The enjoyment of six: A glance again at ALL of Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or triumphs as Barcelona star scoops file SIXTH accolade in Paris

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has as soon as once more been topped Ballon d’Or king – placing the Argentine out on his personal as the one man to have picked up the award six instances.

Messi, 32, beat Liverpool defensive colossus Virgil van Dijk into second place because the accolade for the world’s greatest participant was handed out by France Soccer journal at a glitzy bash in Paris on Monday evening.

5-time Ballon d’Or winner and longtime Messi rival Cristiano Ronaldo got here third, deciding to snub the ceremony after maybe being tipped off that he would miss out on the highest prize. 

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As Messi revels in what many see as affirmation of his GOAT standing, we glance again at how he achieved his exceptional Ballon d’Or haul.  

2009 – ON HIS WAY TO GREATNESS

Messi picked up his first Ballon d’Or the tender age of 22, having completed third after which second within the voting within the earlier two years.

The accolade was reward for a valuable expertise who was already being tipped as one of many best ever to play the sport, as Messi had helped encourage a Barcelona workforce managed by Pep Guardiola to a well-known treble within the 2008/09 season, together with the Champions League title.

Messi scored within the Champions League last towards Manchester United in Rome, whereas he netted 38 targets in all competitions for Barcelona.

In choosing up the Ballon d’Or, he turned the primary Argentine to ever win the award. Voters handed Messi the accolade by a whopping 240-point margin, with the diminutive Argentine gaining 473 factors out of a potential 480, forward of Cristiano Ronaldo in second (281 factors) and Barcelona teammate Xavi in third (170 factors).  

2010 – DOUBLE DELIGHT 

FIFA merged their participant of the 12 months award with the Ballon d’Or in 2010, and Messi was the primary to win the title as he picked up a second consecutive gong.

The Argentine wizard scored an astonishing 60 targets for membership and nation in 2010, and beat membership teammates Xavi and Andres Iniesta to the award. Messi obtained 22.65 % of the votes, whereas Iniesta garnered 17.36 % and Xavi 16.48 %.

Many, nevertheless, felt that Spaniards Xavi and Iniesta would have been extra worthy winners, having helped their nation to World Cup glory in South Africa that summer season.

Nonetheless, on the age of 23, Messi had already been topped world participant of the 12 months twice – with lots extra in retailer.

2011 – HAT-TRICK 

Messi had been sometimes sensational all through the 2010/11 season, netting 53 targets in 55 membership video games. 

That unimaginable type helped him grow to be solely the fourth participant in historical past to have three Ballon d’Or titles to his title – alongside Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten – when he picked up the prize for 2011.

Coming off the again of one other Champions League-winning season, once more starring in a victory over Manchester United within the last – Messi was the clear winner within the vote, taking 47.88 % forward of Ronaldo in second with 21.6 % and Xavi on 9.23 %.

2012 – A RECORD-BREAKING SEASON

Onto the award for 2012 and Messi turned the primary – and to this point solely – participant in historical past to win the Ballon d’Or 4 instances in a row. 

Over the course of 2012 Messi netted an astonishing 91 strikes to beat German legend Gerd Muller’s earlier file of 85 targets in a calendar 12 months, scoring 79 instances for Barcelona and 12 extra for Argentina.

Messi once more beat Ronaldo to the accolade whereas Barcelona teammate Iniesta completed third.

2015 – BOUNCING BACK 

Messi was pressured to look at his nice rival Ronaldo scoop the highest particular person prize in soccer in 2013 and 2014 – ending second each instances – however bounced again to assert the award in 2015, which means a fifth Ballon d’Or in whole.

It got here after a 12 months wherein Barca claimed an unimaginable five-trophy haul, together with Champions League and La Liga titles. Messi was once more on the forefront as he bagged a 52-goal haul in the course of the calendar 12 months, in addition to 26 assists, in 61 video games for membership and nation.

Already established as one of many all-time greats, the Barcelona quantity 10 acquired 41.33 % of the vote, forward of Ronaldo with 27.76 % and Brazilian star Neymar with 7.86 %.

2019 – SIX APPEAL

Earlier than his triumph in Paris on Monday evening, Messi had been pressured to attend 4 lengthy years earlier than being topped Ballon d’Or king once more, as Ronaldo picked up the accolade in 2016 and 2017 to place him degree with Messi on 5 total titles, whereas Croatian playmaker Luka Modric scooped the award in 2018 (when Messi bafflingly failed even to make the highest three).

However this 12 months Messi has persistently displayed the greatness that has seen him edge out defensive colossus Virgil van Dijk. Messi scored 54 instances for membership and nation within the 2018-19 season, and regardless of an injury-hit begin to this season has notched 11 targets in 14 video games to this point.

Many will argue that Liverpool’s Champions League triumph – which included a sensational semifinal defeat of Barcelona – means van Dijk would have been a extra worthy winner.

However even at 32, Messi is constant to point out brilliance week in, week out – which makes him a becoming winner of the award for a file sixth time.

And all of the indicators are that he is not achieved but…