Lionel Messi has been awarded a record-extending 7th Ballon d’Or, for 2021. The Argentinian is now two awards ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is his nearest competitor with five awards. Here is a look at Messi’s seven Ballon d’Or award stats and how they shape up against one another.
2009
Games: 64 Starts: 52 Sub appearances: 12
Goals: 41 Assists: 15
Penalties scored: 5
Messi’s first Ballon d’Or came in 2009, after Barcelona won the treble. The player finished as the highest scorer in the Champions League and Copa del Rey. He also finished with a medal as part of the Argentina national team to seal the award.
2010
Games: 64 Starts: 57 Sub appearances: 7
Goals: 60 Assists: 17
Penalties scored: 1
Messi’s goal contributions started to rise with every passing year after he won his first Ballon d’Or. He won the La Liga title with Barcelona and earned his first Pichichi Trophy in the process, as well as earning another top scorer award in the Champions League.
2011
Games: 70 Starts: 67 Sub appearances: 3
Goals: 59 Assists: 36
Penalties scored: 8
Messi’s 2011 Ballon d’Or win saw him present 95 goal contributions in 70 games. He finished as the top scorer in the Champions League yet again, with 12 goals this time. Barcelona lifted the La Liga, Spanish Super Cup and Champions League titles that year.
2012
Games: 69 Starts: 65 Sub appearances: 4
Goals: 91 Assists: 22
Penalties scored: 14
There will never be another player that has a year like Messi did in 2012. In 69 games across all competitions, Messi scored an outrageous 91 goals and provided 22 assists. He won the Pichichi Trophy with 50 league goals that year, and the UCL Golden Boot with 14. Barcelona won the Spanish Cup and Super Cup that year.
Of all of Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or wins, his fourth to surpass Johan Cruyff, Platini and Van Basten was the most deserving and most one-sided result of all.
2015
Games: 61 Starts: 57 Sub appearances: 4
Goals: 52 Assists: 26
Penalties scored: 8
After Cristiano Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or double, Lionel Messi picked up his fifth award in 2015. That year, Barcelona won the treble under Luis Enrique and Messi was a key player in making all of it happen.
2019
Games: 58 Starts: 51 Sub appearances: 7
Goals: 50 Assists: 18
Penalties scored: 8
After Ronaldo and Luka Modric winning the award between 2016 and 2018, Messi was given his sixth award as he surpassed Ronaldo. The Argentinian won another Pichichi Trophy and La Liga title to lift his sixth award.
2021
Games: 56 Starts: 53 Sub appearances: 3
Goals: 41 Assists: 17
Penalties scored: 5
Messi’s 2021 stats are correct as of November 30, 2021. He helped Barcelona to a Copa del Rey win despite struggling throughout the season. And in the summer, he lifted his first international trophy with Argentina by winning the Copa America. As a result, the player has been given his seventh Ballon d’Or, fending off Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho for the prize.
