Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is the favourite to win the 2019 Ballon d'Or.
Luka Modric won it last year but this time it looks like it will go back to Messi, for the sixth time in his career after winning in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
Messi won La Liga with Barcelona at a canter, scoring 36 goals which made him the division's top scorer and the European Golden Shoe winner. He also was in the Champions League best XI after helping Barca reach the semi-finals.
The forward could also add a trophy in the summer as Argentina play in the Copa America.
Few players can put Messi in the shade. The three on the podium last year didn't have amazing years. Modric won nothing, Cristiano Ronaldo helped Juve to Serie A, while Kylian Mbappe won Ligue 1.
Perhaps Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who scored in the Champions League final to help them win it as well as netting 22 Premier League goals is the main challenger.
T_manuel_
435
No one is close to what Messi did this season, after being placed on the 5th spot last year we'll this year Ronaldo shouldn't even be on the top 5 nor the top 🔝 10 I'm just saying this guy proved to us all why he's the Boss ⚽
Mir Izhan
179
i don't think salah is the challenger....the real challenger is van dijk
Riccardofields
131
the only person who will come close to Messi is obviously Van Dijk. All other players have no chance
lesxonsony
109
I want messi to win it but even if vvd win it I am going to be happy, it will be like akshay kumar(bollywood actor) giving up his award to amir khan(bollywood actor) believing that how he dedicated for his movie and he deserved it. No offence to anyone. peace
laeadilru
97
There is no player who can be compared to Messi this season even to the closest range possible!!!He is more than a player in overall,Great things,wonders and magic has performed this season.He topped on everything,starting with Laliga goals and the all league's combined ass well,UCL top scorer,having the goal of the season(freekick against Liverpool) The most assists... HE DESERVES BALLON D'OR
busnors
79
Is Balon d'Or not an Annual Individual Perrformance Award? Is Balon d'Or a team award? If Balon d'Or is an Annual Individual Award, there is no other contender for it for the 2018/2019 season other than Lionel Messi. Fans weight should be removed from the assessment of players. Lionel Messi has no match: 1. LA liga 36 goal, 13 assists (European Boot Award). 2. UEFA Champions League top scorer up q/final - 12 goals, 3 assists. QUESTION: Do goals have weight? James Rodriguez of Colombia was the top scorer in 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but Colombia went out in the q/f. The German winner goal scorer did not win the golden boot. Hatred should leave Lionel Messi of Argentina alone.
Atyraj
74
Those who say Van dijk deserves Ballondor, I want to ask why didn’t Varane win Ballondor last year when he won UCL, club World Cup and more importantly World Cup? What more do you think he need to do to even listed in top 5 players of Ballondor nominees.. forget about the trophy itself... Liverpool lost 4 matches in UCL this year... where is Van dijk in those matches? On the other hand Messi carried entire Barca team to La Liga, UCL semis and Copa Del Ray final with the arguably the worst Barca coach, worst attacking ( Suarez and Countino) and worst defense ( Roberto) I am not talking as a Messi fan but as neutral fan,,, If Van dijk and Mabappe themselves accepted that Messi deserves Ballondor this year.. .. who are we even discuss about it?
Dasacdis
20
Messi doesn't deserve it one bit. He was on the pitch watching helplessly when Liverpool slaughtered Barcelona, He also watch helplessly as Valencia skin Barcelona alive in the Copa del Rey. What's more, he's yet to win anything not least a spoon with his native Argentina senior national side. Winning your domestic league crown doesn't guarantee winning football topmost prize, otherwise, Mbappe, CR7, Sterling, Lewandoski, etc, all deserves it. Besides, Messi, wouldn't be a success in England, Italy, Germany etc. You can't play for only one club and claim to be the best. The best dominate leagues wherever they find themselves. The Champions league crown is a pointer to who wins it. If Messi win this, then the crown would've lost its prestige. Period.
DoggyDog-oDawg
16
First Messi second mo Salah third van dijk fourth mbappe 5th cr7
Fair. My list (taking into account trophies but mainly on individual performance) is 1. Messi. Who else? More goals than appearances, plus creating countless chances. 2. Van Djik. At first I thought he was overhyped, but he’s definitely proved me wrong. A rock in defense, for sure the best defender in current football 3. Mane/Salah. Both were very close in terms of scoring. I don’t really watch Liverpool games so I don’t know how they did besides that. 4-5. Idk, so many players deserve these spots. You could make an argument for Hazard, Mbappe, Sterling, mane/Salah, and many more. It’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the year pans out. Also I didn’t include Ronaldo because he just wasnt top 5 this season. You could say he’s new to the team, and I’d agree with you, but that doesnt change the fact that he wasnt at his best this season. So I guess my final rankings (nobody get mad) are 1.Messi 2. Van djik. 3. Mane. 4. Mbappe. 5. Salah.
iamjasim10
13
No one is close to what Messi did this season, after being placed on the 5th spot last year we'll this year Ronaldo shouldn't even be on the top 5 nor the top 🔝 10 I'm just saying this guy proved to us all why he's the Boss ⚽
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Good to hear the truth from a Liverpool fan☺️
T_manuel_
12
No one is close to what Messi did this season, after being placed on the 5th spot last year we'll this year Ronaldo shouldn't even be on the top 5 nor the top 🔝 10 I'm just saying this guy proved to us all why he's the Boss ⚽
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Lads come on I'm not just a Liverpool fan.... I'm a football fan and there is no team I hate nor a player I dislike.... I respect the greatness of football and I believe we should all do the same so let's give Messi his 6th Ballon Dor because he's the highest outstanding player of the season and I'm not just talking about Goals but performance as well