Messi wins Ballon d’Or for fifth time

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi on Monday won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player for the fifth time.

The Argentina worldwide had to settle for second spot in the vote for the FIFA Ballon d’Or a year ago behind Cristiano Ronaldo and was heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona after allegedly falling out with Luis Enrique.

Messi, who had already won the biggest individual accolade in world football on more occasions than anyone else, claimed it for the first time in three years after being part of a Barca side that secured five titles in 2015.

“It is incredible that it s my fifth”.

European champions FC Barcelona’s star forward Lionel Messi said on Wednesday he would like to someday return to his native Argentina and play club football there. I want to finish my career at home and my home is Barcelona.

“I’m a big enemy of the Ballon d’Or”. You know as well as I do that it’s certainly Messi who will win it. I think so. “People have always supported me and I thank them”. Jill Ellis won this prize after leading the U.S. women’s national team to glory at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada.

Barca and Real dominated the team of the year as well with four players each, including Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo.

Past recipients have included Pele, former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, the Haiti national team, Queen Rania of Jordan and South African anti-apartheid activist and veteran cleric, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Ronaldo said the players did not want to discuss FIFA’s problems. “These things happen not just in football but in life, and the best thing would be no corruption anywhere”.

While Portugal hitman Ronaldo scored more goals than Messi during 2015, netting 54 for Madrid, it was not enough for his side to win any silverware.