Barcelona star Lionel Messi wins record sixth Ballon d’Or award

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been crowned as the Ballon d'Or winner for the world's best player for a record sixth time.

Cristiano Ronaldo – who has won the award five times – finished third on the podium, behind Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk with Messi taking home the gong.

Messi scored 54 goals for club and country across 2018-19, helping the Blaugrana to the league title for a second successive year, to ensure he won the award for the first time since 2015.

Van Dijk was one of four Liverpool players in the top seven of the list, with Senegalese forward Sadio Mane ranked in fourth position.

“Today is my sixth Ballon d'Or. It's a completely different moment, lived with my family and my children,” Messi said upon receiving the award.

“As my wife said, you must never stop dreaming but always work to improve and continue to enjoy. I am very lucky, I am blessed.

“I hope to continue for a long time. I realise that I am very lucky, even if, one day, retirement will ring. It will be difficult.

“But I still have beautiful years ahead of me. Time goes very quickly, so I want to enjoy football and my family.”

The Argentine has netted a remarkable 614 goals for the Blaugrana across a glittering career in which he has won 34 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies.

Messi’s teammates Frenkie de Jong (11th), Antoine Griezmann (18th) and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (24th) also ranked highly in the voting.

Tags Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi
La Liga - Club News