Messi wins Ballon d’Or for the fifth time

Lionel Messi has won the FIFA world player of the year award for a record fifth time.

Messi ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-year hold on the Ballon d’Or trophy, soccer’s top individual honor.

Messi and Neymar, alongside Luis Suarez, spearheaded a record-breaking front three to fire Barcelona to five trophies in 2015, including a memorable treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League last season.

The trio scored 122 goals for Barca in the 2014-15 campaign, with Messi providing 58 of those, including a memorable solo effort in the Copa del Rey final that made it into the top three for the 2015 Puskas Award.

The 28-year-old also broke the record for the most hat-tricks in Spanish football history and most La Liga assists during 2015, finishing the year by scoring in the FIFA Club World Cup final and then again on his 500th appearance for the club.

Messi had previously won the Ballon d’Or four years in a row between 2009-12, but missed out to Ronaldo in 2013 and 2014.

American Carli Lloyd won the FIFA women’s world player of the year award.

The 33-year-old scored a hat-trick in the USA’s 5-2 win over Japan to win the World Cup last year, having also scored the winning goals for her country in the Olympic Games finals of 2008 and 2012.

Voting was by national team captains and coaches, plus invited journalists, from FIFA member countries.

Barcelona swept the main honors as Luis Enrique was named best coach for guiding the winner of Spain’s La Liga, Champions League and Club World Cup.

WINNERS

FIFA World Coach of the Year (Men’s): Luis Enrique

FIFA World Coach of the Year (Women’s): Jill Ellis

FIFA FIFPro World XI: Neuer; Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves; Iniesta, Modric, Pogba; Messi, Neymar, Cristiano

FIFA Fair Play Award: All football organisations supporting refugees

FIFA Ballon d’Or: Lionel Messi

FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: Aya Miyama

FIFA Puskás Award: Lionel Messi

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