LIONEL MESSI has reportedly already been told he has won a record sixth Ballon d’Or award.
And it is being claimed that a delegation from the organisers, France Football magazine, have already travelled to Barcelona to tell him.
It is being reported in Spain that Lionel Messi has already been told he has won the Ballon d’Or
Even though the ceremony isn’t until December 2, Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claims that the 32-year-old has beaten off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk.
It means the Argentinian will win the prestigious award for the first time since 2015.
The attacker won his 10th La Liga title for Barcelona, scoring 36 goals and bagging 13 assists along the way.
Messi faced tough competition, not only from Ronaldo but van Dijk who has had an outstanding year with Liverpool.
VAN DIJK WAS ‘BEST PLAYER’
Van Dijk’s boss Jurgen Klopp believes the defender was an obvious choice.
He said: “If you give the Ballon d’Or to the best player of his generation, you give it always to Lionel Messi, that’s how it is.
“If you give it to the best player of last season then it was Virgil van Dijk.
“I don’t know exactly how it will work but that’s how I see it.
“If it’s for the best player, the best player at all, and of all, then it’s Lionel, (but if it is for) best player of last season, (then it’s) Virgil. We will see.”
But seemingly the decision has already been made, and it is Messi who will get his hands on the silverware yet again.
Real Madrid’s Luka Modric is the current holder of the trophy after back-to-back victories for Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi looks all set to win a historic sixth Ballon d’OrCredit: AFP
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
