for the best player aged under 21 at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in Paris on Monday, while Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma was named the best goalkeeper.
Barcelona midfielder Pedri, who only turned 19 last Thursday, was a key player for Spain as they reached the semi-finals of the European Championship and featured in their side that lost in the men’s Olympic football final against Brazil in Tokyo.
In addition he played 52 games for Barcelona, helping them win the Copa del Rey.
Pedri, who joined Barca from Las Palmas last year, recently extended his contract at the Camp Nou to 2026.
The Kopa Trophy is named after Raymond Kopa, the Real Madrid and France star of the post-war era who won the Ballon d’Or in 1958.
France forward Kylian Mbappe was the inaugural winner of the prize in 2018, and Matthijs de Ligt of Juventus and the Netherlands won it in 2019.
There was no Ballon d’Or awards ceremony last year because of the pandemic.
Photo: AFP
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Photo: AFP
Donnarumma won the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper after his outstanding performances in Italy’s glorious Euro 2020 campaign.
The 22-year-old left AC Milan for Paris Saint-Germain following the European Championship.
Liverpool and Brazil star Alisson was the first winner in 2019 of the Yashin Trophy, named after former USSR icon Lev Yashin.
