Lionel Messi added yet another another award to his already overflowing trophy cabinet after sealing a record sixth Ballon d'Or crown. The Barcelona star moved ahead of great rival Cristiano Ronaldo – who finished third – to take outright ownership of the record, while Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk was second. The Argentinian struck 54 goals for club and country in the 2018-19 season. The 32-year-old held off the challenge of Netherlands centre-back Van Dijk, whose performances helped Liverpool to the Champions League title. He was one of four Liverpool players in the top seven along with Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker. The Dutchman finished ahead of five-time winner Ronaldo, with Mane fourth. Messi's latest win means the Ballon d'Or award has been won by a player from La Liga in each of the last 11 years, including last year's winner Luka Modric, who broke the 10-year Messi-Ronaldo monopoly on the prize. Juventus attacker Ronaldo was at the Gran Gala del Calcio in Milan to collect his prize for being named Serie A's best player, instead of attending the Ballon d’Or event in Paris.
