And six for Lionel Messi! The Argentinian, tipped to win the 2019 edition of the Ballon d'Or, confirmed the prognosis by winning for the sixth time the trophy that rewards the best player in a calendar year. He becomes the record holder of the number of Ballon d'Or., In front of "his best enemy", Cristiano Ronaldo. The FC Barcelona striker was honored with the title of best player of the year in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019 therefore. He is also the only one to have had it four times in a row (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012).
Messi power 6
The Pulga finished the 2018-2019 season with FC Barcelona. Beware, the list of rewards and records that follows is monstrous: Messi finished top scorer in the Spanish league for the sixth time (a record that equaled that of Telmo Zarra) with 36 goals, won the European Golden Shoe for the sixth time (all-time record) and is also the league's top scorer for the sixth time (12 goals), despite the elimination of his club in the semifinals. Finished ? Not quite. Scorer but also passer, the Argentinean has also gleaned the trophy of best passer of the Spanish championship tied with Pablo Sarrabia (now player at PSG) with a total of 13 assists.
This year, as the 2019-2020 season of the Spanish league comes to its half, Messi has already scored 11 goals in 14 games. In the Champions League, after 5 games this season, he has 1 goal and 3 assists.
" If you give the Golden Ball to the best player of this generation, always give it to Lionel Messi "At the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Messi has raised for the sixth time the golden trophy, with these staggering statistics. The Grail is awarded according to three main criteria: individual and collective performances during the year, the player's class and the player's career. From there, it is difficult to avoid the candidacy of one of the living legends of the history of football. Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp said last week: "If you give the Golden Ball to the best player of this generation, always give it to Lionel Messi, if you give it to the best player in the world. last season, it's Virgil van Dijk ".
The German coach had flair since Messi finished first. Unfortunately for van Dijk, the Ballon d'Or mainly rewards offensive players. It is necessary to go back to 2006 and the coronation of the Italian Fabio Cannavaro to find trace of a defender rewarded.
Lionel Messi stands out from Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi was so far tied with the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, winner five times of this award given by the magazine France Football. For the record, behind these two monsters in the history of football are equal - with three Ballon d'Or - the Dutch Marco van Basten and Johann Cruyff and ... the French Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985). This year, the first French ranking is 6th, it is the young and very promising Kylian Mbappé, who surprises season by season by its precocity. As a reminder, the Paris striker is only 20 years old.