“It’s an honour which has come as a reward for everything the players and staff did past year”.
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The man who had pushed him into second for the last two years, Real Madrid’s three-time Ballon d’Or victor Cristiano Ronaldo, finished as runner-up this time, while Messi’s fellow Barca frontman Neymar came third.
FC Barcelona star Neymar had high praise for both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but admitted he “fell in love” with his Argentine teammate.
“I want to thank everyone who voted for me and I want to thank my team-mates – without them none of this would be possible”.
“I can say that he’s the best out-and-out forward there is in the game today”, Messi said.
While Portugal hitman Ronaldo scored more goals than Messi during 2015, netting 54 for Madrid, it was not enough for his side to win any silverware. The recognition was reward for a season with Barcelona that won the team the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, the Spanish league title, and the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Cup. “He has really become an idol”, he told reporters at the Ballon d’Or gala.
Messi was also thrilled to hear the words of Neymar, who described himself as being “completely in love” with the Barca talisman.
Barca’s Luis Enrique was coach of the year, United States coach Jill Ellis collected the women’s trophy, and American Carli Lloyd took the Federation Internationale de Football Association women’s player of the year award.
Barcelona striker and playmaker Lionel Messi collected a record fifth Fifa Ballon d’Or award in Zurich for being the world’s best player.
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While he was arguably part of an incredible trio at Barcelona, featuring Neymar as well as Luis Suarez, Messi was visibly the standout performer as he consistently produced moments of brilliance to inspire the Blaugranas.
