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Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was awarded the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award. Messi, 28, has won this award five times; he was previously honored in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. He has ended the two-year winning streak by Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. For nine straight years, he has finished in the top three of the voting and took first or second place in eight of those years. This year, Messi claimed 41.33% of the votes, Ronaldo got 27.76% and Barca’s Neymar came in third at 7.86%.
A record and a special moment
Messi was grateful to be honored, especially since he is still so young and in his prime. He is the only football player who’s won this award five times.
“It’s a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage, winning again another Ballon d’Or after seeing Cristiano win it,” he said. “It’s incredible that it’s my fifth. Much more than anything I would have dreamed of as a kid.”
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How votes are calculated
The voters are comprised of journalists, national team coaches and captains. Together, they nominate their top three players in each category, with five, three and one points given to each place respectively. The winner is the person with the most points. In the event of a tie, the prize goes to the player or coach with the most first places.
His numbers were quite impressive
This year Messi led Barcelona to La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League title as well as the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. He also took the Argentina to the Copa America final. In 61 games played, he scored 52 goals and made 26 assists; a goal every 101 minutes and an assist every 202 minutes. He was directly involved in 49 goals in La Liga – scoring 34 and assisting in 15. And he scored in all six club tournaments in 2015, as Barcelona won five of them.
The competition was fierce
Ronaldo, 30, scored 57 goals in as many games in 2015 – including a record 16 in the Champions League. Neymar, 23, was the first Brazilian to finish in the top three since 2007. He scored 45 goals in 62 games and is a joint top scorer in this season’s La Liga with 15, on par with team-mate Luis Suarez. But despite their amazing accomplishments, Messi beat them out.
The other winners
United States midfielder Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final against Japan, took home the women’s award. Former Germany striker Celia Sasic finished second and Japan midfielder Aya Miyama was third. Barcelona coach Luis Enrique won the world coach of the year award. United States coach Jill Ellis was awarded women’s football world coach of the year for leading her country to victory in the World Cup. Atletico Goianiense’s Wendell Lira won the goal of the year award for his overhead kick in Brazil’s Goiania state league game.
