Messi collects record 6th FIFA Player of the Year – ESPN India, Espn.in

Lionel Messibeat Liverpool defenderVirgil van Dijkand Juventus forwardCristiano Ronaldoto claim a record sixth FIFA’s The Best award, which is given to the top men’s player, on Monday.

The award was handed to the Barcelona and Argentina captain at a ceremony in Milan.

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Messi , 32, led Barcelona to a fourth La Liga title in the past five seasons, scoring 36 goals and providing 15 assists in 35 league matches last campaign. He posted 51 goals and 22 assists in all competitions.

Croatia and Real Madrid midfielderLuka Modricwon the award last year, breaking up a years-long duel between Messi and Ronaldo for the prize. But Messi regained the honor for a record sixth time, having previously won FIFA’s top award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.

Before Modric’s victory, Ronaldo and Messi had won every FIFA World Player of the Year award, which was renamed the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2010 and The Best in 2016, since 2007, when Kaka was victorious.

Messi’s win is somewhat of a surprise with Van Dijk, a center-back who transformed Liverpool’s defense on the way to the Champions League crown, having won the European best player award.

In the final voting, Messi finished with (points, while Van Dijk) 38) and Ronaldo (36) finished second and third respectively. Liverpool forwardsMohamed Salah(26) andSadio Mane(23), Paris Saint-Germain strikerKylian Mbappe(17), former Ajax midfielderFrenkie de Jong(16), ex-Chelsea forwardEden Hazard(16), ex-Ajax defenderMatthijs de Ligt(9), and Tottenham strikerHarry Kane5) rounded out the top 10.

Additionally, Debrecen forward Daniel Zsori won the Puskas Award for his overhead kick against Ferencvaros during a Hungarian league match.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp took home coach of the year, while Reds goalkeeper Alisson was named best keeper.

United States head coach Jill Ellis and midfielder Megan Rapinoe collected women’s coach andplayer of the year, respectively, for the USWNT’s World Cup triumph this summer, while Netherlands goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal was voted women’s goalkeeper of the year after helping her country to the final of the competition.

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa was given the fair play award.