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He came, he saw, and he conquered. Barcelona star Lionel Messi was awarded the 2019 Ballon d'Or at a star-studded ceremony in Paris on Monday evening. Messi saw off strong competition from Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk to lift the world's best player trophy for a record sixth time, and for the first time since 2015. Messi won his first Ballon d'Or in 2009, after claiming the treble under Pep Guardiola. He went on to win again in 2010, 2011, and 2012. He claimed the award again in 2015 after Cristiano Ronaldo's two successive wins in 2013 and 2014. Messi is the first player in history to win six Ballon d'Or awards. Next in line is Cristiano Ronaldo with five. Messi won quite the lot of silverware this year with the likes of La Liga, Super Copa, the Golden Boot (for being Europe's leading goalscorer), the Pichichi (for being Spain's leading marksman), FIFA Men's Player of the Year, and being the Champions League's leading goalscorer (12 goals). ...

Matthijs de Ligt is definitely one of the most 'scrambled for' player in Europe, with Manchester United, Barcelona and now Juventus showing keen interest on the Ajax captain. Cristiano Ronaldo asked the 19-year-old center-back to join him at Juventus after Portugal defeated the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday. The pair were seen exchanging and laughing after the game. 'Ronaldo asked me to go to Juventus', revealed De Ligt. 'I didn't understand him at first. I was a little shocked, so I laughed. But I didn't say anything. 'So soon after the game you are not at all concerned with it. You are disappointed that you have lost and that is the only thing you are thinking about. 'I'm going on holidays now. 'I'm going to think about what's best for me and then I'll decide. "It's important for a young player to play, that's the only thing I'm sure of."