It's Barcelona's Ballon d'Or ceremony this year

It's Barcelona's Ballon d'Or ceremony this year

| sport

Messi won the main award, with Alexia taking the women's version and Pedri got a trophy too

The 2021 edition of the Ballon d’Or, taking place on FC Barcelona’s 122nd anniversary, were dominated by Barcelona.

President Joan Laporta and his vice-president Rafa Yuste were on hand to see Lionel Messi win the trophy, Alexia Putellas take the women’s award and Pedri Gonzalez win the trophy for best youth player.

After a year off for the pandemic, the event took place in Paris at the Chatelet Theatre. Stars littered the red carpet at a footballing party. The awards were presented by French journalist Sandy Heribert and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, oozing style.

Messi, Alexia and Pedri were expected to win, and they did. Messi has seven Ballon d’Or awards now, a record, six and a half of those in Barcelona colours - he joined PSG in the summer.

Robert Lewandowski came second and took the forward of the year award. Alexia’s triumph came after a treble with Barca Femeni. Pedri, as well as winning the youth trophy came 24th in the main edition. It wasn’t quite the 2010 ceremony when Messi, Xavi and Iniesta finished on the podium in that order, but it will go down in history. Alexia’s win was a Barca Femeni first.

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