Lionel Messi Wins 6th Ballon d’Or Award

Lionel Messi beat out both Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo to win his sixth men’s Ballon d’Or award on Monday evening, 2 December.

The 32-year-old soccer star – who currently captains both Spanish club, Barcelona, and Argentina’s national team – previously won the Ballon d’Or award in 2009, 2010, 2011 and in 2012. He then claimed it for the fifth time in 2015.

In a glittering ceremony which took place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Messi was announced as the winner of the prestigious award – as voted for by a panel of 180 soccer journalists from around the world.

Van Dijk finished second in the voting, while Ronaldo – who no-showed the ceremony – finished third.

In his acceptance speech, Messi thanked his family and his Barcelona teammates, and also reflected on his record-breaking win.

He said: “It is ten years since I won my first Ballon d’Or … now ten years on, this is my sixth, in a very different time, very special in my personal life with my wife and three children.”

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