Messi named MARCA's best player for 2019 with 59% of fans voting for him

Lionel Messi was the best player in the world in 2019.

MARCA's countdown of the best 100 players in the world has ended and, much like in the recent Ballon d'Or, Messi has come out on top.

Barcelona's No.10 and captain received more votes than anyone else in the Top 10, beating fellow podium-finishers Karim Benzema and Virgil van Dijk.

Despite Barcelona's bittersweet season last term, which was most remembered for their collapse at Anfield in the Champions League semi-finals, Messi shone again and was the key driving factor behind their LaLiga Santander success.

Messi has again proven himself to be a level above anyone else on the planet and despite missing the start of the 2019/20 campaign, he's already made up for lost time by firing his way to top spot in the Pichichi race.

His 2019 finished with him lifting his sixth Ballon d'Or.

This is the Top 10:

1. Messi 59%

2. Karim Benzema 10%

3. Virgil van Dijk 8%

4. Cristiano Ronaldo 7%

5. Kylian Mbappe 6%

6. Sadio Mane 4%

7. Frenkie de Jong 2%

8. Mohammed Salah 2%

9. Raheem Sterling 1%

10. Alisson Becker 1%