Luis Enrique says newly-crowned Ballon d’Or victor Lionel Messi would be decisive even if he played at centre-back for Barcelona.
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FC Barcelona President Josep Bartomeu admits he is delighted that Leo Messi won the Balon D’ Or award for a historic fifth time on Monday and promised that neither the Argentinean, nor Neymar, who finished third in the voting for the award, will be leaving the club.
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 two El Clasico rivals have won the last eight awards between them since Kaka’s triumph in 2007.
Messi collected the coveted gong once more at Monday’s Federation Internationale de Football Association gala in Zurich, the latest dazzling achievement of a career journey which began when his family relocated from Argentina to Barcelona with him as a 13-year-old.
“It’s incredible that it’s my fifth”.
“I want to thank everyone who voted for me and I want to hank my team-mates”.
The Brazil global got just 7.86 per cent of the votes against Cristiano Ronaldo’s 27.76 per cent – with Messi amassing 41.33 per cent – but Alves nonetheless felt his compatriot deserved second place on the podium. It’s much more than I ever dreamed of as a kid. And lastly, I want to thank football in general for everything it has brought me.
Some of world sport’s biggest names – who themselves hold incredible records – have been left in awe of what Messi has achieved in the game.
Barcelona’s Luis Enrique was voted coach of the year while United States World Cup victor Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the final against Japan, was named women’s player of the year.
At global level, Messi captained Argentina to the Copa America final, where they were beaten by hosts Chile on penalties one year after losing out in the World Cup final to Germany.
Ireland’s media vote, by journalist Paul Kelly, went for Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Barca and Real dominated the team of the year as well with four players each, including Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo.
At first unable to speak with emotion, Lloyd was loudly applauded as she prepared to begin her acceptance speech.
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“I’m very happy. He’s being recognised as the greatest player of all time and we’re so lucky to have players like Neymar in these ceremonies as well”, he said on Tuesday.
