In the end, though, the two Spanish midfielders had to pose beside their free-scoring teammate as he won 22.65% of the vote whereas they had to settle for 17.36% and 16.48% respectively. "Of all the absences on the list of Ballon d'Or winners, his is particularly painful. You might think that Messi … Lionel Messi may have won the Ballon d'Or on six occasions but according to organisers France Football that isn't more than Pele has. EPL: Mark Lawrenson predicts scoreline of Wolves vs Chelsea. © 2021 Sports New Media Limited. But Messi was back on top of his game over the past 12 months. Lionel Messi becomes the first player in footballing history to win the Ballon D'Or 6 times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019). I'm proud of what I've achieved with Liverpool and Holland. His goals in La Liga also made him the top scorer in Europe's biggest leagues, earning him the Golden Shoe award. It's an astonishing haul that could be crucial in the GOAT debate when Messi hangs up his boots, particularly when it comes to drawing a line under the perpetual debate against Ronaldo. Messi's six Ballon d'Or trophies are the most in history, and this could have been a chance to separate from chief individual rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has five. Up Next. "I was 22 years old. Messi tops Ronaldo, wins sixth Ballon d'Or award, Arsenal's Ozil saga ends as he joins Fenerbahce, Sources: Solskjaer agrees to Lingard loan move, Abraham hat trick seals Chelsea FA Cup win, USMNT's McKennie scores in narrow Juve win, Brazilian club condemn fans for bus attack, USMNT's Dest on Barca form: I feel unconfident, Hertha boss, director fired after 4-1 defeat, LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United ahead of Liverpool in Upamecano chase, Rashford must learn how to be a striker from clinical Cavani, Is Ronaldo the all-time top scorer? Don't Miss. Last year's winner, Luka Modric, was brought on stage by emcee Didier Drogba to give his Barcelona rival the award -- … CRISTIANO RONALDO. Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi holds the trophy of the Golden Ball award ceremony in Paris, Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. We can only hope he has a special campaign at the World Cup in Russia and repair this democratic anomaly.". All Rights Reserved | messivsronaldoera.com | Design By Sarwar Today is my sixth Ballon d'Or. The FIFA Ballon d'Or ("Golden Ball") was an annual association football award presented to the world's best men's player from 2010 to 2015. Messi also came out on top in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015, and he is now one clear of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has five. "There are a couple of players like [Messi] who are fantastic. The Brazil international beat out Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona and countryman Ederson of Manchester City. Besides, lest we forget that Iniesta was one of the best players at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, scoring the winning goal in the final and bagging the La Liga crown with Barcelona for good measure. Messi, US captain Rapinoe win Ballon d’Or awards. Lionel Messi wins his sixth Ballon d’Or We have compared the major individual awards a professional footballer can receive. The Best FIFA Men's Player award in the same year (available in 1991–2009 and from … The German … But this appears to be untrue as the organisers of the event have come out to reveal that three-time World Cup winner, Pele, has more. Ballon d'Or race returns to 2021 after year's hiatus. "A few years ago, I received my first Ballon d'Or here in Paris," Messi said. Ballon d'Or: Messi wins (again), Rapinoe honoured, but where's Ronaldo? However, those who lived through Messi's era of Ballon d'Or dominance will know that his six triumphs didn't come without controversy - and none more so than the second in his collection. After a year in which Barcelona re-established itself as the world's top football team, Lionel Messi has reclaimed his crown as the best player on the planet. "For me it is an honour to have been included in the eleven of the Ballon d'Or Dream Team," Messi, who has won the Ballon d'Or a record six times, said in an Instagram post. Lionel Messi red card: Sergio Ramos clip goes viral after similar incident emerges. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player for a record sixth time. Messi's fifth Ballon d'Or, Zidane's hat-trick: On this week in LaLiga history. Lionel Messi became the first men's footballer to win the Ballon d'Or for a sixth time, taking the award for the world's top men's player Monday at a Paris gala. Newcastle transfer news: Jesse Lingard emerges on Steve Bruce's radar, Chelsea vs Luton Town: Kepa Arrizabalaga howler gifts visitors goal at Stamford Bridge, Mesut Ozil to Fenerbahce: Turkish club ask fans to help fund the Arsenal man's transfer. Awarded jointly by FIFA and France Football, the prize was a merger of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the Ballon d'Or, the two most prestigious individual honours in world football. T en years have passed since Lionel Messi won his second Ballon d'Or. Newcastle United next manager: Who will replace Steve Bruce at St James' Park? Barcelona star, Lionel Messi, has expressed his pride at being selected in the Ballon d’Or Dream Team. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were named alongside legendary players like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldo Nazario in France Football’s Ballon d’Or Dream Team on Monday. It was something unthinkable at the time. Ronaldo skips Ballon d'Or to get Serie A award, Megan Rapinoe won the Women's Ballon d'Or award. Football News: When Lionel Messi won an unprecedented sixth Ballon d'Or in Dec, the speculation had already begun over his career at Barcelona. Realistically, very few players have really stood a chance up against these two. It was also a notable year for Messi's club, Barcelona, because all three nominees hailed from Camp Nou with Xavi and Andres Iniesta competing for France Football's top male accolade. He scored 36 times last season en route to a 10th Spanish Liga title, and was the Champions League top scorer. If anything, Sneijder probably has a better case than Iniesta having won the Champions League, Coppa Italia and Serie A with Inter Milan, before finishing the World Cup as joint-top scorer. The Argentina forward scored 46 times for club and country in 2019 -- including the only goal in Barcelona's 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Lionel Messi sent off vs Bilbao: When did Barcelona star receive his first career red card? Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt, a key player in Ajax Amsterdam's thrilling run to the Champions League semifinals and now at Juventus, won the Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 male player in the world. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the scene, winning the Ballon d’Or an incredible 11 times out of the last 12, and are again amongst the forerunners to win the 2021 Ballon d’Or edition. The two … EPL: Wenger reveals what Ozil needs at Arsenal. By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies , … I hope I will continue for a long time," Messi told reporters. But in the end, rightfully or wrongly, Messi bagged the big prize on the night with a clear majority in the vote and you know what they say about those who make history... sorry, Andres and Wesley. "Forgive us, Andres," their editor Pascal Ferre wrote in 2018. "I realize that I'm lucky even if one day it will be time to retire. "It was amazing," Van Dijk said. branded a 'theft' by Spanish newspaper Marca, Calculating how old Ronaldo and Messi would be if they broke Pele's record of 1,238 goals, The highest-scoring footballer in history for every playing position, Lionel Messi has been named the greatest playmaker of the decade in fascinating top 20, Liverpool finish below Man Utd in ranking of the world's best football clubs of 2020, Lionel Messi's first Barcelona red card potentially explained by video of Bilbao man, Lionel Messi: Video proves Barcelona star's favourite opponent was Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Arthur settles the debate after playing with them both. Barcelona captain Lionel Messi was believed to have won the highest number of Ballon d'Or awards after clinching his sixth prize in 2019. Messi said it's an honor for him to be included. Or Pele? Let's face it, Iniesta going his entire career without winning a Ballon d'Or trophy is a tough pill to swallow and I think we can all agree that Iniesta's most deserving year was indeed 2010. The decision to award Messi the top prize ahead of Iniesta is now being viewed as a controversial move and so much so that France Football later apologised that he never collected the gong. Liverpool forward Sadio Mane finished fourth behind Ronaldo in the final voting. "For us, he wasn't just a player, he was the player. Lionel Messi clinched his sixth Ballon d'Or award on Monday after yet another scintillating season for the Argentine. Unlike the Ballon d'Or awarded by France Football, the FIFA Ballon d'Or, was not awarded based on votes from international journalists, but votes from national team coaches and c… We may never know, Messi, Neymar miss out on FIFA 21 Team of the Year, Lampard gifted extra time as Chelsea have no clear succession plan, Crespo delivers Defensa y Justicia an unlikely Copa Sudamericana, Trinity Rodman is ready to make her own Rodman legacy in pro soccer, Premier League midseason awards: Best XI, worst signings, best young players and more, How USMNT prospects adapt to life in Europe and what their clubs do to help, ESPN FC 100: Liverpool, Man City dominate our ranking of world's best soccer players. For the first time in history, the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony was cancelled this year. All Rights Reserved. However, Iniesta isn't alone in having an outside claim for the trophy that eventually wound up at Messi's feet with many supporters feeling that Wesley Sneijder should have been given the nod. It's now been over 10 years since Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the second year in a row, moving halfway through the longest period of dominance … If you think there is a prestigious award that does not appear in this table, you can suggest it in the comments. Or Bican? His sacrifices for the team ultimately deprived him of greater individual recognition. Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was the first-ever recipient of the Yachine Trophy, given to the best goalkeeper. Reuters and The Associated Press were used in this report. The Ballon d'Or has been largely dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the past decade. Messi and Ronaldo's 10-year grip on the award organised by France Football magazine was ended last year by Luka Modric. Lionel Messi has won more Ballon d'Or trophies than any other footballer in history. "I am very lucky, I am blessed. It was the first year that the Ballon d'Or merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year, meaning that journalists' were joined by the opinions of national coaches and captains. Goal remembers the big moments, personalities and games from this … That year, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez were also on the podium, but the Argentine winning the award was controversial. The all-time Ballon d'Or XI [Courtesy] Messi has won the individual award more times than any other player, edging out his long-time Portuguese rival Ronaldo by six wins to five. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo have been selected alongside legendary players such as Pele, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldo Nazario in France Football’s Ballon d’Or all-time on Monday. "One thing that Tottenham don't have" - Spurs urged to make swoop for forward, Leroy Sane admits he regrets infamous back tattoo of him celebrating Man City goal. The 31-year-old beat out Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who was instrumental in helping Liverpool win the Champions League, for the award voted on by a panel of international journalists. Matthaus won the Ballon d'Or in 1990, while winning seven Bundesliga titles at Bayern Munich AND a Serie A crown at Inter Milan. Lionel Messi won his sixth Ballon d'Or on Monday to break a tie with Cristiano Ronaldo for most all time. Lionel Messi wins sixth Ballon d'Or award, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo. When the Barcelona superstar's name was read out instead of Virgil van Dijk at the 2019 ceremony, the Argentine moved clear of his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo with his sixth golden trophy. Lionel Messi won his sixth Ballon d'Or as the world's best male player. Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Who has the better finals record after Barcelona loss? Messi was included in the ultimate XI … United States star Megan Rapinoe won the Women's Ballon d'Or award after being voted the tournament's best player and joint top scorer as the USWNT won the 2019 World Cup in France. It's going to be tough [to win the award] when these guys are around.". "It will be tough, but I still have some years ahead of me. As my wife used to say, you should never stop dreaming but always work to improve and continue to enjoy yourself.". Lionel Messi became the first men's footballer to win the Ballon d'Or for a … It's now been over 10 years since Messi won the Ballon d'Or for the second year in a row, moving halfway through the longest period of dominance in the history of the coveted individual prize. Time flies, so I will enjoy football and my family.". Related Topics: ballon d'or Cristiano Ronaldo messi xavi. But in the opinion of many, too many cooks spoiled the broth because the 2010 Ballon d'Or was retrospectively branded a 'theft' by Spanish newspaper Marca on its anniversary this week. "For me it is an honour to have been included in the eleven of the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. The 33-year-old Argen He also helped the Camp Nou side win La Liga. Team India reluctant to travel to Brisbane for fourth Test against Australia