Despite his dominance of the award alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, the Argentine has dropped down the list and finished outside the top three
Lionel Messi has failed to make the top three of the Ballon d'Or for the first time since 2007, finishing fifth in this year's final vote.
Luka Modric is being tipped to become the first player not named Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the award since Kaka beat the pair to it 11 years ago.
Messi and Ronaldo have each won the Ballon d'Or five times, and while the Portuguese star once again looks likely to make the podium thanks to another Champions League crown with Real Madrid, the Argentine hero has dropped much further down the list.
France's World Cup heroes Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe appear to have collected enough votes to overtake the Barcelona icon, who won La Liga and the Copa del Rey in 2018 but was unable to make an impact in the Champions League or the international showpiece in Russia.
The Catalan side crashed out of the European competition at the quarter-final stage, while Argentina were knocked out of the World Cup by an Mbappe-led France in the second round.
Nevertheless, Messi is on 45 goals from 50 appearances for club and country in 2018, though he has not featured for the latter since the World Cup. This season, he has netted 15 times and made eight assists in 16 games in all competitions.
The 31-year-old collected more votes than Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane, while Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Harry Kane all feature in the top 10.
Christopher_Robin
592
This is just fifa's way of telling us that the reign of Messi and Ronaldo are over. But that's what they think. Ronaldo and Messi doesn't need any award to prove themselves. It's a great insult to the sport to not see Messi up there. Messi had done an amazing job last season and if you tell me that his wc performance wasn't good.....I'm pretty sure the amount of work he did in la liga covered it up. I'll always believe in you Messi.Fottball will be incomplete without you #LM10
toopack
454
Haha 😂 who still believes in Ballon d'or?
Mosanya
439
He is still the best 4 UCL 🏆 5 Ballon d‘or [cup][cup][cup][cup][cup] World Cup best player 2014 🎖️ Nothing has changed Messi is still Messi, better than before he is the best, great players doesn't win all the time so goes to messi. I wish him luck. #G.O.A.T 🐐
RoverSanil
291
it's a disgrace! It's a disgrace!
TheSuperteen5
268
Messi and Ronaldo have quite simply just outgrown the balon d'or This award lost it's credibility long time ago What mostly hurts is that now Real Madrid fans can say that Modric is better than Iniesta What about Ribery in 2013? What about Iniesta and Wesley in 2010? What about Messi in 2017
G/O/A/T
231
Messi should now stop walking on the field instead of running.. he is my greatest Idol but I don't like seeing him loose to his rivals
Shina-Ayo
219
Messi is just unlucky to be in that Sampaoli team. Argentina team in 2018 World Cup is the worst in history. Stupid Caballero, Frail defence, spent midfield, only the attack is world class. Poor team selection by Sampaoli, a true cheerleader in lieu of a Coach! Messi's failure in UCL cannot be forgiven tho because he has already set a very standard. Much was expected of him. Valverde's conservative tactics ??? That is not an excuse considering the fact that Barcelona had a 4:1 advantage from 1st Leg. Messi is a genius. His stats are still great. He won trophies and awards but honestly he doesn't deserve to be above Top 5 this time around! Top5 is deserving enough!!!!! Ballon d'or 2018 loading for Modric....
aqib_10_
217
ballon d'or surely lost his credibility
Iamtom_davidonIG
194
Also check 2013, last year, almost every year Messi is always the best. winning or not winning Ballon d'or doesn't change that! If you compare his stat and Ronaldo's in 2012/2013, you will know that the best players doesn't always win Ballon d or.
Honbeknsy
194
If ballondor was given to the best player then Messi would have won all the previous 10 Years ballondor. Believe it
Honbeknsy
157
If Ballon D'or was given to the best player then Messi would have won all the previous 10 Years Ballondor D'or. #Goat #Messi
Hodadknoz
155
Modric is a midfielder, but last season King Leo collected more assist than modric. shame on FIFA
Netbeiksz
100
Messi didn't fail to win the award, but FIFA failed him reason best known to them. Messi is still the best player far better than Modric. with or without award he is the GOAT.
Vesakosy
86
Such a joke!
Parham_18s
65
These days, the ball has been sold ... it's sold to anyone who gives more money