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

#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.