Lionel Messi claims yet another Ballon d’Or. The Argentine star was crown the winner of the 2019 Ballon D’Or on Monday night by the France Football for a record-breaking 6th time, another sign that the Barça striker keeps on exhibiting that he is the best player of all time.
Messi is the first player to win a sixth golden ball trophy, moving one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s haul of five. Ronaldo, who did not attend the ceremony in Paris, ranked third behind Van Dijk, and ahead of the defender’s Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane in fourth.
Messi won his first Ballon d’Or 10 years back in 2009 and from that point forward he has proceeded to take the prestigious award in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
The Barcelona superstar has now won the Golden Ball more than any other player in history after a scintillating year where he’s proven to be head and shoulders over the rest. Messi scored 54 goals for Barcelona and Argentina in 2018-19, winning La Liga for the tenth time and being named FIFA’s Best Men’s Player.
The Argentine claimed FIFA’s The Best award for player of the year just months ago and now he adds another individual prize to filled 2019 laden success. This year Messi won his 6th Golden Shoe award as Europe’s leading goal scorer courtesy of his 36 goals in the 2018/19 La Liga season.
Messi was likewise top scorer in the 2018/19 Champions League with 12 goals and another La Liga title with Barça took his total number of trophies with the Club to 34.
1 – Lionel Messi was involved in 63 goals in 2019 for @FCBarcelona and @Argentina (46 goals and 17 assists), averaging 1’17 per game (GP54). Gold. #BallonDor #BallonDor2019 pic.twitter.com/DEWphX6fKW
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 2, 2019
“I would like to thank all of the journalists who voted for me and wanted me to have this prize,” said Messi after picking up the award in Paris on Monday night alongside his two sons and wife.
“Thank you so much to my colleagues who have actually contributed a lot to this prize. It is amazing, thank you so much.”
READ ALSO: I Am One Of The Best Players In History, I Deserve To Win A Sixth Ballon d’Or!
Messi was presented with the gong by 2018 winner Luka Modric and that means as well as this year, the Argentina international has also won the Ballon d’Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
The Barca captain beat Liverpool’s Netherlands center-back Virgil van Dijk into second place, while his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo was third in the voting, with Liverpool forward Sadio Mane fourth.
2019 Men’s Ballon d’Or: Lionel Messi
2019 Women’s Ballon d’Or: Megan Rapinoe
2019 Kopa Trophy: Matthijs de Ligt
2019 Yachine Trophy: Alisson Becker
