Inside Lionel Messi's private Ballon d'Or party before missing PSG training

Monday evening saw Lionel Messi crowned as the 2021 Ballon d'Or winner before arranging a private party with Paris Saint-Germain teammates.

Messi won his seventh individual title as he scooped the 2021 accolade on Monday night - a new record that takes him two gongs clear of Cristiano Ronaldo, his long-term rival.

That was a decision that led to multiple football legends criticising the verdict to award Messi the award ahead of Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.

The Argentine superstar missed PSG training on Tuesday through illness after showing "symptoms of gastroenteritis" after partying during Monday night following the awards ceremony.

Messi celebrated his title at a private event alongside his PSG teammates with many of the player's wives present, including the partners of Ander Herrera, Leandro Paredes, Marquinhos and Sergio Rico.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Did Lionel Messi deserve his 2021 Ballon d'Or title? Let us know in the comments section below

PSG subsequently confirmed that Messi - alongside his club and international teammate Paredes - is a doubt for their Ligue 1 fixture against Nice at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night due to illness.

A club statement read: " Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes did not participate in the training session today due to symptoms of gastroenteritis.

"A further check will be made tomorrow morning."

If Messi is unavailable for the visit of Nice, PSG will hope he recovers from illness in time for their trip to Lens on Saturday.

The Argentine has been beset by fitness issues since his summer move to the French capital, where he has featured in just seven of the club's 15 Ligue 1 matches to date this campaign - of which he has completed just four.

Yet Messi's Ballon d'Or gong was awarded due to his exploits earlier this year, when he guided Argentina to their first international title since 1993 as they lifted the Copa America over summer.

The superstar was the player of the tournament after another highly productive season with Barcelona, where he won the Copa del Rey title but the club languished in third place in La Liga.

Messi rejoiced in his latest individual award - his record-breaking seventh Ballon d'Or title and very possibly, now that he is aged 34, his last of a glittering career.

"It's very special! It's my first year in the Paris Saint-Germain shirt, for me it's a great honour," Messi told PSG TV of his latest individual title.

"It's something special and totally different to win this award here, at home, in the city where I live.

"Before, this had never happened to me because I played in Barcelona, so what I'm experiencing today is something extremely special."

Messi and Ronaldo have now shared 12 of the last 13 Ballon d'Or titles, with Luka Modric's success in 2018 the only time their dominance has been interrupted.