Lionel Messi Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi is the official winner of the 2019 Men’s Ballon d’Or.
After a remarkable 2019 that already saw him win FIFA’s ‘The Best’ award, the Argentine has become the first player to win France Football’s annual prize for the sixth time.
Messi was presented with the accolade during a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet, Paris, adding it to the trophies he won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
Sixth victory for Messi
The golden award will take pride of place in Messi’s 2019 collection, which includes: the Pichichi Trophy, European Golden Shoe and UEFA Club Forward of the Year.
Virgil van Dijk had been tipped as the closest rival to Messi going into the awards in France, but the Liverpool man’s chances looked to be dashed by Spanish reports last week.
The likes of Mundo Deportivo claimed that the Barcelona star had already been voted the winner, while a photographer even suggested that victorious snaps had been taken.
Messi in 2019:
⚽️ 46 goals in 54 games
🏆 FIFA’s ‘The Best’ award
👞 European Golden Shoe
🇪🇸 Top goal-scorer in La Liga
🌍 Top goal-scorer in Champions League
🎯 17 assists for club and country
💥 Eight goals from free-kicks
🏆 La Liga winner
🌍 UEFA Club Forward of the Year
🎯 World’s Best Playmaker award
🏟 FIFA FIFPro World XI
Greatest. Of. All. Time. 🐐
