“It is a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage, winning again another Ballon d’Or after being there in the audience watching Cristiano win”.
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Barcelona superstar Messi is targeting an unprecedented fifth Ballon d’Or award, with the Argentine heavily favoured to reclaim the prize from three-time victor Cristiano Ronaldo.
Brazil star Neymar, who also plays for Barca, came third in the vote by national team coaches and captains, and journalists.
The pair were joined by fellow nominee Neymar for a press conference ahead of tonight’s gala in Zurich, where Messi is expected to win the big prize.
Messi can also win the Puskas Award – a fans’ online vote for best goal – for his solo slalom through the Athletic Bilbao defense to score in the Spanish cup final. It’s much more than anything I dreamed of as a kid.
Barcelona also swept the 2011 men’s awards when Messi and then-coach Pep Guardiola won following the club’s previous Champions League title.
The award ceremony starts 7pm Nigerian time.
Luis Suarez and Neymar both deserve an honourable mention who have both with Messi created one greatest attacking trios of all time.
Wenger didn’t shy away from expressing his discontent at the importance given to an individual award in a team sport, but pointed out that Barcelona have been the best team in 2015, winning nearly everything.
Without the pair Messi wouldn’t have been able to carry Barcelona to another treble and possibly his own case wouldn’t have been able to make such a convincing case for a fifth Ballon d’Or.
The FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year went to Carli Lloyd of the United States womens’ team over Japan midfielder, Aya Miyama, and recently retired Germany striker, Celia Sasic.
Lionel Messi’s first hat trick of the season helped Barcelona beat Granada 4-0 and take a provisional lead of the Spanish league on Saturday.
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Former Leeds and South Africa captain Lucas Radebe announced the victor of this year’s fair play award – all football clubs and organisations supporting refugees. “Now he is a more complete player and it seems that there is no limit to what he can do”.
