Ballon d’Or 2021. Alexia Putellas is crowned the queen of football

The best player on the planet speaks Catalan and was born in Mollet del Vallés. Alexia putellas she was crowned this Monday night in Paris as the brightest footballer in the world. The predictions were confirmed and the Barça midfielder I won the golden ball. A milestone for the beautiful sport in Spain, since since 1960 with Luis Suárez No player in the country had ever reached the top with this individual accolade. The award is also the icing on the cake overwhelming Barcelona, which concludes this year with a triplet after having won the League, the Cup and the Champions League.

“It is an individual award, but without a doubt it is a collective success& rdquor ;, said Putellas, 27, in his speech after receiving the award at the Châtelet Theater in Paris. “Thanks to the coaches who have trusted me, to Barça, which coincides with its 122nd anniversary & rdquor ;, added the midfielder in an intervention in Spanish and Catalan and who took the opportunity to dedicate it to his deceased father. The brilliant year of the culés also received the recognition of the presence of Jennifer Hermoso and Lieke Martens among the five finalists.

There were also no surprises in men’s soccer. Lionel Messi was awarded as the best in the world and achieved his seventh Ballon d’Or. They accompanied him on the podium Robert Lewandowski and the italian Jorginho. Despite the Madrid press campaign, Karim Benzema had to settle for fourth place.

“It will not be the last of a Barça & rdquor; player;

With the women’s Ballon d’Or, Putellas becomes the third footballer to win it and follows in the wake of Ada Hegerberg in 2018 and Megan Rapinoe in 2019. The magazine France Football began in 2018 to deliver this award in the discipline of women’s football and last year the award was canceled due to the pandemic. With 29 goals and 24 assists, Putellas has been the leader of the team trained by Jonatan Giráldez (and Lluís Cortés during the first six months of the year). “I’m sure that it won’t be the last (award of this type) of a Barça player& rdquor ;, defended the captain of the azulgrana team.

“I was not lucky enough to grow up at a time when there was the Golden Ball for women and this it will help to have many more girls playing soccer& rdquor ;, said Putellas about the relevance of his award to further promote his sport among women. “Everyone has the responsibility that all girls have the possibility of dreaming of being a footballer, regardless of the color of their skin and it does not matter if it is a man or a woman,” added the best player in the world . He took advantage of the award to claim better working conditions for soccer players in Spain, the right to be professionals: & rdquor; There are no excuses for everyone to have the right to dream of being a soccer player and to do so with decent conditions to be a professional, “he said. .

Joan Laporta, leaving the gala, put out his chest. “It is a source of pride for Barça. It has been precious. Today we have 122 years of history and this is the best way to celebrate it. Alexia is a person who touches your heart,” he said with an enthusiastic tone.

Messi, the most awarded in history

The ceremony at the Châtelet Theater also confirmed Messi’s status as the God of football. The former Barça captain, currently in the ranks of Paris Saint-Germain, established himself as the player who received the most prestigious award in history in front of Cristiano Ronaldo (five Ballon d’Or, but was sixth in this year’s edition). The Portuguese was the great absentee of the gala after having starred in a controversy with the editor-in-chief of France Football, who reproached him that his only ambition is “to retire with more Ballons d’Or than Messi & rdquor ;.

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“It is incredible to be here again. Two years ago I said it was my last years and I am here again& rdquor ;, declared the Argentine star when proclaiming himself the winner. “I really want to continue fighting for new challenges. I do not know when the moment of goodbye will come, because I enjoy football a lot & rdquor ;, said Messi, who had very good words to your main competitor, the Polish Lewandowski. “To tell Robert that it is very special to have reached the final with him. Everyone agreed that you were the winner last year. It couldn’t be done because of the pandemic issue, but I think you deserve to have this trophy in your home & rdquor ;.

In addition to Putellas and Messi, another Barça player was one of the winners of the night: Pedri, rewarded with the Kopa prize to the best player under-21. “I thank Barça and the players and coaches who have supported me (& mldr;). Leo, I thank you for what you supported me & rdquor ;, said the Barça midfielder, who also stayed 24th in the final ranking of the Ballon d’Or, being the best positioned culé in men’s football. “A great future awaits Barça. I’m glad to see people like Gavi and Nico & rdquor ;, Pedri added about the brilliant batch of promising culés, led by the canary.