Messi helped Barcelona win a Spanish league, cup and Champions League treble plus the Club World Cup and also led Argentina to the Copa America final, where they lost to Argentina.
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He also added UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup winners’ medals later in the calendar year.
Both the Portuguese and the Argentine were asked what they envy about the other during a public chat before the Ballon d’Or gala.
Lionel Messi would be the same decisive player in any position for Barcelona, his coach Luis Enrique has said. The Brazilian hit 45 goals in 62 games and now tops this season’s La Liga charts alongside Luis Suarez with 15 goals.
Surprisingly both Lionel Messi and his Portugal counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo did not vote for each other during the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or. “It is incredible that it’s my fifth”.
Barca boss Luis Enrique was awarded the World Coach of the Year prize as the Catalan giants’ domination continued.
While Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer was chosen in the overall World XI, the Irish members voted instead for Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea. It was the only league in the top five European leagues without any representation. 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.
Carli Lloyd won the Federation Internationale de Football Association women’s player of the year award.
Messi took the Ballon d’Or from 2009 to 2012 and this year dethroned three-time victor Ronaldo who took 28 per cent of the vote.
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The victor is the person with the most points, but in the event of a tie the award goes to the player or coach with the most first places.
