5 matches that prove Lionel Messi should win the Ballon d'Or 2017

The Ballon d'Or 2017 will be awarded by "France Football" on 7 December, 2017 and is given annually to the best footballer of the year since 1956. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have maintained their duopoly on the award over the past decade having won the prestigious prize 5 and 4 times respectively and the top two names are expected to be all too familiar this year as well.

Though Ronaldo has had a better year with Real Madrid, winning La Liga as well as the Champions League, Messi has been magnificent at the individual level, dazzling everyone with his performances day in and day out. Messi has scored 52 goals and has provided 14 assists in 60 appearances this year, an outrageous return even by his lofty standards.

Messi has performed consistently well over the past 12 months, giving extraordinary performances game after game, but here we take a look at his top 5 performances this year that should help him beat Ronaldo to win his 6th Ballon d'Or title.

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#5 Barcelona vs Celta Vigo, La Liga 16/17

The little magician gave Celta a masterclass

Barcelona and Real Madrid were going toe to toe in the La Liga title race last season and Barcelona could not afford any slip up against a tricky opposition which had been a headache for them several times in the past. But Messi ensured there weren't any hiccups, producing one of the finest performances of the season.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 24th minute, controlling the ball beautifully off the chest in the middle of the park before embarking on a marvellous run and finishing a solo effort past diving Sergio Alvarez.

He then turned the provider with 2 assists as he split Celta Vigo's defence with a wonderful ball for Neymar and an inch perfect ball for Samuel Umtiti either side of Rakitic's goal. He finished off the night scoring Barcelona's fifth and his second with a superb run before cutting past two defenders and placing the ball in the bottom right.

Lionel Messi was heavily involved throughout the game and had 4 key passes, completed 5 dribbles, had an 80% pass accuracy and 79 touches to go with his 2 goals and 2 assists in a majestic display helping Barcelona maintain pressure on their fierce rivals.

#4 Barcelona vs Juventus, UCL 17/18, Group Stage

Messi produced a scintillating performance against Juventus

This was the time for vengeance with Juventus returning to Barcelona having defeated them over the quarter-final stage of the same competition last season. With the departure of Neymar, Barcelona were considered to have weakened over the summer but Messi made sure that Barcelona get some revenge over the Old Lady.

The 5 time Ballon d'Or winner opened the scoring for Barcelona just at the stroke of half time, finding himself in a bit of space on the edge of the box and put the ball into the bottom corner going past Buffon for the first time in his career.

He then made one for Ivan Rakitic before scoring another one himself in the 68th minute of the game, cutting past Sturaro and Benatia and driving the ball into the bottom right corner for his second and Barca's third.

Lionel Messi had 83 touches of the ball, completed 5 dribbles, played 2 long balls, 1 key pass in a game where he was simply outstanding. This game set Barcelona on the right path for the season after losing Neymar over the summer and also ensured some payback for Juventus.

#3 Barcelona vs Alaves, Copa Del Rey 16/17, Final

Messi helped Barcelona to Copa Del Rey title

Barcelona faced high flying Alaves in the Copa Del Rey Final last season and it was the only piece of silverware they could manage to get their hands on. This was the last game in charge for Luis Enrique and they gave a perfect send off to the manager largely because of their talisman, Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi helped Barcelona draw first blood, with a beautifully curled goal past Pacheco and then just at the stroke of half time, with the score 2-1 in favour of Barcelona, after Theo Hernandez had equalized for Alaves with a spectacular free kick and Neymar tapped in to restore Barca's lead, Lionel Messi took the ball on the right and went on an amazing dribbling run, cutting past 4 defenders before laying it off for Paco Alcacer to finish and put the game to bed.

This was another sensational performance from Messi who was again instrumental for Barcelona and was the joint highest goalscorer in the Copa Del Rey campaign with 5 strikes to his name. He helped Barcelona to their third successive Copa title and added an astonishing 30th trophy to his glittering cabinet.

#2 Real Madrid vs Barcelona, La Liga 16/17

Messi silenced his critics as well as the Bernabau

The biggest rivalry in club football, the "El Clasico", when the two powerhouses of Spain and Europe face each other, is already a massive game in itself but this was an all important game for Barcelona last season after they were already eliminated from the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage and trailing Madrid by 3 points in La liga. A defeat would have dashed any hopes of retaining La Liga and only a victory was acceptable.

Casemiro opened the scoring for Real Madrid following a corner, but Lionel Messi seemed motivated and soon went past Modric and Carvajal before putting it beyond the reach of Keylor Navas to put Barcelona level and end his 6 match El Clasico goal drought in some style.

He was later down bleeding and received treatment, but that didn't deter him and with the game locked at 2-2, after Rakitic and James Rodriguez had scored for either side, Messi came up with a moment of brilliance in the dying moments of the game scoring an absolute peach of a goal.

Lionel Messi was simply phenomenal in the game where he completed an astounding 7 dribbles and was fouled 6 times. He was way better than his contemporary in the game and helped Barcelona remain in the Liga title race.

#1 Ecuador vs Argentina, World Cup Qualifier 2018

Messi helped Argentina secure World Cup qualification

Argentina were on the cusp of humiliation with the World Cup qualification looking highly uncertain. They were at 6th position in the CONMEBOL world cup qualifying campaign before the final round of matches and with only four automatic slots available, the chances looked extremely bleak. Argentina travelled to Ecuador for the final match with their qualification hopes also dependent on favourable results elsewhere.

After Renato Ibarra put Ecuador ahead within the first minute of the game, the Argentine supporters' worst nightmares seemed to come true. But one man had other plans, who carried the weight of the whole nation on his shoulders.

It was a virtuoso display from the Argentine skipper who put Argentina level in the 12th minute of the game finishing off a move he started. He then put Argentina ahead with a thunderous strike into the top left corner in the 20th minute of the game and later with the clock going past the hour mark, put the game to bed with a brilliant chip past the keeper.

Argentina won 3-1 thanks to a hattrick from their star forward and the result helped them secure an automatic qualification for the World Cup Finals in Russia next year. Lionel Messi produced one of his finest performances in an international jersey and stood up when his nation needed him the most.