Lionel Messi wins record 6th Ballon d’Or

[MenInG]

So, France Football are releasing the names of the Ballon d'Or nominees in batches over the next hour. The final 10 will be revealed from 20:05 BST.

The first names out are:

Sadio Mane (Liverpool/Senegal)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City/Argentina)
Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona/Netherlands)
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham/France)
Dusan Tadic (Ajax/Serbia)

https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/49858493

 

[MenInG]

Ballon d'Or nominees - second batch
The next batch of players up for the Ballon d'Or award are:

Kylian Mbappe (PSG/France)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/England)
Donny van de Beek (Ajax/Netherlands)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal/Gabon)
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Barcelona/Germany)

 

[MenInG]

Ballon d'Or nominees - third batch
The latest batch of Ballon d'Or nominees are:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Portugal)
Alisson (Liverpool/Brazil)
Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus/Netherlands)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/France)
Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool/Netherlands)

 

[MenInG]

Ballon d'Or nominees - fourth batch
Five more names:

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool/Netherlands)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/Portugal)
Son Heung-min (Tottenham/South Korea)
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool/Brazil)

 

[MenInG]

Virgil van Dijk is one of seven Liverpool players named on the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d'Or.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Georginio Wijnaldum and Alisson have also been chosen from the Reds.

Five Manchester City players - Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero - are on the list.

Tottenham's Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min are also included.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have won the award 10 times between them, again feature among the contenders.

Some of the biggest omissions from the list include Paris St-Germain and Brazil forward Neymar, Manchester United and France midfielder Paul Pogba and Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane.

Champions League winners Liverpool have the most players on the list from one club with Premier League champions Manchester City the next highest number with five.

Barcelona have four players; as well as Messi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Antoine Griezmann feature in the list.

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also included, as is Real Madrid's former Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard.

When do we find out who has won?
The Ballon d'Or winner will be named in Paris on 2 December.

Luka Modric won in 2018 to end the seven-year dominance of the award by Messi and Ronaldo.

Van Dijk is among the favourites to win this year's award after being named Uefa Player of the Year in August.

What are the game's three main player awards?
A version of the Ballon d'Or has been awarded by France Football magazine since 1956, but was merged with Fifa's World Footballer of the Year award from 2010 to 2015.

However, Fifa ended its association with the Ballon d'Or the following year to set up its own - the Best Fifa Player award.

In September, Messi won that award in the fourth edition of the Best Fifa Football Awards.

Meanwhile, Uefa's Player of the Year award has been going since 1998 and was previously called Uefa Club Footballer of the Year (1998-2010) and Uefa Best Player in Europe (2011-16).

Best keeper award
Four Premier League-based keepers are in the running for the Yashin Award - named after Russia legend Lev Yashin - the only goalkeeper to have won the Ballon d'Or itself.

They are Liverpool's Alisson, Ederson of Manchester City, Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga and Tottenham's Lloris.

Also nominated are Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer, Inter Milan's Samir Handanovic, Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak, Ajax's Andre Onana, Juventus' Wojciech Szczesny and Ter Stegen of Barcelona.

Who are the young player candidates?
The Kopa Trophy is presented to the best performing player under the age of 21 and is selected by former Ballon d'Or winners. Like the main Ballon d'Or prize, it is also organised by France Football.

It is open to those who play outside Europe and was first awarded in 2018, with Paris St-Germain and France World Cup-winning forward Kylian Mbappe the clear winner.

This year's nominees include Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho, 19, Everton and Italy forward Moise Kean, 19, and Arsenal's French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, 20.

Others in the running are Juventus' Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt, 20, Real Madrid's Brazil forward Vinicius Junior, 19, Valladolid and Ukraine keeper Andriy Lunin, 20, Bayer Leverkusen and Germany midfielder Kai Havertz, 20, Atletico Madrid and Portugal forward Joao Felix, 19, Villarreal and Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze, 20, and Valencia and South Korea forward Lee Kang-in, 18.

List of nominees for the main award:
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)

Alisson (Liverpool)

Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus)

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)

Dusan Tadic (Ajax)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)

Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain)

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)������������

Donny van de Beek (Ajax)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)

Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)

Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli)

Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona)

Mohammed Salah (Liverpool)

Eden Hazard (Real Madrid)

Marquinhos (Paris St-Germain)

Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50130650

 

[MenInG]

Ballon d'Or 2019
Venue: Theatre du Chatelet, Paris Date: 2 December

It's time to crown the best player in men's football for 2019.

In a glittering ceremony in Paris on Monday, the winner of this year's Men's Ballon d'Or will be announced, with Liverpool defensive rock Virgil van Dijk the favourite to be the first defender to take the honour in 13 years.

The Premier League is heavily stocked, boasting 15 of the 30-man shortlist. But who is in contention?

Last year's winner Luka Modric - the only winner in the past 11 years not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo - did not make the cut.

Both Messi and Ronaldo are very much in the running, having won it a joint-record five times each already.

Messi has already won the Best Fifa Men's award in 2019, while Van Dijk was Uefa's Men's Player of the Year - victory for Ronaldo on Monday would see the three biggest prizes in men's football going to three different players for the first time.

Spoiler

BBC Sport has a rundown of the contenders for this year's Men's Ballon d'Or...


Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero
Club: Manchester City Nation: Argentina

Age: 31 Honours 2019: Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield

The Argentina goal machine had another productive year in front of goal, netting 32 times for City as they won a domestic treble in 2018-19 and adding 13 more this season before picking up an injury. You do take those numbers for granted but has he done enough to be considered?

Approximate odds: 250-1

Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Club: Liverpool Nation: England

Age: 21 Honours 2019: Champions League, Uefa Super Cup

A real breakthrough year for the full-back whose quick-thinking corner against Barcelona delivered one of the moments of 2019. A superb year but perhaps overshadowed by team-mates when it comes to the big honours.

Approximate odds: 1000-1

Alisson
Alisson
Club: Liverpool Nation: Brazil

Age: 27 Honours 2019: Champions League, Copa America

A man who added the Copa America to his Champions League win for Liverpool - his stoppage-time save from Napoli's Arkadiusz Milik in the final group game was key on the road to triumph in Madrid for Jurgen Klopp's men.

Approximate odds: 100-1

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Club: Arsenal Nation: Gabon

Age: 30 Honours 2019: None

Scores goals, year on year. But with no trophies in the bank this year it's hard to see the Arsenal man troubling the scorers on this occasion.

Approximate odds: 1000-1

Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
Club: Real Madrid Nation: France

Age: 31 Honours 2019: None

Can you play up front for Real Madrid for a solid decade and still be underestimated? Maybe. Benzema is closing in on 250 goals for Real but if he was going to win the honour it would surely have come during one of his four Champions League-winning seasons.

Approximate odds: 1000-1

Kevin de Bruyne
Kevin de Bruyne
Club: Manchester City Nation: Belgium

Age: 28 Honours 2019: Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield

The Premier League's most talented player? There's a good argument for it. Won a domestic treble with City last season and makes the shortlist after returning from serious injury to shine throughout the calendar year.

Approximate odds: 150-1

Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong
Club: Barcelona Nation: Netherlands

Age: 22 Honours 2019: Eredivisie, KNVB Cup (Both with Ajax)

Earned a £65m move to Barca with his game-running performances from deep midfield for Ajax during their stunning run to the Champions League semis. If he keeps up his momentum, he could be a future winner.

Approximate odds: 250-1

Matthijs de Ligt
Matthijs de Ligt
Club: Juventus Nation: Netherlands

Age: 20 Honours 2019: Eredivisie, KNVB Cup (Both with Ajax)

Like De Jong, was outstanding for Ajax and earned a big-money move to one of European football's giants. Still only 20.

Approximate odds: 500-1

Roberto Firmino
Roberto Firmino
Club: Liverpool Nation: Brazil

Age: 28 Honours 2019: Champions League, Uefa Super Cup, Copa America

All three of Liverpool's attacking trident make the shortlist and while Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane may hog the headlines more often, Firmino is the one who makes the team tick. Won the Champions League and then his two goals helped Brazil to a Copa win as well.

Approximate odds: 250-1

Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann
Club: Barcelona Nation: France

Age: 28 Honours 2019: None

Completed his long-mooted move from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona this summer but maybe hasn't found his best form yet at the Nou Camp.

Approximate odds: 250-1

Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard
Club: Real Madrid Nation: Belgium

Age: 28 Honours 2019: Europa League (with Chelsea)

Signed off in style at Chelsea with a match-winning performance in the Europa League final and then completed his move to Real. Like Griezmann, hasn't found his best form in Spain yet.

Approximate odds: 500-1

Joao Felix
Joao Felix
Club: Atletico Madrid Nation: Portugal

Age: 20 Honours 2019: Primeira Liga (with Benfica), Nations League

The man signed to replace Griezmann at Atletico Madrid, the then 19-year-old was the fifth-biggest transfer in history when he moved from Benfica for £113m. Won the Nations League with Portugal in the summer but has found goals a bit hard to come by so far in Spain.

Approximate odds: 250-1

Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly
Club: Napoli Nation: Senegal

Age: 28 Honours 2019: None

Continually linked with a mega-money move to the top end of the Premier League, the dominant centre-half has been superb again - and was particularly excellent in Napoli's win over Liverpool in September.

Approximate odds: 500-1

Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski
Club: Bayern Munich Nation: Poland

Age: 31 Honours 2019: Bundesliga, DFB Pokal

The only Bundesliga player on the list, Lewandowski scored 42 times for club and country in the 2018-19 season and then netted in 11 league games in a row from the start of this season. He scored the fastest quadruple in Champions League history against Red Star Belgrade on 26 November, taking just 14 minutes and 31 seconds.

Approximate odds: 100-1

Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris
Club: Tottenham Nation: France

Age: 32 Honours 2019: None

Not the most obvious choice on paper - Lloris was in nets as Spurs made it all the way to the Champions League final but hadn't been at his best before suffering a bad elbow injury which ended his year in October.

Approximate odds: 1000-1

Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane
Club: Liverpool Nation: Senegal

Age: 27 Honours 2019: Champions League, Uefa Super Cup

Eclipsed Mohamed Salah as Liverpool's chief goal threat during a superb year - Mane scored 30 goals for club and country last season and added eight more in the Premier League in his first 12 appearances this term.

Approximate odds: 50-1

Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez
Club: Manchester City Nation: Algeria

Age: 28 Honours 2019: Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Africa Cup of Nations

Not an automatic pick for Manchester City on the road to their three trophies but has got to grips with Pep Guardiola's demands and got better as the year wore on. Influential in the absence of injured Leroy Sane. Was Algeria captain when they won the Africa Cup of Nations and scored a superb stoppage-time winner in the semi-final against Nigeria.

Approximate odds: 250-1

Marquinhos
Marquinhos
Club: Paris St-Germain Nation: Brazil

Age: 25 Honours 2019: Ligue 1, Trophee des Champions, Copa America

Powerful centre-back who has played in midfield at times for Paris St-Germain, won the Copa America with Brazil but not able to help the dominant French side make it all the way in the Champions League.

Approximate odds: 500-1

Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe
Club: Paris St-Germain Nation: France

Age: 20 Honours 2019: Ligue 1, Trophee des Champions

Another PSG player who enjoyed a superb year, the dynamic forward has scored over 30 goals in the calendar year for club and country.

Approximate odds: 250-1

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Club: Barcelona Nation: Argentina

Age: 32 Honours 2019: La Liga

The GOAT? Messi already has five Ballon d'Or wins and five runners-up trophies in his locker and could well make the podium again. You get used to his brilliance but the numbers still stack up - Messi scored 54 times for club and country in the 2018-19 season and after an injury-hit start to this campaign scored nine times in seven games in October and November.

Approximate odds: 2-1

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Club: Real Madrid Nation: Portugal

Age: 34 Honours 2019: Serie A, Nations League

The GOAT? Added a league championship in Italy to his three Premier Leagues and two La Liga crowns, also helped Portugal to the Nations League with a hat-trick against Switzerland. Scored 26 times in his first 40 Serie A starts which maybe suggests signs of him slowing down a touch...

Moved to 99 international goals which suggests not.

Approximate odds: 8-1

Mohamed Salah
Mo Salah
Club: Liverpool Nation: Egypt

Age: 27 Honours 2019: Champions League, Uefa Super Cup

Consistently excellent again for Liverpool as they came so close to ending the league championship drought, scored in the Champions League final and shared the league Golden Boot with team-mate Mane and Arsenal's Aubameyang.

Approximate odds: 100-1

Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva
Club: Manchester City Nation: Portugal

Age: 25 Honours 2019: Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield, Nations League

No player on the shortlist won more in 2019, the midfielder was a key cog in Pep Guardiola's City machine and also tasted international success with Portugal.

Approximate odds: 250-1

Son Heung-min
Son Heung-min
Club: Tottenham Nation: South Korea

Age: 27 Honours 2019: None

Sensational for Spurs all year, but particularly in the Champions League. Scored three times over the two legs in the quarter-final win over Manchester City and is closing in on 50 Premier League goals for the club.

Approximate odds: 1000-1

Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling
Club: Manchester City Nation: England

Age: 24 Honours 2019: Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield

Denied an FA Cup final hat-trick by team-mate Gabriel Jesus who nicked one on the goalline, Sterling scored 31 times last season and has taken his goalscoring form to the international scene, with eight goals in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Approximate odds: 66-1

Dusan Tadic
Dusan Tadic
Club: Ajax Nation: Serbia

Age: 31 Honours 2019: Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, Johan Cruyff Shield

Whoever decided to let Tadic leave Southampton for just over £10m in the summer of 2018 is probably still looking for work - the number 10 has been exceptional for Ajax since, starring in their run to the last four of the Champions League. He scored six times and provided five assists.

Approximate odds: 1000-1

Marc-Andre ter Stegen
marc-Andre ter Stegen
Club: Barcelona Nation: Germany

Age: 27 Honours 2019: La Liga

In a battle with Manuel Neuer to become first choice for Germany on the back of more consistent displays for Barca, Ter Stegen won his fourth La Liga crown this year.

Approximate odds: 1000-1

Donny van de Beek
Donny van de Beek
Club: Ajax Nation: Netherlands

Age: 22 Honours 2019: Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, Johan Cruyff Shield

One of the Ajax starlets to stay in Amsterdam for another season at least, Van de Beek scored a fine goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and at Juventus last season, and also scored in the 4-4 thriller with Chelsea this season.

Approximate odds: 1000-1

Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk
Club: Liverpool Nation: Netherlands

Age: 28 Honours 2019: Champions League, Uefa Super Cup

The favourite for the gong and could be the first defender to win the honour since Italy's World Cup-winning skipper Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. A defensive colossus who is a threat in both boxes and can knock 50-yard passes, there's not much new to add about Van Dijk...

Approximate odds: 8-15

Georginio Wijnaldum
Gini wijnaldum
Club: Liverpool Nation: Netherlands

Age: 29 Honours 2019: Champions League, Uefa Super Cup

Another of Liverpool's Champions League winners to make the cut, Wijnaldum's year will best be remembered for his double in the famous comeback win over Barcelona.

Approximate odds: 1000-1

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50546933

 

[The Viper]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lionel Messi from <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBarcelona</a> is the 2019 Ballon d'Or winner! THAT'S HIS SIXTH ONE! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ballondor</a> <a href="https://t.co/dLndTZNeeW">pic.twitter.com/dLndTZNeeW</a></p>— #BallondOr (@francefootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/francefootball/status/1201599730582720512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[KingKhanWC]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lionel Messi from <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBarcelona</a> is the 2019 Ballon d'Or winner! THAT'S HIS SIXTH ONE! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ballondor</a> <a href="https://t.co/dLndTZNeeW">pic.twitter.com/dLndTZNeeW</a></p>— #BallondOr (@francefootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/francefootball/status/1201599730582720512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Congrats to Messi.

Unlucky VVD but he has a champions league winner medal from last season which is more important

 

[kingusama92]

6 x Ballon d'Or wins
5 x 2nd Place
1 x 3rd Place

What a career. 12 years of pure excellence.

 

[Zaz]

What exactly has he done to deserve another win this years Absolutely farcical

 

[KingKhanWC]

What exactly has he done to deserve another win this years Absolutely farcical

It can only be goals and assists. Messi failed in the CL semi second leg, he had enough chances. Barca won La Liga because Real were shocking.

Liverpool have 4 players in the top 10 of this years award, great achievement.

But these awards don't mean much, nobody cares unless your team takes the trophies home.

 

[Bewal Express]

The greatest club player ever to play but not in the legendary echelons of international football. He looks lost playing for Argentina.

 

[The Viper]

Lionel Messi: Barcelona forward wins Ballon d'Or for record sixth time

Spoiler

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player for a record sixth time.

It is the 32-year-old Argentine's first Ballon d'Or since 2015 and comes after he scored 54 times for club and country in 2018-19, in which Barca won La Liga.

Virgil van Dijk was second - one of four Liverpool players in the top seven, including Sadio Mane in fourth.

Juventus and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the award five times, was third in the voting.

England defender Lucy Bronze was beaten to the women's award, finishing second behind Megan Rapinoe, who was Golden Ball winner as USA claimed a second successive World Cup in 2019.

Liverpool keeper Alisson won the inaugural Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, ahead of Barcelona's Germany international Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Brazilian compatriot Ederson of Manchester City.

Defender Matthijs de Ligt took the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best under-21 player and selected by former Ballon d'Or winners.

The 20-year-old, who joined Juventus this summer after helping Ajax reach the semi-finals of last season's Champions League, beat Borussia Dortmund and England forward Jadon Sancho to the award.

Messi's win means the Ballon d'Or award has been won by a player from Spain's La Liga in each of the last 11 years, including last year's winner Luka Modric, who broke the 10-year Messi-Ronaldo monopoly on the prize.

"Today is my sixth Ballon d'Or. It's a completely different moment, lived with my family and my children," Messi said.

"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 forward recently notched up 700 appearances for Barca, during which time he has scored a phenomenal 614 goals while winning 34 trophies, including 10 La Liga and four Champions League titles, and a host of other records and awards.

Messi's major trophy haul
Trophy Years
La Liga (10) 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15,2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19

Copa del Rey (6) 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

Champions League (4) 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15

Ballon d'Or (6) 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019

His superb displays for Barcelona enabled him to hold off the challenge of Champions League winner Van Dijk, who was aiming to become the first defender to win the award since Italy's Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

"It was an amazing year, but there's a couple of players like that who are a bit unnatural," Van Dijk said of Messi and Ronaldo. "So you need to respect greatness as well.

"I was close, but there was just someone a little bit better.

"I'm very proud of what I achieved last year with Liverpool and Holland, and hopefully we can do that again this year. But that will be tough with those guys around here still.

"I never thought that I would be up for a Ballon d'Or until I was actually nominated. It shows a lot about how my career has been. My career has been different from the winner here, I came late, but I never gave up on my dreams.

"I had to work hard every step of the way, so to be here makes me very proud. And I want to work hard and be here again next year."

The full list

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)

2. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool and Netherlands)

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus and Portugal)

4. Sadio Mane (Liverpool and Senegal)

5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt)

6. Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain and France)

7. Alisson (Liverpool and Brazil)

8. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland)

9. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City and Portugal)

10. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City and Algeria)

11. Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona and Netherlands)

12. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City and England)

13. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid and Belgium)

14. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City and Belgium)

15. Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus and Netherlands)

16. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City and Argentina)

17. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool and Brazil)

18. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona and France)

19. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool and England)

20= Dusan Tadic (Ajax and Serbia)

20= Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal and Gabon)

22. Son Heung-min (Tottenham and South Korea)

23. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham and France)

24= Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli and Senegal)

24= Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona and Germany)

28= Donny van de Beek (Ajax and Netherlands)

28= Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)

28= Marquinhos (Paris St-Germain and Brazil)

What is the Ballon d'Or?

The Ballon d'Or has been awarded by France Football every year since 1956, with England's Stanley Matthews the first winner.

It was only for European players until 1995, when it expanded to become open for any player at a European club. From 2007 it opened up to the rest of the world.

The 30-man list of nominees is compiled by the editorial staff of the French magazine, with the winner voted for by journalists from around the world, with one representative per nation.

From 2010 to 2015 it merged with Fifa's awards, but they split and the world governing body set up its own awards again in 2016.

Ballon d'Or: Ronaldo & Messi dominate since 2008
Winner Runner-up Third place
2007 Kaka Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi
2008 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Fernando Torres
2009 Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Xavi
2010 Lionel Messi Andres Iniesta Xavi
2011 Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Xavi
2012 Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Andres Iniesta
2013 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Franck Ribery
2014 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Manuel Neuer
2015 Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo Neymar
2016 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Antoine Griezmann
2017 Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Neymar
2018 Luka Modric Cristiano Ronaldo Antoine Griezmann

2019 Lionel Messi Virgil van Dijk Cristiano Ronaldo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50634076

 

[Slog]

What exactly has he done to deserve another win this years Absolutely farcical

almost singlehandedly lead Barcelona to the league?

singlehandedly lead Barcelona to UCL semi before Barcelona had a shocker

beast La Liga.

 

[Slog]

The greatest club player ever to play but not in the legendary echelons of international football. He looks lost playing for Argentina.

he definitely doesnt look lost

he plays in a very disjointed team with a shocking defence but still elevates their level.

 

[Aman]

Greatest of all time.

The man is carrying us these day, without him we'd be struggling in every competiton.

If people watched our games they'd realize just how much he does for us.

Creativity, controlling games and goal scoring. He does it all for us.

In CL our second highest goal scorer over the last 3 campaigns is own goal fgs...

 

[Aman]

The greatest club player ever to play but not in the legendary echelons of international football. He looks lost playing for Argentina.

Yeah, just has a WC Final, 3 Copa Finals, Olympic Gold, U20 WC and multiple other international player of the tournament titles to his name. That's to go along with his record as Argentina's all time goal scorer, assister and most goals in South American WC qualifers. He could soon pass Pele as the all time South American goalscorer as well.

But yeah.. go on... Question him despite his individual brilliance.

 

[Aman]

What exactly has he done to deserve another win this years Absolutely farcical

Maybe actually watch some games?

He was the best player in CL as well, won the POTW award 6x along with carrying Barcelona the entire year.

 

[sweep_shot]

King Messi wins it again!

Well done.

 

[161]

They finally got it right.

Should of been his tenth though.

 

[Aman]

They finally got it right.

Should of been his tenth though.

Just.

He won it by 7 points.

The Spanish journalist for Spain (from AS, Madrid journalists) gave his votes to Virgil and Ronaldo despite watching Messi's brilliance each week.

 

[pillionrider]

They should have just 1 award. This is becoming a nuisance keeping up with all of them.

lol at sore EPL/Liverpool fans.

 

[Bewal Express]

Yeah, just has a WC Final, 3 Copa Finals, Olympic Gold, U20 WC and multiple other international player of the tournament titles to his name. That's to go along with his record as Argentina's all time goal scorer, assister and most goals in South American WC qualifers. He could soon pass Pele as the all time South American goalscorer as well.

But yeah.. go on... Question him despite his individual brilliance.

No denying all these stats but when you watch him play for Argentina he looks lost. At the international level he isn't anywhere near the player that he has been for Barca

 

[Bewal Express]

he definitely doesnt look lost

he plays in a very disjointed team with a shocking defence but still elevates their level.

Just to clarify Messi is a top international player but relative to his club performances he looks lost.
No doubt the team doesn't help but the guys are hardly are numpties, Maradona had much worse players around him but he managed to bring out the best in himself and those around him.

 

[Aman]

They should have just 1 award. This is becoming a nuisance keeping up with all of them.

lol at sore EPL/Liverpool fans.

A lot of them have been gracious and were fine with losing to Messi.

It was like a 7 point difference, literally a 2 vote difference.

What's pathetic is the Madrid based journalist who voted for 2 foreign players ahead of Messi.

 

[IAJ]

World Football have only 3 superstart left;

Messi, Ronaldo and Ramos. Football has been my passion since 1987 and I have never seen a decade with so few World stars than the current decade. It is really sad.

 

[HasanA]

people who are asking why he won the award should watch barca matches. he single handedly is their leader in everything

 

[Zaz]

They might as well tell everyone else no point putting your name forward as we are going to award it to messi or ronaldo every year Its farcical

You have a player who was central to his team winning the champions league, finishing 2nd in the league with a record points tally but hes voted 2nd to messi because the jurors cant see beyond his name

 

[Hasan123]

If you look at his stats they are unbelievable. Even in the 2 games against Liverpool he played well in both. The exit wasn't his fault at all.

The greatest of all time for me.

 

[Aman]

If you look at his stats they are unbelievable. Even in the 2 games against Liverpool he played well in both. The exit wasn't his fault at all.

The greatest of all time for me.

As someone who watched nearly every Barca game this year, I'm glad he got something out of it after the sad turn the end of last season took.

If we had won CL, everyone would have been calling that version of Messi the best yet. To me it's the most complete Messi I've seen.

 

[Hasan123]

As someone who watched nearly every Barca game this year, I'm glad he got something out of it after the sad turn the end of last season took.

If we had won CL, everyone would have been calling that version of Messi the best yet. To me it's the most complete Messi I've seen.

It wasn't his fault that Barca didn't win the champions league. He deserved this award.

 

[KingKhanWC]

They might as well tell everyone else no point putting your name forward as we are going to award it to messi or ronaldo every year Its farcical

You have a player who was central to his team winning the champions league, finishing 2nd in the league with a record points tally but hes voted 2nd to messi because the jurors cant see beyond his name

Agree.

But it's just a French individual award which is far too hyped up imo.

Pele and Maradona never won this but are rightly considered GOAT.

VVD transformed Liverpool. His ability as a defender is exceptional, no weakness in any area.

Messi failed in the second leg at Anfield, those who were there will know how he was playing. He missed at least 2/3 clear cut easy chances and was pretty much contained even by Robertson on the wing.

 

[Aman]

Agree.

But it's just a French individual award which is far too hyped up imo.

Pele and Maradona never won this but are rightly considered GOAT.

VVD transformed Liverpool. His ability as a defender is exceptional, no weakness in any area.

Messi failed in the second leg at Anfield, those who were there will know how he was playing. He missed at least 2/3 clear cut easy chances and was pretty much contained even by Robertson on the wing.

You do realize he created 3 one on one chances. He had two chances on goal, one he was offside and the other he just missed.

Only one Barcelona player made the top 10 for the BdO, that should tell you about what he was working with.

Something like 4 Liverpool players made the top 6. You talk about transforming Liverpool when Liverpool has kept an embarrassingly number of clean sheets this season and when VVD was there in 2018 - they still lost. If you want to talk about someone transforming the team, maybe talk about Alisson who wasn't there for the 2018 loss to Madrid.

Even in the first leg they were cleaned up 3-0 where was VVD? The second they were fortunate that we had a meltdown, otherwise they would have never won the CL in the first place. That loss was more on us than Liverpool winning it and you know it.

 

[Aman]

Barcelona have a useless manager who is handicapping them and the team is mentally weak and still scarred from Roma (and now Anfield).

Video was released this week of Jordi Alba crying at half time with the team still ahead 3-1.

If you think Messi didn't deserve it, you have no clue what you're talking about. The entire Liverpool team has said he should win - that's including Virgil himself.

We do not have a reliable scorer to count on, our second best performing goal scorer is own goal - not kidding..

 

[Saj]

Lionel Messi has criticised Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal for saying players were not working hard under former coach Ernesto Valverde.

Valverde was sacked in January and replaced by Quique Setien.

Abidal, a former team-mate of Messi, made the comments in an interview with Spanish newspaper Diario Sport.

But on Tuesday Messi, 32, responded: "When you talk about players, you have to give names because if not, it gives air to things which are not true."

Valverde was sacked when Barcelona were top of La Liga.

In the newspaper interview Abidal said: "Many players weren't satisfied or working hard and there was also an internal communication problem.

"The relationship between the coach and the dressing room has always been good but there are things as an ex-player that I could smell. I told the club what I thought and we reached a decision [on Valverde]."

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi responded on Instagram, writing: "Sincerely, I don't like to do these things but I think that people have to be responsible for their jobs and own their decisions.

"The players [are responsible] for what happens on the pitch and we are the first to admit when we haven't been good. The heads of the sports department have to take their responsibilities too and above all own the decisions they make."

In his interview with Diario Sport, Abidal also said he thought Messi was happy at the club and a new contract for the Argentine talisman was currently being negotiated.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51380481

 

[MenInG]

Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal is to keep his job at the club despite being criticised by star forward Lionel Messi.

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi spoke out against Abidal after he had said players were not working hard under former coach Ernesto Valverde.

Valverde was sacked in January and replaced by Quique Setien.

Barcelona called an emergency meeting with ex-France defender Abidal on Wednesday to discuss the issue.

After two hours of talks, it was decided the 40-year-old would remain in his role at the Nou Camp.

Abidal, a former team-mate of Messi, made the comments in an interview with Spanish newspaper Diario Sport.

But on Tuesday, 32-year-old Argentine Messi responded: "When you talk about players, you have to give names because if not, it gives air to things which are not true."

Valverde was sacked when Barcelona were top of La Liga.

In the newspaper interview, Abidal said: "Many players weren't satisfied or working hard and there was also an internal communication problem.

"The relationship between the coach and the dressing room has always been good, but there are things as an ex-player that I could smell. I told the club what I thought and we reached a decision [on Valverde]."

Messi then posted on social media: "Sincerely, I don't like to do these things but I think that people have to be responsible for their jobs and own their decisions.

"The players [are responsible] for what happens on the pitch and we are the first to admit when we haven't been good. The heads of the sports department have to take their responsibilities too and, above all, own the decisions they make."

In his interview with Diario Sport, Abidal also said he thought Messi was happy at the club and that a new contract for the Argentine was being negotiated.

Analysis
BBC Radio 5 Live Spanish football expert Guillem Balague

Barcelona had a difficult winter transfer window. They realised they needed a striker but, for different reasons, they couldn't get one.

With that in mind, and against the background of the sacking of the manager, there was a need for an explanation for what was going on - so the club forced Abidal to do an interview with two Catalan newspapers and he was extremely open.

It was the Sport one in particular that got Messi upset because Abidal suggested that the players were not happy under Valverde and did not work hard enough. It was suggested that it was the players who got him sacked.

In fact, Messi and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen - another key player - actually backed Valverde, even though everybody realised that at some point a change was necessary because the dynamic was not positive and the club was looking for a replacement.

Messi responded very quickly to Abidal's interview because he felt the finger of blame was being pointed at him.

I think Messi is fed up by the accusations he dictates everything that happens at the club. He wanted Neymar to return and Valverde to stay, and those things did not happen.

His message was a way of pointing out that everyone at the club has to do their job better.

The chairman has spoken to Abidal and Messi to calm things down and say take it easy.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51391717

 

[Abdullah719]

France Football cancels Ballon d’Or 2020 due to COVID-19

France Football on Monday announced that the prestigious prize Ballon d’Or winner will not be handed out this season due to the “lack of sufficient fair conditions.”

The prize which has been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent time will not be awarded for this calendar year.

A prestigious Golden Ball has been handed out to the best player on the planet since 1956.

France Football said in a statement on their official website: “In exceptional circumstances, exceptional provisions. For the first time in its history, which began in 1956, the Ballon d'Or France Football will not be awarded in 2020, due to the lack of sufficient fair conditions.

“Messi and Rapinoe (as well as [Mattijs] de Ligt and Alisson, winners of the Kopa and Yachine Trophies) will have to wait a year. The winners of the last edition of the BO will have no successors at the end of the year. Because there will be no Ballon d'Or 2020 edition. Why?

“• Because such a singular year cannot - and should not - be treated as an ordinary year. When in doubt, it is better to abstain than to persist.

“• Because the Ballon d'Or trophy conveys other values - like exemplarity, solidarity and responsibility – rather than merely sporting excellence alone.

“• Because the fairness that prevails for this honorary title could not be preserved, in particular at the statistical level and also in the preparation since all the aspirants to the award could not be housed in the same boat, some having seen their season cut radically short, others not. So how can we compare the incomparable?

“• Because we did not want to put an indelible asterisk on the prize list like “trophy won in exceptional circumstances due to the Covid-19 health crisis” . We will always prefer a small sprain (to our history) to a large scar. This is the first time since 1956 that the Ballon d'Or has taken a break. The situation does not enchant us but seems to us the most responsible and logical decision. Protecting the credibility and legitimacy of such an award also means ensuring its flawlessness over time."

That means Messi, who lifted the award in 2019 for record sixth time, will keep his crown for another 12 months.

Closest to Barcelona star’s record is his arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus, who has won it five time in his career.

Two all-time greats would have been expected to come into contention again in 2020, along with the likes of Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40006289/france-football-cancels-ballon-dor-2020-due-to-covid-19