Messi's enduring brilliance edges the chasing pack

Leo's latest Ballon d'Or questioned by fans, but it's hard to argue with his stats

Many fans are questioning whether Lionel Messi really deserved to win his latest Ballon d'Or prize ahead of other worthy candidates, but the Argentine has been rewarded for continuing to be so good for so long.

The most turbulent year of Messi's glittering career, in which he was forced to tearfully bid farewell to Barcelona, ends with him－at the age of 34－claiming a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or for the best player in the world.

In Germany they thought it had to be Robert Lewandowski's year after he missed out 12 months ago when the 2020 edition was scrapped due to the pandemic.