Messi fires hat-trick as Barcelona thrash Granada

While it looks more and more likely that Lionel Messi will be leaving with the award, one of the key questions is whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar will finish second.

Neymar added a fourth goal seven minutes from time when Messi, who was in an offside position, let the ball run through to the Brazilian and he lifted it over Granada goalkeeper Andres Fernandez into the roof of the net.

Messi is aiming to claim a fifth Ballon d’Or when the award is handed out in Zurich on Monday evening, live on Sky Sports, but faces competition from Barca team-mate Neymar and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Ballon d’Or will be decided later today, but in the meantime the three finalists have taken part in a joint press conference ahead of the ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.

All eyes will be on the Ballon d’Or gala ceremony where the best of the best in terms of all round football perfection will be announced and Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar are set to take center stage on this illustrious award night.

How about the Women’s World Player of the Year award? I would not be surprised if one of the others wins.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Barca coach Luis Enrique described Messi as a “unique player” not just for his individual genius but for his willingness to sacrifice for the team.

“I know him well, I feel fortunate to have played with him for many years and to have seen him grow and evolve”, said the former centre-back.

Elsewhere, Sevilla maintained their outside hopes of a top-four finish thanks to Kevin Gameiro’s double in a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.

The award came into its current format when the FIFA World Player of the Year, voted for by coaches and captains of each national team, and France Football magazine’s Ballon d’Or, decided by journalists, merged in 2010. Ronaldo had 14 entering Madrid’s game.

Enrique, who is up for Coach of the Year alongside Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola and Jorge Sampaoli, the mastermind behind Chile’s Copa America triumph, said “It is the personality that a world No 1 has” and that Messi “is a unique and unrepeatable player”.

The Argentine was the star performer in Barca’s five-trophy haul in 2015, scoring 48 goals in the calendar year.