Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi poses with the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award. AFPZurich: Lionel Messi reclaimed the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for the world player of the year on Monday, after watching his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo walk off with the prize for the previous two years.
The Barcelona and Argentina star finished ahead of Ronaldo and Neymar as he scooped the award for the fifth time overall, having previously won it four years in a row from 2009 to 2012.
Messi helped Barcelona win the treble (Spanish league, King's Cup and Champions League) plus the Club World Cup and also led Argentina to the Copa America final, where they lost to Chile.
“It’s a very special moment to be back here, winning another Ballon d’Or," said Messi as he received the award.
“It’s incredible to win a fifth... more than anything I ever dreamed of as a kid.
SLIDE SHOW
-
Ballon d'Or 2015
2015 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award recipient Carli Lloyd and 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award recipient Lionel Messi pose with their trophies. AFP
![Ballon d'Or 2015]()
-
Ballon d'Or 2015
Lionel Messi shakes hands with FIFA interim president Issa Hayatou after receiving the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or award as 2007 winner Kaka looks on. AP
![Ballon d'Or 2015]()
-
Ballon d'Or 2015
Northern Irish actor and host James Nesbitt (L) takes a selfie with Ballon d'Or nominees Carli Lloyd, Cristiano Ronaldo, Celia Sasic, Neymar, Aya Miyama, Lionel Messi and British presenter and host Kate Abdo. AFP
![Ballon d'Or 2015]()
-
Ballon d'Or 2015
Vila Nova's Brazilian forward Wendell Lira poses after with the 2015 FIFA Puskas Award for the “goal of the year”, which he scored with former club Goianesia. AFP
![Ballon d'Or 2015]()
-
Ballon d'Or 2015
Winners of the FIFPro World XI 2015 (L-R back row) Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves and Andres Iniesta, ( L-R front row) Luka Modric, Paul Pogba, Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo pose with their trophies. Reuters
![Ballon d'Or 2015]()
-
Ballon d'Or 2015
FC Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi signs autographs on the red carpet as he arrives for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony in Zurich. AFP
![Ballon d'Or 2015]()
-
Ballon d'Or 2015
FC Barcelona and Brazil forward Neymar signs autographs on the red carpet as he arrives for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony in Zurich. AFP
![Ballon d'Or 2015]()
-
Ballon d'Or 2015
Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo signs autographs on the red carpet as he arrives for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony in Zurich. AP
![Ballon d'Or 2015]()
"I want to thank my team mates, without them none of this would have been possible.”
Barcelona's Luis Enrique was voted coach of the year.
United States World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the final against Japan, was named women's player of the year.
Ronaldo ended last season trophyless with Real Madrid although he helped Portugal qualify for Euro 2016.
Neymar won a treble alongside Messi at Barcelona but had less happy time with Brazil, receiving a four-match international ban after he was sent off during the Copa America.
Wendell Lira of Vila Nova won the FIFA Puskas Award for best goal.
The ceremony, at the Zurich Kongresshaus theatre, was held against the backdrop of FIFA going through the worst corruption crisis since it was founded in 1904.
The sport is facing criminal investigations in both Switzerland and the United States, where some leading FIFA officials are among 41 individuals and sports entities who have been indicted on corruption charges.
Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter, normally a central figure at the ceremony, was not involved after being banned for eight years by the Ethics Committee in December.
There was no President's Award, traditionally awarded for outstanding services to the game.
Blatter was replaced by acting president Issa Hayatou who played a low-key role, reading a brief speech before the start of the ceremony and appeared on the stage when the awards for best player and women's player were presented.
(with agency inputs)
Disclaimer
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Manorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.