Lionel Messi named World Soccer's Player of the Year

The winners of the 2019 World Soccer Awards have been announced in World Soccer's January edition. Messi was named World Soccer's Player of the Year, Jurgen Klopp - Manager of the Year, and Liverpool - Team of the Year. Messi edged out Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk by a slim margin, with just 11 more votes than the Liverpool defender (613 to 602). Messi has now won the World Soccer's Player of the Year award five times - 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, and now, 2019, matching Cristiano Ronaldo. The latter was ranked fourth best this year. Luka Modric who won the gong last year finished forty-fourth this year. Since 2009, the winner of the award has either been a Barcelona or Real Madrid player. 

The World Soccer Awards being non-gender specific in nature saw the the USA's Megan Rapinoe - the leading female vote-getter - ranked 21st best player. 

Jurgen Klopp won the Manager of the Year award, beating rival Pep Guardiola by a large margin - 67 votes to 2 votes. Guardiola's achievements with Manchester City last season cannot be overlooked however as he steered Manchester City to become the first English team to complete the domestic treble of League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Liverpool won the Team of the Year award, beating rivals Manchester City by a large margin - 60 votes to 3.