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#1 European failure
We have all seen some sensational comebacks in the UEFA Champions League campaign this season. Arguably, the most shocking of them will be Barcelona's 4-0 defeat against Liverpool in the semi-final return leg which helped the Reds qualify for the finals of the competition. It is second year in a row where the Catalan giants have failed to keep a three goal lead in the Champions League knockout stages.
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Barcelona led by Messi is still on course for a domestic double after having already secured the league title. But we have seen in the past few years that domestic success is not enough for players to win the Ballon d'Or. On the other hand, the success in the Champions League is absolutely necessary.
It goes without saying that the Champions League plays a major role in deciding the Ballon d'Or winner. In fact, the winners of the award in the last five years had won the Champions League with their respective clubs. Another catastrophic failure at the Champions League this campaign will obviously had an effect and hinder Messi's chances of lifting the 6th Ballon d'Or.
