BY MONICA IHEAKAM
Argentine and Barcelona striker, Lionel Messi yesterday evening won the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or for a record fifth time.
Messi upstaged his perennial rival Cristiano Ronaldo, his Barca teammate Neymar at the show held at Zurich’s Kongresshaus.
The 28 year old also broke the record for the most hat-tricks in Spanish football history and most La Liga assists during 2015, finishing the year by scoring in the FIFA Club World Cup final and then on his 500th appearance for the club.
Messi had previously won the Ballon d’or four years ago in a row between 2009-2012, but missed out to Ronaldo in 2013 and 2014.
Meanwhile US midfielder, Carli Lloyd has claimed her first ever FIFA Women’s World Player of the year award.
Lloyd scored 10 international gaols during the calendar year as she earned the Golden Ball at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada and finished second to rival Celia Sasic to the Golden Boot.
FC Barcelona coach Luis Enrique Martinez and US national team coach, Jill Ellis were named as FIFA World Coaches of the year for men’s and women’s football respectively.
The winners were chosen by the coaches and captains of the national teams as well as by international media representatives invited by FIFA and France Football. The entire electoral procedure was overseen and monitored by PricewaterhouseCoopers Switzerland (PwC).
This year’s FIFA Fair Play Award was presented to all the football organisations and clubs around the world that are working to support refugees. Former German international Gerald Asamoah, who campaigns for the welfare of refugees, received the award from former South African icon Lucas Radebe on behalf of all the awardees. This year, the world has witnessed a refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe because of conflict in Syria. Many innocent people have fled their homes in desperate conditions to find safety for themselves and their loved ones. Society has responded and the world of football has also contributed to the cause. Clubs and football organisations all over the world have acted to help welcome and support refugees as they integrate into local communities.
Award winners
FIFA Ballon d’Or: Lionel Messi (ARG, Barcelona)
FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year: Carli Lloyd (USA, Houston Dash)
FIFA World Coach of the Year (Men’s): Luis Enrique (ESP, Barcelona)
FIFA World Coach of the Year (Women’s): Jill Ellis (ENG, United States)
FIFA Puskás Award: Wendell Lira (BRA, Goianésia v Atlético-GO)
FIFA FIFPro World XI: Neuer; Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves; Iniesta, Modrić, Pogba; Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo.
… To miss Rio Olympics
Argentina star Lionel Messi will not play at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, national team head coach Gerardo Martino has confirmed.
Barcelona forward Messi, who yesterday won a fifth Ballon d’Or crown will focus on the Copa America in June before getting a break ahead of the 2016-17 season, rather than turn out in Brazil at the Games which take place in August.
Messi was part of the Argentina team that won a gold medal in Beijing in 2008, but Martino does not feel it would be wise to select him as one of the country’s three over-23 players later this year.
“Exposing Leo by using him in another competition after all the football he has played would be overkill, in my opinion,” the former Barcelona boss told Clarin.
“It would come back to haunt us in terms of what we have in store in the second half of the year.
“Common sense dictates that he and other players in his position should only feature in the Copa America.
“Considering the amount of football in their legs, because many of our most important players reach the latter stages of international competitions having played a lot of games, I think it is only logical to take the weight of having to play in both the Copa America and the Olympics off their shoulders.