Lionel Messi did not have the best of years with Argentina, but he surely dazzled fans with Barcelona as he won the La Liga and the Copa del Rey titles. With that in mind, some fans thought that "La Pulga" deserved a shot at winning his sixth Ballon D'Or, something that those who voted in France Football's ballot did not share.
According to the list made public by France Football, Messi finished in a distant 5th spot, behind Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Cristiano Ronaldo and the eventual winner, Luka Modric. In fact, a document that was leaked on social media hours before the gala shows that Messi only earned 280 points, far behind Modric's 753-point tally. This is Messi's worst finish in the Ballon D'Or race since 2006.
With that in mind, Messi's fans took it to their social media accounts to voice their discomfort over this decision. Have a look at some of their comments below.
Messi and Ronaldo fans uniting to bash Luka Modric winning the #BallonDorpic.twitter.com/nEkQxrc8T2
— Vinny (@BlackVinnyMac) December 3, 2018
If you genuinely believe that there has ever been 4 players better than Lionel Messi then you do honestly require some kind of help. https://t.co/3q2kUJdalY
— totalBarça (@totalBarca) December 3, 2018
Messi and Ronaldo have set the standards so high that they've become victim to their own success. If any other player had the same stats as these then they'd walk away with the Ballon D'Or. The fact that Messi has finished 5th is a massive joke. #BallonDOr
— Fresh Prince (@iamwytunes) December 3, 2018
Mbappe before Messi is actually a criminal offence.
— Ugly Professor (@Triumphantell) December 3, 2018
Messi and Ronaldo's Fans after the ceremony :#BallonDor pic.twitter.com/Af7wDLW2u2
— Asad zahid (@ExcuseMeApBhi) December 3, 2018