Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or over Cristiano Ronaldo & Neymar
- Jumai
- Jan 12, 2016
- 1 min read
Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi was named world player of the year 2015 at a FIFA gala in Zurich and claimed the Ballon d'Or trophy for the fifth time overall.
Messi reclaimed the award after watching his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo walk off with the prize for the previous two years.
The Argentine, who finished ahead of Ronaldo and Brazil forward Neymar, had previously won it four years in a row from 2009 to 2012.Last 10 Ballon Dór winners2015 - Lionel Messi2014 - Cristiano Ronaldo 2013 - Cristiano Ronaldo2012 - Lionel Messi 2011 - Lionel Messi 2010 - Lionel Messi 2009 - Lionel Messi 2008 - Cristiano Ronaldo 2007 - Kaka 2006 - Fabio CannavaroMessi 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 Chile on penalties.
"It's incredible, much more than anything I dreamed of as a kid," said Messi as he received the award."I want to thank my team mates, without them none of this would have been possible."Barcelona's Luis Enrique was voted coach of the year.
US World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the final against Japan, was named women's player of the year.Ronaldo ended last season without a trophy with Real Madrid although he helped Portugal qualify for Euro 2016.Neymar won a treble alongside Messi at Barcelona but had a less happy time with Brazil, receiving a four-match international ban after he was sent off during the Copa America.
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