Ballon d'Or 2021: The World's Top 10 Players

Lionel Messi, 34, beat off highly-touted rivals Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema to win the award at a stunning ceremony in Paris on Monday, the city he now calls home after leaving Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in August.

The women's award went to Alexia Putellas of Spain.

Messi also won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015.

Jorginho, who won the Champions League with Chelsea and the Euro 2020 with Italy, finished third, ahead of Real Madrid's Karim Benzema and Chelsea's N'Golo Kante.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time winner, finished sixth. During the ceremony, he was not there.

Messi and Ronaldo have won 12 of the last 13 Ballon d'Or awards, with the exception of 2018, when Luka Modric won the honor.

According to Ballon d'Or criteria, these are the best ten men's and women's players in the world.