Ballon d’Or: Italy takes centre stage despite Messi win

Leo Messi has won the seventh Ballon d’Or in his career, while Jorginho was ranked 3rd and Gigio Donnarumma was named the best goalkeeper of the year.

Messi won the award ahead of Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho who was ranked third after becoming champion of Europe for club and country in 2021.

“It’s been an amazing year, I am really happy and proud of myself and the whole team, both teams. The national team and Chelsea,” Jorginho said from London.

“We made an incredible job and I am really grateful.”

He didn’t travel to Paris because of travel restrictions in the UK. Chelsea were named the best club of the year.

Gigio Donnarumma was ranked 10th and named the best goalkeeper for 2021.

“It was an incredible season for me, starting from the return to the Champions League with Milan and the European championship,” the former Milan goalkeeper said.

“We gave joy to all the Italians and to ourselves, I am still speechless. Then I joined PSG and I am really proud.”

Ballon d’Or: Donnarumma named best goalkeeper

The 30-man shortlist featured three more Italian players, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Nicolò Barella who ended 13th, 14th and 26th respectively, while Serie A stars Lautaro Martinez and Simon Kjaer were ranked 21st and 18th respectively.

It was the edition with the most Italian players since 2007.

Full Ballon d’Or 2021 ranking:

29: Luka Modric, Cesar Azpilicueta

26: Nicolò Barella, Ruben Dias, Gerard Moreno

25: Phil Foden

24: Pedri

23: Harry Kane

21: Lautaro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes

20: Riyad Mahrez

19: Mason Mount

18: Simon Kjaer

17: Luis Suarez

16: Neymar

15: Raheem Sterling

14: Leonardo Bonucci

13: Giorgio Chiellini

12: Romelu Lukaku

11: Erling Haaland

10: Gianluigi Donnarumma

9: Kylian Mbappé

8: Kevin De Bruyne

7: Mohamed Salah

6: Cristiano Ronaldo

5: Ngolo Kante

4: Karim Benzema

3: Jorginho

2: Robert Lewandowski

1: Leo Messi