Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi was crowned as the best footballer in the world as he won the 2015 Ballon d’Or at the FIFA gala in Switzerland on Monday. The Argentine magician won the prestigious award for a record fifth time as he beat last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo and teammate Neymar in a landslide victory.
Messi’s coronation was in little doubt owing to the overwhelming success he enjoyed in the past year which saw Barcelona win five of the six available trophies along with the coveted treble.
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Speaking at the gala after he was named as the winner, Messi called the award a ‘special moment’.
“It’s a very special moment to be back here, winning another Ballon d’Or,” he said.
“Especially after watching from the crowd as Cristiano won last year. It’s incredible to win a fifth... more than anything I ever dreamed of as a kid.”
Tributes and congratulatory messages for the Barca genius poured in from around the world as teammate and fellow Ballon d’Or nominee Neymar led the way.
The Brazilian forward called Messi his ‘idol’ and said it has been an ‘honour’ to play alongside the Argentine at Barcelona.
Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu was not too far behind as he commended his club’s most prized asset.
Former Dutch and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert called Messi the ‘best football player’ ever and also named his former club the ‘best team’ in the world.
Brazilian legend Pele, considered my many as one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game, wished Messi on his unprecedented fifth Ballon d’Or crown.
Manchester United captain and known Messi admirer, Wayne Rooney called Messi’s triumph an ‘unbelievable achievement’.
Former England and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker joined the chorus in naming Messi as the ‘greatest footballer’ ever to play the game as Newcastle United and England legend Alan Shearer called Messi’s coronation ‘thoroughly deserved’.
Meanwhile, former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Portugal star and a Ballon d’Or award winner himself Luis Figo congratulated the Argentine and called his latest achievement ‘amazing’.
Chelsea captain John Terry called Messi the ‘best ever’ as former Chelsea teammate and record goalscorer Frank Lampard chose the Barca talisman as his ‘undisputed’ choice for ‘best footballer ever’.
A few more messages from the world of football:
