Lionel Messi is your 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or winner. Oh, come on, who did you think it was going to be?
A few highlights of Messi's year: won five trophies, including La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey; dragged the Argentina National Team to within a penalty shootout of winning the Copa America (and was the only Argentinian to score in said shootout) then refused the Player of the Tournament Award because Argentina didn't win; and scored one of the goals of the year in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.
He also nutmegged all of Germany and France. So we'd say he's a deserving winner.
"It's a very special moment for me," Messi said during the FIFA Ballon d'Or gala. "To be back here on this stage, winning again, another Ballon d'Or, after being there in the audience watching Cristiano win for two years."
"It's incredible that it's my fifth, it's much more more than anything I dreamed of as kid."
"I want to thank all those who voted for me, first of all. I also want to thank all my teammates. As I always say, without them, none of this would have been possible. And, lastly, I want to thank football in general, for everything that it has brought me, both the bad and the good, because it has made me grow and learn always."
We have no arguments. Messi is the boss.
This is Messi's fifth Ballon d'Or win, his fourth in the current format. Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar were also nominated.
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
