Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is apparently set to pick up his record-sixth Ballon d'Or award but some fans on social media are not having any of it. The frustrations of these lot are motivated by the fact that, Cristiano Ronaldo - who declined the invitation to attend Monday's ceremony in Paris - missed out on winning the honor from France Football despite having a better year that the previous winner Luka Modric.
So Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly not attending the #BallonDor2019 gala tonight because this leak that confirms Lionel Messi winner. pic.twitter.com/r0lzwNdbaI
— Bolarinwa Olajide (@iambolar) December 2, 2019
The buildup to this year's event saw Lionel Messi being touted as the favorite for the award after his remarkable individual performance in the calendar year earned him the 2019 Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year back in September.
Despite failing to win the Copa America with Argentina in Brazil this summer, the 32-year-old striker's success with Barcelona in La Liga and Supercopa, coupled with him finishing last season as the top scorer in Europe, resultantly attracted the honor. In 58 games for both club and country, the Barca skipper scored 54 goals, 12 coming in the UEFA Champions League and just one being registered in his continental campaign with Albiceleste.
As it was the case in the 2017/2018 season, Cristiano Ronaldo managed 54 goals in 55 matches, scoring 15 in the UEFA Champions League and exiting the 2018 FIFA World Cup with four goals. The honors accrued by the former Real Madrid superstar included the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Supercopa de Espana. This year, the 34-year-old forward won the Scudetto with Juventus and secured the maiden edition of the UEFA Nations League with Portugal.
In contrast, a number of fans believe that Lionel Messi's failures in last season's Champions League as well as the Copa America should not merit him the Ballon d'Or as his arch-nemesis was overlooked the last time out despite having a successful year than the eventual winner Luka Modric.
If Ronaldo does not win with this stat and Messi does. Means it is scam.#BallonDor2019 pic.twitter.com/Wm8OfsZIVG
— w օ Ӏ f ɢ a η ɢ ✞ (@Gaeist) December 2, 2019
Barcelona and Messi Fans should all thanks ESPN, GOAL and Useless BLEACHER FOOTBALL REPORT for good pr work. If you watch and Understand football you know Cristiano Ronaldo is The GOAT This is not even a debate. #BallonDor2019 pic.twitter.com/AFtSwwZIsO
— MUSBEY (@Mus6ey) December 2, 2019
So Lionel Messi "deserves" to win the Ballon d'Or only winning a single trophy.
— TeamCRonaldo (@TeamCRonaldo) December 2, 2019
No Champions League title, Lost the Copa Del Rey final & had the worst Copa America ever. pic.twitter.com/357CE9PolV
Ronaldo in 2017/18
— Obi Of Onitsha (@cliqik) December 2, 2019
55 games
54 goals
15 ucl goals
4 world cup goals
*Didn't win the ballon dor.....I'm not saying France football writers are corrupt, but just give reasons why it was given to Modric!#BallonDor2019
I'm a Ronaldo fan. Messi has really done a great job this year n he's gonna win d #BallonDor2019.The truth here is Ronaldo's 6Th ballonDor was forcefully giving to Luka modric in 2018 just because he's de most hated Player on earth. The GOAT always got haters. But God is alive pic.twitter.com/Eqt2nNjdLh
— Kwesi Eclipz (@aqueczi_eclipse) December 2, 2019
Modric was the most undeserving winner of the Ballon d'Or.
— Golden Ratio (@Le_Magna) December 2, 2019
It was a ploy to remove the Messi-Ronaldo hegemony #BallonDor