Incredible Lionel Messi Hailed as Gentleman for Sticking up To Wife During Photo Session During Ballon d'Or

• Lionel Messi was involved in a warm moment during the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, November 29
• The Argentine refused to let his family step aside when she was urged away by one of the photographers on ground
• His wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, and their three sons were present to see him win his seventh Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi has been hailed as a gentleman for his heart-warming gesture towards his wife Antonella during the Ballon d’or award ceremony on Monday, November 29.

Daily Star are reporting that footage of an interesting incident emerged online showing Messi defending his wife.

The Paris Saint Germain forward was crowned with the Ballon d’Or for a record seventh time, narrowly beating Bayern Munich superstar Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea’s Jorginho to first place.

Messi arrived at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris early enough on Monday and was in the company of his wife Antonella Rocuzzo and three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.

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The family was stopped to take some obligatory photographs on their way and after a few snaps, a France Football director asked Antonella and Messi’s sons to step aside so he could bet photos of Messi by himself.

Antonella duly obliged and was walking away when Messi, clearly unimpressed by the instructions, called back his wife to pose for all the photos alongside him.

That gesture alone was enough to earn the Argentine plaudits online, as fans hailed him as a true gentleman.

“Telling Antonella what to do in front of Lionel Messi? That’s his wife not his girlfriend,” one fan pointed out.

“His face is like, ‘don’t tell my wife what to do!” another noted.

“What an absolute gentleman. Messi standing by his wife,” said another.

Messi’s road to 7th Ballon d’or

Meanwhile, Messi was one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’or, especially after practically carrying Argentina to their first major trophy in nearly three decades.

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In his last season at Barcelona, he finished as the season’s top scorer and scored a brace in the Copa del Rey final as Barcelona won the trophy.

It was a disappointing ending for Lewandowski, who had to settle for runner-up but was recognized with the newly- announced Striker of the Year.

Chelsea win award during Ballon d'Or

Legit.ng earlier reported that Chelsea were named the 2021 Club of the Year at the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony hosted at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on the night of Monday, November 29.

The Blues had a successful 2021, with both the men's and women's teams shining.

Success for the academy, women's and men's team subsequently saw Chelsea bag the inaugural award at the gala night.