Lionel Messi has been left alone in the pursuit for the Ballon d'Or award after Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Argentine has not received the prize in the last three years, and everything points at him being the heir to Luka Modric's throne.
Messi has had several extraordinary performances this season, both in LaLiga Santander as well as the Champions League, and Barcelona have the chance to secure the third treble in their history.
In chase of the Golden Shoe
Unless Kylian Mbappe performs miracles in the final stretch of Ligue 1, the Blaugrana captain will receive the Golden Shoe this season. He has already scored 33 goals in 32 LaLiga Santander matches and is the league's top scorer.
He has been left alone
Following Juventus' elimination, Barcelona are regarded as the favourites to win the Champions League. Should Ernesto Valverde's side lift the trophy in Madrid, Messi will be the front-runner for the Ballon d'Or award.
The possible treble
Barcelona are the only Spanish team to have ever won the treble and if they achieve it this season it will be the third time in a decade that they managed to win LaLiga Santander, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
Decisive in big games
Messi has been accused in the past of failing to appear in crucial games, yet he showed against Manchester United that he is there when his team needs him most.
Top scorer in the Champions League
With 10 goals in the Champions League this season, Messi is the competition's top scorer. His personal record is 14 strikes in 2011/12, while Cristiano Ronaldo holds the competition's record with 17 goals in 2013/14.
The Argentina wild card
In case Barcelona do not reach their targets in terms of titles this season, Messi will have the chance to redeem himself by winning his first trophy with Argentina in the 2019 Copa America in Brazil. Although the tournament is not considered to be as important as the World Cup, a possible Albiceleste triumph may bring him closer to the Ballon d'Or.
auwalrogo
205
Ronaldo will not be on the podium (the 3 ballon d'Or finalists) comes December. 1. Messi (Latin America) 2. Salah (Africa) 3. Mbappe (Europe) As Ronaldo can't even be the top scorer in Italian farmers league, with 37-year-old Quagliarella outshinning him in all aspects of scoring goals. And he can't even help Juve over come Ajax.
Longlife2000
195
Ballon d'or ranking: #1 - Lionel Messi ✔ #2 - ? 🤔 #3 - ? 🤔 Last year Lionel Messi was placed 5th in the ballon d'or even though he scored the most goals in Europe, even though he won la liga and cdr, even though he won the golden shoe, even though he was individually the best player. He came 5th mainly because of the world cup. 2 world cup winners (Griezmann and Mbappe) placed above him, also UCL winners Ronaldo and Modric, Modric also was a world cup finalist and was named the best player at the world cup. So, who will beat Messi this time ? ❌Modric won't even be in the top 20 as Real Madrid horrendous trophy less season. ❌Griezmann goes trophy less also and has average stats. ❌Ronaldo only scored 25 goals this season and didn't do much this season, crashing out of UCL in the QF. If Messi placed 5th last year while being top scorer and being la liga and cdr champion. It begs the question if Ronaldo will even make it in the top 10. ❌Mbappe scored alot of goals this season and he's currently Messi's only competitor for the golden shoe. He could make it in the top 3 but he won't win it. ❌Salah ? Liverpool is doing great but they are not depending on any one player, it's a team effort. ❌Sterling ? Same as Liverpool, Man City is winning with a team effort not individuality. ❌Hazard ? Neymar ? VVD ? Mane ? Not a single soul can take any individual awards from Messi this season. No one. If they don't give Messi these awards then it is total meaningless. Even if he fails to win UCL no one deserve it more than him. He has no rivals, no one is close to him. 2019 will be Messi's year 🙌🙌🙌
YourHighness
148
The best there is! The best there was! The best there ever will be! Simply Leo Messi 🐐!
Sûâvé33
109
Next year will be CR7 year!!!⚡♥️Don't hate just share the love 🔥♥️This Year is messi year next year will be CR7 year🤗👑
Eddiejones85
81
The truth is, Messi is a part of the team, he gets his hand dirty; his part of the engine room and also part of the goal scoring. Ronaldo on the order hand, allows his teammate to do all the dirty work; he stands in the box and scream for the ball; he wants to take the PK, the freekick and never wants to get his hand dirty. He wants his teammates to do all the suffering and get the ball to him in the box. He had the best of teammate in Madrid so it was normal he won CL trophies and scored a lot of goals but unfortunately, Juve lack that quality in terms of teammate. This is why Messi is considered the greatest compare to Ronaldo. Messi carries Barcelona on his shoulders, but Ronaldo forces the club and teammate to carry his ego and pride on their shoulder.
Football Fan876
60
I'm so thankful that VAR is in the UCL. If that wasn't the case its a possibility the result would have been different in both games. With VAR, it's very hard for the cheaters to cheat. Tonight could have been a night where currupt refereeing could've probably decide the games (like in the past) because of club and player popularity. Thank god no more cheat penalties and offside goals. Since the inclusion of VAR, there have been a drastic decline of goals and pk for certain players.... Its much more difficult now for the rich clubs to buy out any game in order for certain players to be highlighted and hyped. Gone are the days when currupt refereeing are used as a marketing tool for certain player .
buuabcsy
41
Madrid fans used to say Leo.must go in other league to face challenge..... don't you think facing your so called great real Madrid and athletico Madrid is a challenge where lots of world class players were there......I guess beating Madrid is too easy for Messi that even the Madrid fans themselves doesn't think it's a challenge for Leo[Crylaugh]