Lionel Messi again wins FIFA Ballon d’Or, Carli Lloyd best among women

Between them, Messi and Ronaldo have won the Ballon D’Or for the past eight years, with Ronaldo winning the award for 2008, Messi winning from 2009 – 2012, and Ronaldo winning again in 2013 and 2014.

Lloyd received the Golden Ball award as the Cup’s best player.

Barcelona striker Neymar, 23, was the first Brazilian to finish in the top three since Kaka won the 2007 award.

“We have not talked about this, Rudi gave me his support and that’s it”, he added.

Lloyd arrived in Zurich as the strong favorite to join American greats Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach on the Federation Internationale de Football Association award list. A total 137 national team coaches, 137 national team captains and 106 media representatives voted for the coach of the year. Upon accepting the award, Ellis paid respect to her players and staff; “To my players, the captains, my staff back in the US right now, it is my honest gratitude for your commitment and your effort and your belief in this team”.

Voting was by national team captains and coaches, plus invited journalists, from Federation Internationale de Football Association member countries.

The 33-year-old turned in one of the finest individual performances ever in a World Cup final, men’s or women’s, scoring a hat trick in the first 16 minutes of the USA women’s national team’s victory over Japan on July 5.

[Lloyd’s] third, audacious goal is the one that will forever symbolize the pinnacle Lloyd reached in 2015.

He scored 52 goals for Barcelona and Argentina during the calendar year.

She said: ‘Wow. It really is an honour. For Ronaldo, 2015 was disappointing as he scored far more than Messi, but ultimately saw no trophies for his team. Ellis led the United States of America to a 20-2-4 record in 2015, losing only the first and last matches of the year.

Lloyd had a career-high 18 goals previous year, including three game-winners in the World Cup.

In the women’s football, the 2015 Women’s World Cup champion USA national team dominated the two major awards. But the best player of the planet’s success is limited to club football.

“When Jill took this job, she more than anyone understood the goals and standards of this program”, said Gulati.

Real Madrid had as many players as Barcelona, four, in the world team of the year despite not winning a trophy. “She is very deserving of this honor”.