France Football have revealed the breakdown of votes to show how Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi saw off Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk to win the 2019 Ballon d’Or Award.
At the latest Ballon d’Or Award ceremony on Monday night, Lionel Messi was named the award recipient ahead of the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane.
France Football are the organisers of the Ballon d’Or Award and they released the voting results earlier this week with Lionel Messi beating Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk by seven points only.
Lionel Messi garnered 686 votes ahead of Van Dijk who had 679 votes.
- Ballon d’Or Award: Leaked Result Reveals Winner
- Why A DoF Is Yet To Be Appointed At Man Utd Revealed
- Eric Abidal Set To Sign New Contract
The Barcelona and Argentine national skipper has now won six Ballon d’Or titles to edge clear of Cristiano Ronaldo who has five Ballon d’Or titles.
Liverpool centre back Virgil Van Dijk is the closest defender to winning the Ballon d’Or Award since ex-Italian international Fabio Cannavaro won the award in 2006.
Van Dijk has been instrumental to the recent success recorded by Liverpool but he was unable to beat Messi to the much coveted Ballon d’Or Award.
Liverpool are the reigning European champions and they were heavily represented in the top ten of the 2019 Ballon d’Or.
The Reds had four representatives with Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker also making the top ten.
