Official: Messi is ballon d’Or winner a record 6th time


Thirty-two year old captain of Barcelona Football Club of Spain and Argentina National Football squad, Lionel Messi Monday night in Paris, France won the most prestigious award in world Men’s football for the sixth time erasing Cristiano Ronaldo’s five times win which he equaled in 2015.


Messi had beaten Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool and Netherlands who would have been the second Defender ever to win the Golden trophy. Sadio Mane of Liverpool and Senegal came third while Christiana Ronaldo of Juventus and Portugal came fourth.


Ronaldo got wind of his position before the awards and boycotted the ceremony anchored by African legend, Didier Drogba, who was fluent with both English and French languages.


Messi born 24th June 1987 at Rosario, Argentina standing at 1.70 m (5ft 7ins) came with his wife and three sons who were estatic in the crowd. He won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019. Luka Modric of Real Madrid who displaced Ronaldo in a controversial win last year presented the trophy to Messi this year. Messi had also won the European Golden Shoe a record six times.
Megan Rapinoe, a tireless female trojan from USA won the female category. She dominated last Women’s world cup in France winning both the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe.


Bearded Liverpool Coach, Jurgen Klopp, beat his British coach rival, Pep Guardiola of Manchester City to win world Best Coach award in an apparent show of supremacy between both clubs.


United States Female Coach, Jill Ellis bagged her second world title though she hinted of a retirement from guiding the round leather game due to aging.
No Nigerian player or coach, male or female qualified for the last four nominations.

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