BALLON D’OR: Lionel Messi wins six Ballon D’Or, Words from Messi and Virgil van Dijk after awards
A double hat-trick of wins for Messi and he overtakes Ronaldo, back on five and coming up on age 35. Liverpool’s Van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo placed second and third respectively. Another Liverpool player Sadio Mane came fourth.
Lionel Messi was the overwhelming favourite to win his sixth Ballon d’Or at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. The Barcelona star led a 30-man shortlist, with and Cristiano Ronaldo expected to finish on the podium but the Juve Stars failed to show up in Paris.
Messi words
“To the journalists and my colleagues with whom I win and lose, I remember my first Ballon D’Or in Paris, when I arrived with my brothers, now I pick up the sixth, and this was absolutely unthinkable. I never stopped dreaming and enjoying football like when I was a child. I hope I have more years to enjoy, although I am aware of how old I am, everything happens very quickly and I know that the moment of withdrawal (retirement) is approaching.”
Virgil van Dijk words
“I had a great season, but sometimes you come up against players like him [Messi], who are a bit unnatural. Six Ballon d’Ors, you gotta respect greatness. I was close, but I lost out to someone better.”
