Paris Saint-Germain have refuted charges that they attempted to put pressure on the Ballon d’Or organizer to award Lionel Messi the prestigious award in 2021. 

Argentina’s star had joined PSG earlier that year after a long reign of glory in Barcelona, but was in a close race for the top prize with Polish striker Robert Lewandowski.

The French giants have been accused of attempting to sway the decision-makers at France Football magazine, who decide who wins the Ballon d’Or, in favor of their new star Messi.

According to Le Monde, an ongoing legal investigation suggests PSG lobbied for Messi to win the award by sending presents and other perks to Pascal Ferre, the then-editor-in-chief of France Football and the man in charge of organizing the Ballon d’Or. 

According to an investigation conducted by the General Inspectorate of the National Police, Ferre received match tickets and a business-class airfare from the Parisian club in 2020 and 2021 while remaining in control of France Football magazine.

PSG has denied using their clout to persuade Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d’Or in 2021. 

The club was accused of presenting presents to Pascal Ferre (R), who was in charge of organizing the reward at the time.

Ferre is now the PSG first team’s director of publicity and media relations.

He rejected the report, claiming that he voted for Lewandowski, who was at Bayern Munich during the 2021 election. 

To make matters even more complicated, the 2020 edition of the award was canceled owing to the impact of Covid-19 on the football world, with Lewandowski a strong contender if it were given out for his Bayern Munich performances.  

However, Messi won the 2021 trophy, his eighth Ballons d’Or to date, which would have been a significant coup for PSG just months after signing him. 

When accepting the honor, the Argentine highlighted the Polish striker he narrowly beat to the title by 33 points. ‘I would like to recognize Robert Lewandowski, it’s been a tremendous honor to compete with you,’ Messi stated. 

‘Everyone knows, and we all agree, that you won last year [2020]. I believe France Football should have awarded you your [medal from last year] because you deserve it and should have it at home.’

After the ceremony, Lewandowski said Messi’s words’really moved me,’ and it was a ‘great moment in my career,’ despite having to enlist the help of PSG’s Kylian Mbappe to translate exchanges between them.

The Argentine star defeated Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski by 33 points.