INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Barcelona star Lionel Messi has won a record sixth Ballon d'Or crown moving ahead of great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.The 32-year-old
Argentinian forward held off the challenge of Dutch centre-back Virgil Van Dijk, whose performances helped Liverpool to the Champions League
title.Messi's tally of 54 goals for club and country in the 2018-19 season also saw him handed the Best FIFA Men's award in September, while
Van Dijk won UEFA's Men's Player of the Year.Messi warned his rivals he aims to keep on breaking records and has no plans to start easing
off in his early 30s as he is "focused on the future".He said: "I'm going to enjoy this with my family
Because those times when it's possible to do it do not last long."Tomorrow we will have to focus again on other objectives
I am already focused on the future
This gives me great pride, it gives me a lot of strength to continue my work."Van Dijk could have been the first defender to lift the Ballon
d'Or since Italy's Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, but Messi's triumph meant he had to settle for second place.Image:Van Dijk, Messi and Rapinoe
all enjoyed stellar seasonsVan Dijk still finished ahead of five-time winner Ronaldo, with his Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane fourth."It was
an amazing year, but there's a couple of players like that who are a bit unnatural," said Van Dijk, of Messi and Ronaldo."So you need to
respect greatness as well."Megan Rapinoe won the Women's Ballon d'Or after leading the United States to the Women's World Cup title, scoring
six goals and laying on three assists.In a recorded message, she told the audience: "I'm so sad I can't make it tonight."It's absolutely
incredible congrats to the other nominees
I can't believe I'm the one winning in this field, it's been an incredible year."Image:Lucy Bronze came second in the Women's Ballon d'Or
England's Lucy Bronze came second as the Lyon full-back starred in the Lionesses' run to the semi-finals.Juventus defender Matthijs De Ligt
claimed the 2019 Kopa Trophy for the young player award.Alisson Becker lifted the inaugural Yachine Trophy to reward the top
goalkeeper.Ballon d'Or results:1
Lionel Messi - Barcelona2
Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool3
Cristiano Ronaldo - Juventus4
Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain7
Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich9
Bernardo Silva - Manchester City10
Riyad Mahrez - Manchester City11
Frenkie De Jong - Barcelona12
Raheem Sterling - Manchester City13
Eden Hazard - Real Madrid14
Kevin de Bruyne - Manchester City15
Matthijs de Ligt - Juventus16
Sergio Aguero - Manchester City17
Roberto Fermino - Liverpool18
Antoine Griezmann - Barcelona19
Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool20
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Arsenal - Dusan Tadic - AjaxWomen's Ballon d'Or results:1
Megan Rapinoe - Reign FC2
Alex Morgan - Orlando Pride
