We are only a few weeks away from the 2019 Ballon d'Or awards gala which is scheduled to be held in December. Backed by French Magazine, France Football and presented to the most impressive player in the world every year, the Ballon d'Or has grown to become the most coveted individual award in the sport. Every top superstar dreams of winning it.
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi recently triumphed at the FIFA 'Best Awards' show, and he is also in contention to add the Ballon d'Or to his cabinet. However, he faces intense competition from his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo, and also Liverpool's defensive powerhouse Virgil van Dijk.
Those two superstars have also made strong cases to be named the best footballer in the world this year.
Reasons why Messi can win the Ballon d'Or
While the 4-0 humiliation at Anfield dented Barcelona's Champions League hopes last season, it took nothing away from the fantastic year Messi enjoyed at the individual level during the tournament.
The Argentine was at the top of his game, producing a series of amazing performances as he drove Barca from the group stage down to the semifinals. He was arguably the most impressive player during the tournament - courtesy of his brilliant exploits in front of goal.
Messi finished on top of the goal-scoring chart with an impressive 12 goals to his name from 10 appearances. Ronaldo, on the other hand, could only find the back of the net six times for Juventus. While some might try to make a case for Van Dijk, the numbers suggest he wasn't at the same level as Messi.
It was another record-breaking year for Messi in the Spanish league last season. The attacker stepped up once again to remind us all of his incredible class, as he put up a series of consistent displays to inspire Barcelona throughout the course of the competition.
Already the all-time scorer in LaLiga history, Messi stretched the record even further with his return of 36 goals and 15 assists from 34 appearances in the Spanish top flight. Thanks to his brilliant exploits, Barcelona were able to claim the league title for the second year in a row.
Even though Cristiano Ronaldo also tasted domestic success in Italy, his record of 21 goals and 8 assists in 31 Serie A games falls short of Messi's tally.
Messi finished with the highest number of man-of-the-match awards in the Champions League (7). He also did the same in the LaLiga (17). His return of 36 goals from 34 games earned him both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe. He bagged the highest tally in the UEFA Champions League (12) as well.
The playmaker had the most goals (51) and most assists (22) across all competitions. No one could match his goal contribution (73) for the term.
Messi topped the LaLiga in almost all the key attacking stats including number of chances created, number of braces, number of highest hat-tricks and number of free-kick goals scored, to mention just a few.
Reasons why Ronaldo can win the Ballon d'Or
Ronaldo had a fabulous first year at the Allianz Stadium, he ended up being the top scorer for The Old Lady and was their only goalscorer in the knockout phases of the Champions League last season.
Alongside the Serie A title, he also lifted the Supercoppa Italiana and helped Portugal to glory at the maiden UEFA Nations League. It was his second trophy with his nation in three years. Earlier this year he was also recognized with the Marca legends award.
On an individual level too he had a great year, as he scored his 700th career goal for club and country recently and also broke the record for most goals scored at the UEFA Euro qualifiers.
While Messi was exceptional as usual with Barcelona, he faltered at the Copa America with Argentina. Individually he might boast better stats than his old adversary, but he failed to match his trophy count.
Van Dijk won the Champions League, but it should be remembered that the last time a defender was bestowed with the Ballon d'Or was in 2006 to Fabio Cannavaro, mainly attributed to his World Cup success and performances in Serie A for Juventus, whose 2006 title was scrapped due to the infamous Calciopoli scandal.
What's next?
Though Ronaldo, Messi and Van Dijk are expected to be the top three players at the Ballon d'Or gala this year, it remains to be seen which player takes home the golden ball.
Whether it will be a record sixth win for Messi or Ronaldo or Van Dijk winning the award against all odds, we will find out on December 2.
Profnick
3174
Zlatan: they fight over jewelry like little girls 😂😂
fidbknr
582
My point of view on who shd win is as follows. If the award is for the best individual player from the ended season , then Messi very much deserves it bcos ,as the writer correctly pointed out, no man matched his goals and assists total of 73. But if it's for player who won the UCL and helped his team a lot on the way to the victory, then any of the L/pool players , particularly Van Dijk , Mane ,and maybe Salah, deserves it. In this case Van Dijk of course. And if it's given to a player who changed a team and went to win a league trophy in his first season,then we need to find the many players who did that bcos they are a lot. Ok...we choose CR7 bcos he is famous. And he won that mini NL, which Bernardo Silva also won. Bernardo Silva also won the EPL which is more difficult to win that Serie A ,maybe even more difficult to win than Spanish La Liga. What am simply saying here guys is that Ballon d'Or is between Messi and Van Dijk. Case closed.
JamesWalker
533
Balon d'or race
TheTactician
489
Messi and Ronaldo are still the best two players in the world, by far. There have been, and still are, way beyond everyone else. The 2 GOATs of football, I love Ronaldo and hope he wins it, but if not then it should go to Messi. One of them should win it, not some one season wonder. Van Dijk had a great season, but no one can honestly say that he out performed Messi and Ronaldo over the course of the season. Last year Modric undeservedely won it and somehow Messi got 5th place despite playing better than Modric. And Ronaldo was the clear choice for winner. This year in terms of stats Messi stood out above everyone else, so of Ronaldo does not win, I hope he does for the sake of football. Love one, Respect both. #GOATs #LivingLegends
Spartacus_Aye419
367
For the Sake of Football, and the GLORY CR7 will Bring, let him win this year's Ballon D'or
zuebknrsz
261
It should be Ronaldo. Why? A player from La Liga went to Italy and still can top score at Juventus is no mean feat. Whilst others are afraid to leave La Liga to another country speaks of itself. They are afraid of failing to score in a foreign country or fail to perform in another league. Ronaldo is an exceptionally player of the highest calibre. He helps his country, Portugal winning the European Nations Cup. He also has a huge fans base all over the world as he has been to three different football countries namely England, Spain and Italy. No other player could match his trophies from these 3 countries namely Premier League, La Liga, Serie A. A true legend will surely take this year title from the bottom of my heart.
Dwise
261
AF gives reasons why Ronaldo and Messi should win the Ballon d'or... VAN DIJK:- Am I a joke to you?🤷🏾♂️
Benosky1
153
Zidane was denied balon D'or in 2006 because of his red card in the world cup.. and yet somoene who's facing 3months ban with red card is nominated 🤣🤣🤣🤣 and you wanna tell us FIFA doesn't know what they are doing??? Specialist in failure.. Apart from goals, Ronaldo has contributed more to teams success than every other player..On VVD is close.. lead his team to UCL triumph, we all saw their domestic league drama, also led his team to UEFA nations league finals which he lost to Portugal.. UC L Being the most renowned trophy currently makes him a good contender.. Ronaldo was brilliant in UCL, and was eliminated on the process Helped his team to lift Serie A, copa Italia and UEFA nations league. Mess- eliminated in UCL, Had nightmare in Copa America, was not even on XI, not even on bench.. sent off, with 3 months ban Helped his team secure Laliga title Lost Copa del Rey. You choose..
TaslimAlamat
149
Messi: I am waiting for the reasons why I am deserve the Ballon d'Or. Only because of: # The leading goal scorer of Champions league in 2018/19 #The leading assister of champions league 2018-19 #The leading Goal scorer of La Liga in 2018-19. # Ohh I got it this is reason why I am deserve for Ballon d'Or
footballworldfresh
121
y not Ronaldo won the golden boot nw
yoacdmns
98
Allison won champions league most clean sheets, Europe's top five leagues most clean sheets, Copa America most clean sheets, a Champions League, Copa America what else would you expect from a goalkeeper¿ These awards nowadays are shite. It's only awarded to goalscorers. It's boring.
Don-Val
21
With all due respect to the two GOATs, 👏👏👏👏👏 they've been outrageous and exceptional, and I'll have to invent words to describe them. But I think it's time to give others a chance, Neymar, Pogba, De Bruyne, Dybala, Hazard, Salah, Van Dijk, etc. These players are not getting younger. Since 2008 it's been Ronaldo vs Messi, and it's been MIGHTY INTERESTING! But I think it's time to give others a chance.
✿❣↜••բஇરஇலஇʞใஃஃก••❆ღ
14
just king