Lionel Messi's Emphatic Response To Director Asking His Wife Antonela To Step Aside At Ballon d'Or Ceremony

Lionel Messi emphatically denied a request from a director involving his wife ahead of winning his seventh Ballon d'Or on Monday night.

Messi beat Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho and Karim Benzema to the prize, which was presented to him by former teammate and close friend Luis Suarez.

Before the ceremony got underway, the usual red carpet walk took place and the stars had their photos taken by the world's media.

Messi was with his wife Antonella and sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro, all dressed in the same suit as their genius of a father.

But in footage posted online, a France Football director can be seen asking Antonela to step aside.

He was pointing and gesticulating and it seemed as though he wanted a photo of just Messi and his three children in matching attire.

Antonela did as she was told to do and was about to walk off but Messi was not happy in the slightest. He told his wife to come back and more pictures were taken of the full family.

Messi and his other half met when they were nine years of age, with the two introduced by Antonela's cousin Lucas Scaglia - who he played with at Newell's Old Boys.

Antonela has been with Messi for all of his Ballon d'Ors and always received a thank you off him in his acceptance speeches.

Last night in Paris, Messi felt the need to give props to Lewandowski, who finished 33 points behind him in the standings.

Lewandowski was the favourite for last year's prize before it was scrapped due to COVID-19 and Messi urged France Football to give him the 2020 award.

"I’d like to mention Robert, it’s been a real honour to compete with him," Messi said on stage.

"I think France Football should award you your 2020 Ballon d’Or, you deserved it."