Full Ballon d’Or ranking 2019: Lionel Messi wins award and sets new record

Lionel Messi has set a new record by turning into the primary participant in historical past to win six Ballon d’Or trophies.

The Barcelona ahead edged out Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk to win the award, whereas the Argentine’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who didn’t attend the ceremony on Monday night, completed in third place.

Messi, who lifted the coveted trophy in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015, helped Barcelona win La Liga this 12 months and led Argentina to 3rd place on the Copa America in July.

Meanwhile, Van Dijk was a pivotal a part of Liverpool’s Champions League win this 12 months and has been instrumental within the group’s push for the Premier League title.

The Dutch defender was certainly one of seven Liverpool gamers on the shortlist alongside Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Georginio Wijnaldum, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

‘To the journalists and my colleagues with whom I win and lose, I remember my first Ballon D’Or in Paris, once I arrived with my brothers, now I choose up the sixth, and this was completely unthinkable,’ Messi mentioned after choosing up the award.

‘I by no means stopped dreaming and having fun with soccer like once I was a baby.

‘I hope I have more years to enjoy, although I am aware of how old I am, everything happens very quickly and I know that the moment of retirement is approaching.’

Elsewhere, Megan Rapinoe gained the ladies’s Ballon d’Or after guiding United States to their fourth World Cup title in France this summer season.