Barcelona have endured a roller-coaster of a season and went from being overwhelming treble-favourites to what fans have deemed as 'bottlers'. Under the captainship of Lionel Messi, the Catalan giants secured a consecutive La Liga title but failed to obtain glory in the UEFA Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
The Spanish champions succumbed to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals and crashed out of the competition despite having had a three-goal lead from the first leg of the fixture.
With a treble out of the picture, Barcelona were expected to, at least, complete a domestic double to make up for their European failure. However, Valencia established a shock 2-1 defeat over the Catalan titans on Saturday to become Copa del Rey champions this season.
Messi, who has enjoyed scintillating form this campaign, was at the centre of it all. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was expected to win a record sixth award for his performances throughout the season but his team's failures have marred his achievements.
Much of the Ballon d'Or votes in recent years have been cast with major titles in mind and considering Messi's European disappointment, some believe his chances at winning the prize have dipped.
Last year, the Argentine maestro finished fifth in the rankings behind the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and eventual winner Luka Modric.
Here, we take a look at Messi's current season and the performances of last year's top three players in the same campaign.
Messi in comparison with the 2018 Ballon d'Or top three in the 2018-19 season
Messi, who won the Pichichi trophy and the European Golden Shoe recently, boasts of having netted 51 goals and tallied 19 assists in all competitions and is far ahead of the 2018 Ballon d'Or top three players this campaign.
#3 Antoine Griezmann
Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann could not inspire his side to the Spanish title but did manage to help them to the UEFA Super Cup this season. Los Rojiblancos finished their domestic season in second place, 11 points away from champions Barcelona.
Griezmann netted 21 goals for the Madrid giants in all competitions, which is 30 goals away from Messi. In terms of assists, the Frenchman tallied 11, which is eight fewer than the Barcelona captain.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo enjoyed a decent debut season at new club Juventus, having helped the side to their eighth consecutive Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana. However, the Italian champions failed to secure their fifth consecutive Coppa Italia after they were eliminated by Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the competition.
The 34-year-old, who was named Serie A Player of the Year, has netted 28 goals for the Old Lady in all competitions, which is 23 less than Messi's tally. The Portuguese also registered ten assists, which is nine fewer than his Argentine rival.
#1 Luka Modric
2018 Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric had endured a torrid time at the Bernabeu this term. After the departure of Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane, Los Blancos fell into a downward spiral, crashing out of the Champions League and the Copa del Rey with no hopes in La Liga.
The midfielder netted a meagre four goals for the Madrid titans this season, which is 46 fewer than that of Messi. He also set up seven goals for his teammates, which is twelve fewer than the Barcelona star.
TijaneAlcantara
916
As for Lionel Messi, the nerve centre through which Barcelona’s entire game is routed; he covered less ground per minute than any outfield player in the competition except the Manchester United centre-back Eric Bailly. The question of Messi’s “less is more” attitude to getting around the pitch has been much-discussed. This is the way he’s been playing for years and not many would argue that he’s not pulling his weight. Suffice it to say that what works for the best player in the world does not necessarily work for everyone else. And not even Messi’s team can afford to carry many players who share his minimalist approach. Unfortunately, Barcelona’s current team is full of legends – brilliant players who have won everything and have reached the stage of seniority where they expect other people to do their running. Coutinho has played most of his football for Barcelona as a winger, but if the other players in the front three are the aged Luis Suarez and Messi, the attack is critically short of speed. Logical signing Ousmane Dembele was a much more logical signing to play alongside those two, and if he had not missed so many matches with injury then Coutinho might have spent even more time on the bench than he has. He could in theory play as a number 10 in midfield with a couple of strong runners behind him, but Sergio Busquets is not a strong runner any more, and besides Barcelona already have a pretty good number 10. The fact is that the job Coutinho could do for this team is already being done by Messi, and there is not really another place where he fits in. This is not his fault, it’s Barcelona’s. This is what happens when you sign a player you don’t need for reasons of commerce and showbiz, without figuring out just what it is that you actually expect them to do. At least that should be the lesson. If the media commentary is any guide, there’s a risk Barcelona might take another lesson from this – a lesson that conveniently absolves them of any blame – and conclude that Coutinho failed because he lacks the human qualities necessary to play for a big club like Barcelona. And if that’s what they take from it, then the road back to the top will be longer than they’ve bargained for. I know messi. Suarez, pique, and busquet are your friend but the helping u to spoil your final career. i think Messi needs to stand up and speak as a leader or u won't surprise to see juv Ronaldo winning 🥇 champion league next season and that will be a record that u won't break
Murugan
318
Top 3 in the Ballon d'or 2018 🏆 1. Luka Modric This Season : 2 Goals and 7 Assists.....❌ 2. Cristiona Ronaldo This Season : 28 Goals and 10 Assists....❌ 3. Anotiono Greizmann This Season : 20 Goals and 12 Assists.... ❌ MESSI Alone this Season : 50 Goals and 19 Assists..... ✅
tamdpsu
288
this man beat Messi van dark will deserve it ...
Irfan19
194
UCL top scorer, LaLiga most goals and assists,most chances created,most goals from free kicks,The Golden Boot, 51 goals 19 assists while your so called goat sheep CR7 28 goals 10 assists now don't bring that it's his first season at juve...he plays in a defensive team bla..blaa.. Messi is second to none in this years Ballon d'or race. If he doesn't get it I bet it's biased and corrupted without a doubt
AN-WAR
182
When CR7 is left Spain. Messi is one man, one Army. Messi +CR7 = Barcelona +Real Madrid The biggest game watched in the world.
Juvenaldo07
171
Messi this is like 😅
THE_STRONGEST_KING
141
MESSI can Always take the Award whenever he wants.
JustGoWithIt
116
Who Had The Most Stats Last Year? Lionel Messi (Wenger Voice) Who Have The Most Stats This Year? Awww Lionel Messi (Wenger Voice) #CheatedLastYear #WillBeCheatedThisYear Lionel Messi Doesn't Have Time For Ballon D'or, We're Studying The Copa America That We're About To Go Win
AaYyUuSsHh
89
For a those who say Messi should win this year's Ballon d'Or....ok, he deserves... probably more than any other forward or midfielder....but lemme remind you,..if u consider football only about goal scoring and creating chances,...then some defenders and the legendary GK Lev Yashin might have never won it.... we all know FIFA's just about politics, and we have seens it many times,...robbing the golden ball from the likes of Iniesta, Xavi, Ribery, Schneider,...etc. No doubt Messi's phenomenal this year....but winning the league, golden shoe isn't enough in front of the ultimate accolade: The Champions League trophy
boneklsy
74
No player can win balon d'or with only 1 trophy and its domestic, not even Messi. Having an international trophy, and the one I'm talking about is obviously, the UCL. Its the biggest trophy there is. And Barcelona failed even to do the double domestically. I'm sorry Barcelona and the rest of blind people. Messi cannot win this year with only a good performance in La Liga. A League that is second in quality, and this year was a dead league, with Real out of the race right at the start. So, Barcelona won a dead league this year, and that's it. Wake the hell up. Ronaldo is getting old, Messi still have a couple of year before his body starts failing, so he still has a chance to win the next 2/3 years. But this season? Absolutely not
JonSnowsBeard
67
If the ballon d'or is truly awarded to the best player in the world (which we know it is not, due to the result in 2018), then Messi would win the trophy this year. at least, as of right now. We still have summer tournaments and the first half of next season to determine who should win... but if Messi doesnt get it, the only other player in the conversation is VVD. It is hard to compare defenders to attackers, but VVD was the best defender in the world this season, he was an absolute beast who transformed Liverpool's defense, a defense that has too often been the problem leading to their failures. Not a single soul dribbled past him this season - just incredible! As it stands, these are the frontrunners for the trophy. Not Ronaldo, not mbappe. Messi and VVD, mark my words.
Flopmessibye
60
This website is artificially trying to convince us that the Argentinian world cup flop was the best player this year. This claim is based on his stats obtained in LaLiga. We all know that apart Real and Barca there is no competition in the Spanish championship. We all know that Real this year was the worst Real of the decade. We all know that most of LaLiga teams have budgets less than the world cups flop’s salary. We all know that in the most prestigious club tournament in the world (UCL) he flopped and was miserable against Liverpool. Do now my question is: why would anyone give any award to this Argentinian flop????