Lionel Messi has proved once again why he is one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. Despite enduing a gap of three years without being voted the best player in the world, the Barca magician has claimed a record sixth Ballon D’Or in 2019 – one better than arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
For the Argentine, this year’s triumph in Paris was all the more poignant. For the first time ever, Messi had a wife and family at his side. He and childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo only officially sealed their relationship in 2017. Now he has three young sons – Thiago, Mateo and Ciro - to cheer him on.
Messi-Ronaldo Dominance Continues
With the latest award, the Messi-Ronaldo dominance continues after a hiatus of only one year in 12. Last year’s recipient of the Ballon D’Or was the indefatigable Luka Modric, a man who was present in Paris to hand over the trophy.
‘Ole’ – It’s La Liga All the Way
What is all the more revealing is that no other league in Europe’s topflight, other than the Spanish La Liga, has had a look-in when it comes to delivering the world’s top performing football star.
The last time a club outside Spain was represented by a Ballon D’Or winner was in 2008 when the great Cristiano Ronaldo was plying his trade for Manchester United. Since then it’s been ‘ole’ all the way with either Messi or Ronaldo in the starring role.
Lionel Messi is the standout player in the men’s game in 2018-19. How about the women’s game?
Megan Rapinoe takes the Ballon D’Or Feminin
According to the journos who vote for these things, the feisty captain and midfielder for Reign FC and the USA women’s national team, Megan Rapinoe is the star in the fairer sex football galaxy.
Rapinoe, a key driver behind successive FIFA World Cups for the USA, added the Ballon D’Or Feminin to her growing list of individual honours this year. The 34-year-old Californian had a fantastic season culminating in The Best FIFA Women’s Player of the Year award. She also bagged both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards at the FIFA Women’s World Cup!
You might enjoy: Run Up to Ballon D’Or 2019
Who were the runners-up in the respective categories?
Virgil Van Dijk Snatches Second Spot
Contrary to expectations it wasn’t the sensational Portuguese striker for Juventus who garnered the second-highest vote count. It was Liverpool’s defence genius Virgil Van Dijk - one of four Liverpool players in the top 10.
For the first time since 2010, when Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi made it a clean sweep for Barcelona, Ronaldo slipped to the third spot in the vote.
To be fair to the man widely considered as one of the greatest football players of all time, it was Ronaldo’s first season with Serie A club Juventus following almost a decade at the Bernabeu.
Lucy Bronze is the 2019 Ballon D’Or Feminin Runner-Up
England’s Lucy Bronze got the nod as the second-best women’s player in 2018-19. The 28-year-old plays for French Division 1 club Olympique Lyon and represent the England national side.
Bronze had a sensational year in which she was named the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year. That’s a first for an England player in the history of the award!
The Best of the Rest
Besides the recipients of the main Ballon D’Or awards, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker won the inaugural Yashin Trophy. The Brazilian got the nod ahead of Barca’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen as the best goalkeeper.
The most impressive player under 21 was Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt. He pipped England and Borussia Dortmund’s talented forward, Jadon Sancho to the post.
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