And the World XI as voted for by members of players’ union FIFPro was named as Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany); Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil), Marcelo (Real Madrid/Brazil), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid/Spain), Dani Alves (Barcelona/Brazil); Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Luka Modric (Real Madrid/Croatia), Paul Pogba (Juventus/France); Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo.
Advertisement
“I think Messi and Cristiano are in a level above the other players and now Neymar proved he’s in their level, it’s a matter of time for him to win his own Ballon d’Or”, he said. Now Messi holds the record for most Ballon d’Or victories ever.
Receiving his award from Kaka, the 2007 victor, Messi said: “It’s incredible this is my fifth”.
The Ballon d’Or awards are chosen by national team coaches, captains and journalists who vote for their top three in each category.
Messi played a significant role in helping Luis Enrique’s side lift their fifth UEFA Champions League, 23rd La Liga and 27th Copa del Rey.
New Zealand stand-in skipper Chris Wood and coach Anthony Hudson were in good company when they overlooked Lionel Messi in the world wide vote for football’s player of the year.
Real Madrid had as many players as Barcelona, four, in the World Team of the Year despite not winning a trophy. It’s much more than anything I’ve dreamed of as a kid. She previously had scored the winning goals for the U.S.in the Olympic Games finals of 2008 and 2012.
Federation Internationale de Football Association announced the ideal starting 11 for the year 2015, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. Messi voted for three Barcelona teammates and Ronaldo listed three Madrid colleagues.
Messi and his Argentina teammates came close to winning the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 but were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final.
USA midfielder Carli Lloyd speaks to reporters before a training session for the round of eight in the Federation Internationale de Football Association 2015 women’s World Cup soccer tournament at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario, June 24, 2015.
Advertisement
And, quoted by as.com, Messi said: “Luis deserves to be here because he is an extraordinary player and he has helped us a lot”.
