Alexia Putellas and Karim Benzema.
The footballer from Mollet del Vallés, 28, has won the last two editions, and the Frenchman from Real Madrid received it at 35.
Barcelona player Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or.
Barcelona player Alexia Putellas won the women's Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year on Monday. The best player in the world at age 35 in a gala full of emotions.
Patellas, the winner of the Spanish league and finalist in the Champions League, in which she was declared the best player, beat rivals like her compatriot Aitana Bonmatí and her teammates at Barcelona Fridolina Rolfo (Sweden) and Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria), the French Wendie Renard, winner of the Champions League with Lyon, the English Beth Mead or the German Alexandra Popp.
In 2018 the Norwegian from Lyon Ada Hegerberg won; the following year, the American from Reing FC Megan Ripione; in 2020, the prize was not awarded due to the pandemic.
Putellas after receiving the award. From Ukrainian star Andrei Shevchenko, winner of the trophy in 2004.
Regarding his knee injury, he said: "A few months ago, he wasn't the way we want with the injury. I hope the next time I have to talk, it will be on the pitch again, winning the way I like it, and we'll see each other there soon.".
The Ballon d'Or at age 35, awarded by France Football magazine in 1956, an award from his compatriot Zinedine Zidane.
The Spanish league and the Champions League succeeded Argentine Lionel Messi, who last season won his seventh Ballon d'Or but was not among the candidates this time.
The Ballon d'Or since Zidane did it in 1998 and became the fifth, along with Raymond Kopa, Michel Platini and Jean-Pierre Papin.
Gavi, Ballon d'Or under-21
For his part, Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Gavi won the Kopa trophy on Monday, which designates the best under-21 of last season, an award he received from Ronaldo Nazario and his compatriot and teammate Pedri, winner of the previous edition.
In addition to Pedri, it has rewarded Kylian Mbappe and Matthijs de Ligt, while in 2020, it was not awarded due to the pandemic.
The Los Palacios and Villafranca player is thus rewarded for the great season he signed with his club, which has allowed him to prevail over the other applicants, among whom was the Frenchman from Real Madrid Eduardo Camavinga, the Portuguese from PSG Nuno Mendes or the German Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala.
Sadio Mane, Socrates Prize
Also on stage was Sadio Mané, who became the first player to win the Socrates trophy, created by France Football magazine to reward a footballer's social action off the pitch.
The Brazilian Rai, brother of Sócrates, was in charge of awarding this award, which fell to the Bayern Munich player a little intimidated. Still, I am happy to do something for people in my country so that their lives improve," said the footballer at the forefront of many humanitarian actions in Senegal.
Lewandowski receives the Müller Trophy
FC Barcelona's Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski, also received, during the Ballon d'Or gala, the Müller Trophy, which accredits him as the top scorer with his club and with his national team last season.
The award, created last September in honor of the late Gerd Müller, falls in its first edition to the Polish striker, who scored 57 goals for Bayern Munich and his national team last year.
Courtois, chosen best goalkeeper
Real Madrid's Belgian Thibaut Courtois also took to the stage on Monday to receive the Yashin trophy, which designates the best goalkeeper of last season at the Ballon d'Or gala.
The Whites' goalkeeper, the author of great performances that were decisive in helping his team win the Spanish league and the Champions League, thus becomes the third to win this award created in 2019.
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