La Liga side Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has yet picked up another individual accolade after being announced as the winner for the Ballon d’Or 2019, winning the prize for the first time since 2015.
This means that the Argentine star has now claimed a record sixth Ballon d’Or (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 & 2019) despite the stiff competition by English side Liverpool FC’s Virgil van Dijk and Italian side Juventus FC’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi has now moved one clear of Ronaldo after the pair had been locked on five awards each as he reclaimed the title he last won in 2015, with the Portuguese claiming the two subsequent gongs and Luka Modric surprisingly picking up the accolade last year to end the 10-year dominance of the two footballing icons.
Dutchman Van Dijk finished second, with team-mates Alisson and Mohamed Salah coming in at seventh and fifth, respectively who also applauded the 32-year old, and Christiano Ronaldo finished third.
“We should respect Messi for winning 6 Ballon d’Ors, it’s incredible. I was very close, but there was someone better..” Van Dijk said.
On the female side, USA star and World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe was named the Ballon d’Or winner 2019 for the best female soccer player of the year ahead of England’s Lucy Bronze and her compatriot Alex Morgan.
2018 winner Hegerberg finished fourth while Dutch and Arsenal FC’s Miedema sealed the top five positions.