PARIS: After becoming the first six-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, Lionel Messi said he’s far from finished.

“I hope to continue for a long time,” Messi said on Monday in Paris from behind a row of the trophies which honour the world’s best footballer.

“I realise that I am very lucky, I am blessed, even if, one day, retirement will come. I am aware of the age I have and these moments are all the more enjoyable because the moment when I have to retire is getting closer and that is difficult.

“All going well I’ll have several years left but at the moment time seems to be flying and everything is happening very quickly so I hope to keep enjoying my football, my family, facing my rivals and all of this life that I have.”

While the 32-year-old Messi won his sixth Ballon d’Or, United States captain Megan Rapinoe won her first.

“I can’t believe I’m the one winning in this field, it’s been an incredible year,” Rapinoe said in a recorded video message during the ceremony at the lavish Theatre du Chatelet.

Messi has received the Ballon d’Or previously in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was second in the polling this year, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo, who shared the record of five Ballon d’Ors with Messi until Monday. It is the first time since 2010 that Ronaldo has failed to rank in the top two.

Messi’s and Ronaldo’s

10-year grip on the award organised by France Football magazine was ended last year by Luka Modric.

But Messi was back on top of his game over the past 12 months. He scored 36 times last season en route to a 10th La Liga title. His goals in La Liga also made him the top scorer in Europe’s biggest leagues, earning him the Golden Shoe award.

He did not enjoy a successful Copa America with Argentina but was also the top scorer in last season’s Champions League with 12 goals.

As if any reminder of his brilliance were required, on Sunday he scored a wonderful late winner for Barcelona against Atletico Madrid.

“A few years ago, I received my first Ballon d’Or here in Paris and I remember coming here with my three brothers,” Messi said on stage after receiving the award from last year’s winner Modric. “I was 22 years old. It was something unthinkable at the time. Today is my sixth Ballon d’Or. As my wife used to say, you should never stop dreaming but always work to improve and continue to enjoy yourself.”

The Argentine has not showed any sign of slowing down since the start of the new European season, marking his 700th game for Barcelona last week with a goal and two assists in beating Borussia Dortmund 3-1. So far this year, Messi has 41 goals in 44 games.

Messi also won his sixth FIFA award in September, edging Van Dijk, who missed the chance to become the first defender to top the France Football poll since Italy’s World Cup-winning captain, Fabio Cannavaro, in 2006.

Van Dijk clinched the 2019 Champions League crown with the Reds after obliterating Messi’s Barcelona in the semi-finals.

“It’s been an amazing year,” said Van Dijk. “There are a couple of players like him [Messi] who are fantastic. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved with Liverpool and Holland. It’s going to be tough [to win the award] when these guys are around.”

Van Dijk was one of four Liverpool players in the top 10, with Senegal’s Sadio Mane fourth, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah fifth and goalkeeper Alisson Becker of Brazil seventh.

RAPINOE TAKES WOMEN’S PRIZE

Rapinoe won the women’s Ballon dOr for leading the United States to a record-extending fourth World Cup title in France this year as they retained the trophy.

The midfielder, the standout player at the June-July tournament, scored six goals in the championship, earning her the Golden Boot as the top scorer and the Golden Ball as the top player.

She scored the opening goal as the USA beat the Netherlands 2-0 in the final. But the 34-year-old feminist icon made headlines with her outspoken criticism of US President Donald Trump during the tournament and has led calls for her team to be paid the same as their male counterparts.

“I’m so sad I can’t make it tonight,” Rapinoe said on video. “I’ll do my best to get there next year.”

France Football magazine has been awarding the Ballon d’Or since 1956 but this is just the second year that a women’s Ballon d’Or — voted for by 48 journalists — has been awarded, with Rapinoe succeeding Norway’s Ada Hegerberg. Hegerberg was fourth this time. Lucy Bronze of England was second, and Alex Morgan third.

Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt, a key player in Ajax Amsterdam’s thrilling run to the Champions League semi-finals and now at Juventus, succeeded Kylian Mbappe as the winner of the Kopa Trophy for the best player aged under-21.

Alisson was awarded the inaugural Yashin trophy for the best male goalkeeper of the year.

There was, however, no trophy for the best female Under-21 player or keeper.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2019