Lionel Messi, first Ballon d’Or playing in France since 1991 – Nairobi Times

A Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona and a Copa América with Argentina: matched with statistics from another world (41 goals and 18 assists in 56 games in all competitions), the year of the Paris striker Saint-Germain Lionel Messi was rewarded Monday evening with a seventh Ballon d’Or in Paris, ahead of Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, winner of the title of goalscorer of the year, created this year by France Football.

In addition to holding the record in the history of this distinction, the Argentinian international (158 caps, 8 goals) also becomes the first player in France to win the golden sphere since 1991 and a certain Jean-Pierre Papin, decorated at the time. that he wore the colors of Olympique de Marseille, arrived in the final of the Champions Clubs Cup (ancestor of the Champions League), lost to the Red Star of Belgrade. Titled in 1995, the former Parisian George Weah also won the BO in 1995 with six months played at PSG, but was rewarded with AC Milan which he joined during the summer transfer window.