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.
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The top 3 contender for this years Ballon d’Or is Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar and all 3 are capable but its Messi who has the highest chance of winning this trophy.
Neymar added a fourth goal seven minutes from time when Messi, who was in an offside position, let the ball run through to the Brazilian and he lifted it over Granada goalkeeper Andres Fernandez into the roof of the net.
The Argentinian player demonstrated excellent performance last season, helping Barcelona to win impressive five titles – the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
“The trend is in the future, Messi and Ronaldo are no longer in contention, and Neymar will be the protagonist”, said former worldwide player and runner-up in the Ballon d’Or in 1997, Roberto Carlos.
“It is more hard to beat four or five players in a cup final”.
The Argentina’s captain also won the award 2009, 2010 2011 and 2012.
Other awards to be given away during the Gala are FIFA World Player of the Year for women soccer players, Puskas award and Coach of the year award.
Their 18-year-old striker Adalberto Peñaranda, who scored four goals in his last four league appearances, struggled to make an impression.
Granada have never won at the Nou Camp in their 85 year history and it soon became clear they would have to wait at least another year.
And now Carlos Puyol, who previously captained Barcelona while Messi played for them over a decade, has come out and insisted that if he does not claim the accolade then it is a complete travesty.
“Neymar is starting to show that he will be a competitor for him [Messi]”.
Messi got his second goal just six minutes later when Suarez earned the first of his two assists with a one-timed pass.
The start of the forward’s 2015-16 campaign was disrupted by a knee injury, but he returned in time to help Luis Enrique’s men win the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring in the final against River Plate in December.
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“It is not a surprise to me if Leo or Neymar wins, as on a collective level they won many trophies”.
