Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball 2015, the fifth of his career, beating fellow nominees Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar at a gala held in Zurich.
Lionel Messi had previously won the award in the seasons 2009, 2011, 2011 and 2012. He succeeds Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Award winner last year, and one of the finalists of this year along with the Brazilian Neymar.
Lionel Messi favorite
After a 2014 without titles at club level, with the disappointment of not being able to give Argentina the World Cup in Brazil and a decline in their level of play, at least compared to previous seasons, Lionel Messi was again stellar in 2015, a year that was also successful for Barcelona.
While Lionel Messi was on the verge of his first title with the Albiceleste (Argentina lost the final of the Copa America against Chile), with Barcelona won five of the six titles played: Liga, Copa del Rey League Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup. Barca team just 'failed' in the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Bilbao lost.
And as usual, Lionel Messi, the '10', contributed decisively to this success way: he scored 43 goals in 38 championship games, plus 18 assists and finished top scorer in the Champions League (10 goals, tied with CR7 and Neymar) and although he did not score in the final part in the three-goal victory against Juventus (3-1).
In another end, the Copa del Rey (3-1 against Athletic), opened the scoring with a work of art, in which he received the ball in midfield, heeled band and stood in the Bilbao small area, few defenders dribbling you to step out, to beat Atletico keeper.
With this much, Lionel Messi could also win on Monday Puskas Award for Best Goal of the Year, a category in which you compete against the Italian Alessandro Florenzi Roma and against a modest Brazilian footballer Wendell Lira.
With these credentials, difficult to escape him Lionel Messi Ballon d'Or to add to the four already achieved consecutively from 2009-2012.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the perfect competitor
Cristiano Ronaldo (winner in 2008, 2013 and 2014) aims to draw with Lionel Messi four Golden Balls. The Portuguese resubmitted enviable numbers even Messi surpasses the number of goals scored in the year (57 of 53) but the Portuguese can afford expensive blank season with Real Madrid.
Neymar big surprise
Neymar would surely be the top seed for the prize if you only would tell the second part of the year in which the Brazilian stepped back to Barcelona, Lionel Messi private in October and November by a knee injury.
But Messi Messi and probably still monopolize many of the votes of coaches and captains of national teams and a group of journalists.
The Brazilian prodigy, at 23, may not win this year, but a matter of time to join the group of countrymen with this award, made by illustrious names such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka.