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A20 SPORTS
Tuesday 3 december 2019

Messi, U.S. captain Rapinoe win Ballon d'Or awards

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN my first Ballon d'Or here in nals. "It's been an amazing
AP Sports Writer Paris," Messi said. "I was 22 year, I was close but unfor-
After becoming the first six- years old. It was something tunately there are a couple
time winner of the Ballon unthinkable at the time. To- of players like (Messi). I am
d'Or, Lionel Messi said he's day is my sixth Ballon d'Or. very proud," Van Dijk said.
far from finished. As my wife used to say, you He was among seven Liv-
"I hope to continue for a should never stop dream- erpool players nominated,
long time," Messi said on ing but always work to im- beside goalkeeper Alisson
Monday in Paris from be- prove and continue to en- Becker, defender Trent Al-
hind a row of the trophies joy yourself." exander-Arnold, midfielder
which honor the world's The Argentine has not Georginio Wijnaldum and
best soccer player. showed any sign of slow- forwards Mohamed Salah,
"I realize that I am very ing down since the start of Sadio Mane and Roberto
lucky, even if, one day, re- the new European season, Firmino.
tirement will come. It will marking his 700th game for Rapinoe won the women's
be difficult. But I still have Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi holds the trophy of the Barcelona last week with Ballon d'Or for leading the
a lot of good years ahead Golden Ball award ceremony in Paris, Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. a goal and two assists in United States to World Cup
of me. Time goes by very Messi won the Ballon d'Or for sixth time. beating Borussia Dortmund glory in July. She scored
quickly, so I want to enjoy Associated Press 3-1. So far this year, Messi six goals in the champion-
football and my family." has 41 goals in 44 games. ship, earning her the Gold-
While the 32-year-old Messi 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015. But Messi was back on top Messi also won his sixth FIFA en Boot as the top scorer
won his sixth Ballon d'Or, Liverpool defender Virgil of his game over the past award in September, edg- and the Golden Ball as the
United States captain Me- van Dijk was second in the 12 months. He scored 36 ing Van Dijk, who missed top player. France Foot-
gan Rapinoe won her first. polling this year, followed times last season en route the chance to become ball magazine has been
"I can't believe I'm the by Cristiano Ronaldo, who to a 10th Spanish Liga the first defender to top awarding the Ballon d'Or
one winning in this field, it's shared the record of five title, and was the Cham- the France Football poll since 1956 and created a
been an incredible year," Ballon d'Ors with Messi until pions League top scorer. since Italy's World Cup-win- women's award for the first
Rapinoe said in a recorded Monday. His goals in the Liga also ning captain, Fabio Can- time last year when Nor-
video message during the Messi's and Ronaldo's 10- made him the top scorer in navaro, in 2006. Van Dijk way's Ada Hegerberg won
ceremony at the lavish The- year grip on the award or- Europe's biggest leagues, clinched the 2019 Champi- it. Hegerberg was fourth
atre du Chatelet. ganized by France Football earning him the Golden ons League crown with the this time. Lucy Bronze of
Messi has received the Bal- magazine was ended last Shoe award. Reds after obliterating Mes- England was second, and
lon d'Or previously in 2009, year by Luka Modric. "A few years ago, I received si's Barcelona in the semifi- Alex Morgan third.q