Ballon d’Or

LIONEL MESSI came close to joining Arsenal alongside Cesc Fabregas 17 years ago, according to the Barcelona icon’s former agent.
Fabiano Soldini revealed Arsene Wenger had identified the Nou Camp skipper as a potential signing during his academy days. 

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Lionel Messi is believed to have been an Arsenal target during his time at Barcelona’s La Masia

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Cesc Fabregas went on to win an FA Cup with Wenger’s Arsenal in 2005 before becoming the club’s skipper

And alongside Fabregas and Gerard Pique, Messi 33, was one of three possible Wenger targets during his stint in Barca’s famed La Masia. 
And while the former Emirates boss, 70, succeeded in bringing Fabregas to North London, the Argentina playmaker chose to stay at the Nou Camp while Pique, 33, went to Manchester United. 
Soldini told Marca: “[Messi] was tempted to go to Arsenal, but he didn’t go. 
“I remember the day that Cesc asked to leave [Barcelona]. 
“Messi was also asked to go, but he didn’t want to leave.” 
Whilst Fabregas, 33, went on to become Arsenal captain under Wenger, Messi evolved into one of the world’s greatest ever players accumulating a glittering array of silverware.   

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The six-time Ballon d’Or winner won eight LaLiga titles with Barcelona and four Champions League trophies within an eight-year period. 

Wenger’s Arsenal side lost six Champions League clashes to Barcelona including the 2006 final of the competition.

We were interested in him, but he was untouchable at the time
Arsene Wenger

And the Frenchman admitted Messi was an “untouchable” target at the time of the Gunners’ interest. 
The former Emirates chief told BeIN Sports: “We were in discussions with [Messi] when we bought Fabregas, because Messi played [with him].
“You can realise sometimes what fantastic youth teams you had before when you’re a club like Barcelona.

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Barcelona skipper Messi has won eight LaLiga titles with the club Credit: Getty Images – Getty

“In the same team, Messi, [Gerard] Pique and Fabregas.
“Pique and Fabregas came to England [with Manchester United and Arsenal respectively], Messi stayed in Spain.
“We were interested in him, but he was untouchable at the time.”

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BAYERN MUNCH striker Robert Lewandowski is in no doubt he deserves the prestigious Ballon d’Or this season.
The Polish star enjoyed a stunning campaign on a personal level, scoring 59 goals in just 53 games in all competitions for club and country.

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Robert Lewandowski is adamant he would have won the Ballon d’OrCredit: Reuters
He won three trophies with Bayern, culminating with the Champions League piece after beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the final.
But the 32-year-old did suffer one blow this season – when media organisation France Football scrapped the prestigious Ballon d’Or presentation.
The decision was taken after coronavirus impacted football all across Europe.
Lewandowski was hot favourite to pip perennial winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the award.

Now, speaking to Polish news-site Sportowe Fakty, Lewandowski was sure who would win.
“Myself”, he answered, when asked the question.
“We won everything we could with Bayern. In every competition: Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League, I was the top scorer.”
Then hinting that Messi and Ronaldo might be some people’s selections, he added: “I understand that the pressure of other parties on another player may be greater.”

In comparison Messi netted 31 goals in 44 games for Barcelona and Argentina, before slapping in a shock transfer request with the Spanish giants.
Over in Italy, Ronaldo scored 48 goals in 52 games for Juventus and Portugal.
It would have been the first time Lewandowski would have collected the award.
It is the first time there has been no winner since the prize was inaugurated in 1956.
Messi won for a record sixth time in 2019 although his duopoly with five-time winner Ronaldo, with 11 of the last 12 victories between them, could have been broken this time round.

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LIONEL MESSI has been robbed of his seventh Ballon d’Or, according to the stats.
The world-famous award ceremony was cancelled for the first time in its 64-year history after coronavirus swallowed a huge chunk of the 2019-20 season.

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The top ten players in Europe’s Big Five leagues in 2019-20
And that’s bad news for Messi who was on course to pull further away from Cristiano Ronaldo with accolade No7.
According to match ratings from WhoScored, Messi was the top-performing player in all of Europe’s Big Five leagues by some margin.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, didn’t even crack the top three.
Check out the top ten would-be contenders for the 2020 Ballon d’Or…

1. LIONEL MESSI – 8.71

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Lionel Messi was on course for his seventh Ballon d’Or say the statsCredit: EPA
THE Argentine wizard lead’s LaLiga in goals scored and assists this season.
On top of that, he broke Xavi’s single-season assist record and became the first player in league history to score 20 goals and lay on 20 assists in one campaign.
So there’s little wonder Messi was the runaway leader in the race for the Ballon d’Or this season…
2. KYLIAN MBAPPE – 8.14

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Kylian Mbappe was in thr unning for the Ballon d’Or before it was cancelledCredit: AP:Associated Press
IN a shortened Ligue 1 season, Mbappe was once again the standout star.

The 2018 World Cup winner had a hand in 25 goals in just 20 league games this term.
A big-money move to Real Madrid was on the cards before coronavirus hit football clubs hard, financially.
3. ROBERT LEWANDOWKSI – 8.13

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Robert Lewandowski was amongst the favourites to win the 2020 Ballon d’OrCredit: EPA
THE bookies’ favourite for the award as recently as last week, Lewandowski had a season to remember.
He won yet another Bundesliga title while scoring 34 times in just 31 matches.
Lewandowski has never won the Ballon d’Or and, unfortunately for him, may never have a better chance.
4. CRISTIANO RONALDO – 7.91

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Cristiano Ronaldo ranks only fourth in the best ratings listCredit: Alamy Live News
HAVING won it five times already, Ronaldo was itching to make it No6 to draw level with Messi once again.
But according to the ratings, he’s good only for fourth, despite scoring 30 times in 30 Serie A games en route to helping Juventus win the title.
This season, Ronaldo also became the first player to score 30 goals in a single season in THREE of the Big Five leagues – after also doing so at Man Utd (Premier League) and Real Madrid (LaLiga).
5. KEVIN DE BRUYNE – 7.88

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De Bruyne completes the top five best players in Europe this seasonCredit: Tom Jenkins
DESPITE Manchester City’s failure to put up a fight in the Premier League, De Bruyne has been exceptional as ever.
The Belgian ace is on track to break the Premier League assists record, just one away from Thierry Henry’s tally of 20.
De Bruyne still has a job to do though, with the second-leg of his side’s Champions League last-16 clash with real Madrid on the horizon.

6. ANGEL DI MARIA – 7.75

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Angel Di Maria continues to play at a high level for PSGCredit: AFP or licensors
WITH 14 assists this term, the former Manchester United flop is proving he’s still got what it takes to play at an elite level.
With an average rating of 7.75 per game it wouldn’t have been out of place for the PSG star to have been in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or.

7. DIMITRI PAYET – 7.73

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Dimitri Payet has enjoyed a fine season at MarseilleCredit: AP:Associated Press
Now aged 33, Payet is still lighting up European football with a string of scintillating performances.
The French former West Ham ace scored nine times and added four assists in just 22 Ligue 1 games this season.
8. JOSIP ILICIC – 7.65

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Ilicic has been in electric form for high-flying AtalantaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
WITH 15 goals and eight assists in just 26 games, the No10 has been on fire this season.
Ilicic has been a huge factor in Atalanta’s meteoric rise in the past few years – with the Italians still in the running for the Champions League.
9. JADON SANCHO – 7.64

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Jadon Sancho is one of Europe’s most sought-after starsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
WITH 17 goals and 16 assists in the Bundesliga this season, there’s little wonder why so many clubs are chasing the England satr.
With an average match rating of 7.64 this season, he’ll surely be in the running for the Ballon d’Or one day.
10. TIMO WERNER – 7.6

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Timo Werner joins Chelsea on the back of a superb season in the BundesligaCredit: EPA
THE German is on his way to Chelsea this summer – nad it’s easy to see why the Blues wanted him.
Werner scored 28 goals and added eight assists in 34 matches in 2019-20, earning the tenth-highest average rating.

TOP 20 PLAYERS IN EUROPE: 11-20

11. Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta) – 7.58
12. Luis Alberto (Lazio) – 7.56
13. Adama Traore (Wolves) – 7.53
14. Duvan Zapata (Atalanta) – 7.52
15. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) – 7.52
16. Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) – 7.5
17. Ricardo Pereira (Leicester) – 7.5
18. Riyad Mahrez (Man City) – 7.5
19. Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich) – 7.49
20. Paulo Dybala (Juventus) – 7.48

Ballon d’Or 2020 AXED for first time in 64 years due to coronavirus in blow to favourite Robert Lewandowski More

THIS year’s Ballon d’Or has been SCRAPPED after coronavirus impacted the season.
The shock announcement has come from media organisation France Football, who present awards to the best footballers in the men’s and women’s game.

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Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, left, was the favourite for this year’s top prizeCredit: Getty – Pool
The announcement will come as a bitter blow to Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who was the odds-on favourite to win it.
It would have been the first time the 31-year-old Polish striker would have collected the award.
He has scored an impressive 51 goals in just 49 games for Bundesliga champs Bayern in all competitions.
Unsurprisingly, Lewandowski being denied the chance of glory was the talk of social media.

Ballon d’Or being cancelled makes no sense to me as the leagues and UCL will all be played. Harsh on Ronaldo who is now 35, harsh on Lewandowski who has broken a lot of records & other players who had the chance with the Champions League being so open this year.
— TC. (@totalcristiano) July 20, 2020

No Ballon d’or winner this years cos of Corona? So Lionel Messi will continue to be the best player until 2021Lewandowski must be in tears right now 😭
— Kelewele Joint 🍟 (@Ankamagyimi) July 20, 2020

Messi will still be the Best Player in the world till Late 2021They hate to see it. Sorry to Lewandowski tho😂
— Kay 💧 (@Kaypoisson1) July 20, 2020

Many posted on Twitter how the decision was “harsh on Lewandowski” with others saying he has “been robbed”.
Another football fan posted that the striker “will be in tears right now”.
It will also be the first time there has been no winner since the prize was inaugurated in 1956.
Lionel Messi won for a record sixth time in 2019 although his duopoly with five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, with 11 of the last 12 victories between them, could have been broken this time round.

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Lionel Messi will hang on to the award for an extra yearCredit: AFP or licensors
But Pascal Farre, editor in chief of France Football magazine which founded the award 64 years ago, has confirmed the worldwide impact of the Covid-19 crisis has forced the surprise decision.
Farre said: “There will be no edition in 2020 because it turns out, after thoughtful consideration, that all of the conditions are not met.
“We believe that such a singular year cannot – and should not – be treated as an ordinary one.”
The decisions by the French government and Ligue 1 chiefs to end the season in March appears to have been the prime driver for a decision that means Liverpool stars Virgil Van Dijk and Mo Salah miss out on the chance to lift the trophy.
Farre insisted the decision was “responsible” and served to protect the “credibility and legitimacy” of the award.
He added: “Two months (January and February) out of the 11 generally required to form an opinion and decide who should lift the trophies represent far too little to guage and judge.
“The other games were played – or will be played – in unordinary conditions, behind closed doors, with five replacements, the Champions League Final Eight played as single games.

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This was how the odds WERE stacking up – before the Ballon d’Or was scrapped for this season
“Finally, all the award seekers will not be in the same boat and some have seen the season cut short.
“Therefore, how can we establish a fair comparison?
“To avoid overly convoluted calculations and projections, we chose the least bad of the options.”

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ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI is the 3/1 favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.
Record six-time winner Lionel Messi is second on the list at 4/1 – despite Barcelona’s struggles this season.

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No one in Europe has been hotter in front of goal than Bayern striker Lewandowski this seasonCredit: EPA
The first Premier League player to feature is Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne.
The Belgian midfielder is 9/2 while Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won football’s top individual honour five times, is fourth on 5/1.
Striker Lewandowski, 31, scored an amazing 34 goals in 31 league appearances for Bundesliga champions Bayern this season.
He also registered four assists – but it is in the Champions League where he has really set himself apart.

The Poland forward – tipped by Robin Van Persie to win the award – has 11 goals in Europe.
Either Messi or Ronaldo has been top scorer in the UCL for the past 12 seasons.

But they trail Lewandowski by miles, having scored just two each this campaign.
Lewandowski is also best placed to finish top scorer in Europe’s big five leagues this season.

His 34 in Bundesliga is currently five clear of Lazio’s Ciro Immobile.
New Chelsea signing Timo Werner and Ronaldo are both next on 28.
It is a huge break in the betting until the next stars.
Despite helping Liverpool end their 30-year wait to win the league, Sadio Mane is as big as 12/1 to win the Ballon d’Or.
Anfield team-mates Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk are 16/1 – the same as Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling.
Paris Saint-Germain duo Kylian Mbappe and Neymar – who helped the Parc des Princes side to a seventh league title in eight years – are 20/1 and 25/1 respectively.
Below them, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes is 33/1, the same as Dortmund goal machine Erling Haaland.
England team-mates Jadon Sancho and Harry Kane are both 50/1.

There is no room for Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the list of top contenders, despite his battle with Leicester’s Jamie Vardy for the Premier League Golden Boot.
Messi and Ronaldo have totally dominated the Ballon d’Or in recent years.
It was won by one of the pair every year from 2008 until 2018, when Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric was voted winner.

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