![Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi receiving the European footballer of the year award, the 'Ballon d' Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi receiving the European footballer of the year award, the 'Ballon d'](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E4H33E/barcelonas-argentinian-forward-lionel-messi-receiving-the-european-footballer-of-the-year-award-the-ballon-dor-golden-ball-in-boulogne-billancourt-near-paris-france-on-december-6-2009-photo-by-pierre-tremoussaabacapresscom-2E4H33E.jpg)
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi receiving the European footballer of the year award, the 'Ballon d'
![UEFA Champions League on Twitter: "#OnThisDay in 2009, Leo Messi - then only 22 - won the Ballon d'Or award for the first time. 🏆💪 #UCL https://t.co/NSair1Aunn" / Twitter UEFA Champions League on Twitter: "#OnThisDay in 2009, Leo Messi - then only 22 - won the Ballon d'Or award for the first time. 🏆💪 #UCL https://t.co/NSair1Aunn" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DP9SEExXUAE2VFK.jpg)
UEFA Champions League on Twitter: "#OnThisDay in 2009, Leo Messi - then only 22 - won the Ballon d'Or award for the first time. 🏆💪 #UCL https://t.co/NSair1Aunn" / Twitter
![Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or by record margin as Barcelona dominate voting | Barcelona | The Guardian Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or by record margin as Barcelona dominate voting | Barcelona | The Guardian](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club%20Home/2009/5/27/1243457118582/Lionel-Messi-001.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctYWdlLTIwMDkucG5n&enable=upscale&s=eea0014982f97ebf8c85d0ff3ab4b615)
Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or by record margin as Barcelona dominate voting | Barcelona | The Guardian
![Lionel Messi receives the 2009 European Footballer Of The Year (Ballon d'Or) award Paris, France - 06.12.09 Stock Photo - Alamy Lionel Messi receives the 2009 European Footballer Of The Year (Ballon d'Or) award Paris, France - 06.12.09 Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/C291EW/lionel-messi-receives-the-2009-european-footballer-of-the-year-ballon-C291EW.jpg)
Lionel Messi receives the 2009 European Footballer Of The Year (Ballon d'Or) award Paris, France - 06.12.09 Stock Photo - Alamy
![Ballon d'Or winners and the top 10 players from 2000 to 2021 as Lionel Messi beats Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho and Cristiano Ronaldo to top award Ballon d'Or winners and the top 10 players from 2000 to 2021 as Lionel Messi beats Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho and Cristiano Ronaldo to top award](https://talksport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/12/MESSI-RONALDO-BALLON-DOR-e1608042999677.jpg?strip=all&quality=100&w=1470&h=971&crop=1)
Ballon d'Or winners and the top 10 players from 2000 to 2021 as Lionel Messi beats Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho and Cristiano Ronaldo to top award
![433 on Twitter: "Who would've won the 2009 Ballon d'Or❓ ⠀ (...if CR7 & Messi had never landed on 🌍👽) https://t.co/aumNE4sA7s" / Twitter 433 on Twitter: "Who would've won the 2009 Ballon d'Or❓ ⠀ (...if CR7 & Messi had never landed on 🌍👽) https://t.co/aumNE4sA7s" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEnnjs8XUAE6zU6.jpg:large)
433 on Twitter: "Who would've won the 2009 Ballon d'Or❓ ⠀ (...if CR7 & Messi had never landed on 🌍👽) https://t.co/aumNE4sA7s" / Twitter
![FC Barcelona on Twitter: "#OnThisDay | December 1, 2009 10 years ago today, a 22-year-old phenom named Lionel #Messi was awarded his first Ballon d'Or. It would not be his last. 🐐 FC Barcelona on Twitter: "#OnThisDay | December 1, 2009 10 years ago today, a 22-year-old phenom named Lionel #Messi was awarded his first Ballon d'Or. It would not be his last. 🐐](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKsJXc-WkAAAAxH.jpg:large)