Ballon d'Or 2019: Ranking the top 5 favorites - September 2019

#2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)

Messi was named the best forward in the Champions League

Lionel Messi made history when he became the first player to win this award in four consecutive years between 2009 and 2012, but since then, he has gotten his hands on the famous prize just once - in 2015 as his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo dominated in the last few years.

Indeed, last year saw Messi miss out on the podium for the first time in a decade, as he paid the price for Barcelona's Champions League struggles and his own personal no-show at the 2018 World Cup and in seeming retribution for the slight, Lionel Messi was totally unplayable on occasion last season, as though trying to remind everyone of just how great he is.

On an individual level, the Argentine international had one of his best campaigns in recent years, scoring a whopping 51 goals and had 22 assists from just 50 matches in all competitions and won the Golden Boot in LaLiga, Europe and the Champions League.

The gloss was rubbed off his personal accomplishments somewhat, as he could not help Barcelona to the Champions League, while he also disappointed yet again on the international scene with Argentina at the 2019 Copa America.

For his efforts last season, Messi was voted as the best forward in the Champions League, and though a calf injury has sidelined him since the start of the season, the Rosario native would seek to bounce back and help Barcelona arrest their LaLiga rot.