Barcelona great Lionel Messi will lift a record sixth Ballon d’Or trophy next week Monday, a Catalan-based newspaper Mundo Deportivo has reported.
According to the newspaper the Argentine has already been told of his win and that a team from France Football magazine, organizers of the award, travelled to Barcelona to tell the 32-year-old.
They also claim a documentary on Messi has been filmed by France Football and will be released on the day the award is presented to him.
Messi is on a three-man shortlist for the award alongside long term rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk.
Messi, who in September won Fifa Men’s Player of the Year award, scored 36 goals and provided 13 assists as Barcelona won the Spanish La Liga for the sixth time in eight seasons this year.
Van Dijk, guided Liverpool to continental success as they won the Uefa Champions League and also reached the final of Uefa Nations League. He was named Uefa Men’s Player of the Year in August.
For Ronaldo, he continued his incredible scoring form in his debut season in Italy as he netted 21 goals as Juventus secured Serie A title. He also won the Nations League with Portugal.
The awards ceremony will take place in France on Monday, December 2, 2019.
