It was a night of mixed fortunes for Liverpool as defender Virgil van Dijk was pipped to the 2019 Ballon d’Or by record-six-time winner Lionel Messi, as Alisson Becker was crowned the world’s best goalkeeper in Paris on Monday.<\/p>\n
But after transforming Jurgen Klopp’s back line since his arrival at Anfield in December 2017, runner up Van Dijk must wonder what more he has to do to clinch top spot.<\/p>\n
He said: ‘It shows a lot about how my career has been. My career has been different from the winner here, I came late, but I never gave up on my dreams.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nLionel Messi received a record sixth Ballon d’Or award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday night<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\nThe 32-year-old is standing alone in the all-time list with six, his first Ballon d’Or since 2015<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\nHaving been announced as winner, Messi went on stage to pose with all six of his Ballon d’Ors<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\nMessi (middle) posed with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo (second from left), sons Thiago (bottom row, middle) and Mateo (bottom row, second from left), Bulgarian icon Hristo Stoichkov (far left), Barcelona team-mate Frenkie de Jong (far right) and his girlfriend\u00a0Mikky Kiemeney<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\nMessi’s win takes him one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who chose not to attend the evening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
‘I had to work hard every step of the way, so to be here makes me very proud. And I want to work hard and be here again next year.’<\/p>\n
Brazilian Becker, who was instrumental in Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League campaign, picked up the Yashin Trophy at the glittering ceremony staged this year at the Theatre du Chatelet \u2013 seeing off Premier League competition from Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ederson and Hugo Lloris.<\/p>\n
The prestigious annual awards presented by France Football – that has been dominated by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for much of the last decade \u2013 the latter coincidentally snubbing the ceremony with the golden gong Barcelona bound again for the first time since 2015.<\/p>\n
Messi, 32, took home the golden gong in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015, and has featured among the top three finalists more times (11) than any other player. And despite an injury hit 2018\/19 campaign, he has netted nine times in seven games throughout October and November.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nMessi triumphed in La Liga – the 10th time he has conquered the league with Barcelona<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\nLiverpool star Virgil van Dijk arrived in a tuxedo alongside his wife\u00a0Rike Nooitgedagt (left)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\nMessi (right) was presented with a director’s chair that had his name on the back in gold<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Reports in the Spanish press claimed the Argentina international had been tipped off about his win ahead of the glittering ceremony in the French capital, hence arriving on Barcelona’s private jet to collect the accolade, with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and two children excitedly watching on.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the midst of a world media circus and tightly clutching his award, Messi said: ‘I am very grateful to the people of Barcelona and all the affection they show to me. It’s a special day and this award means so much and I am very happy.<\/p>\n
‘The truth is that the routine doesn’t allow me much time to stop and think and enjoy all that we have achieved. I will enjoy it today and enjoy time with my family, then start thinking about what is coming next, as I always do.<\/p>\n
‘I will think about all I have achieved as soon as I have time. But at the moment everything is going so fast that I can only think about the next game.’<\/p>\n
Trail blazer Megan Rapinoe completed a clean sweep of individual accolades after becoming only the second female player in the competition’s 64 year history to see her name etched on the Ballon d’Or trophy.<\/p>\n
England right back Lucy Bronze, part of a six-player strong Lyon contingent on the shortlist, followed closely in second place,<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n2018 winner Luka Modric attended but he did not win a spot in this year’s top 30 players<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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