Messi named Best FIFA Men's Player over Van Dijk, Ronaldo
Lionel Messi was crowned The Best FIFA Men's Player for the sixth time at Monday's ceremony in Milan.
The Barcelona star trumped Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo to collect the honor. Votes from fans, journalists, national team coaches, and captains determined the award's winner.
Barcelona concluded the 2018-19 season with back-to-back La Liga titles and, once again, Messi was crucial to his team's success.
After kicking off his season with a victory in the Supercopa de Espana, the newly appointed club captain went on to lead Europe's top-five leagues with 36 goals (15 more than Karim Benzema, who was the second-highest scorer in La Liga) while finishing level with Pablo Sarabia in Spain's top flight with 13 assists.
#LeoMessi has now been named FIFA Men's World Player of the Year more times than any other footballer in the award's history.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 23, 2019
✓ 2009
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✓ 2019
Let's talk about six, baby. #TheBest pic.twitter.com/AjdbbQ1HBO
He was also sensational in the Champions League, notching 12 goals and three assists despite starting only nine games before Barcelona's heart-breaking elimination to Liverpool in the semifinals.
Messi has yet to start a match for Barcelona this season due to a nagging calf injury. The club has floundered in his absence, collecting seven points from its opening five La Liga matches and drawing 0-0 at Borussia Dortmund in its Champions League opener.