Lionel Messi favourite to win Ballon d'Or tonight

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is targeting an unprecedented fifth Ballon d'Or award in Zurich tonight, with the Argentine heavily favoured to reclaim the prize from three-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo

Zurich: Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is targeting an unprecedented fifth Ballon d'Or award in Zurich tonight, with the Argentine heavily favoured to reclaim the prize from three-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Also Read: Messi wins best player of Globe Soccer Awards


Lionel Messi

Brazil striker Neymar, who plays alongside Messi at Barca, is also in the running to be crowned World Player of the Year after he was included on the three-man shortlist for the first time.

Also Read: Messi elated after winning La Liga's best player

Messi and Neymar, along with overlooked Uruguay star Luis Suarez, formed a formidable front three that propelled Barca to five trophies in 2015, including a second Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey treble in six seasons.

Messi, who won the award four times in a row from 2009-2012, scored 48 goals in 2015 for Barca, who reclaimed their status as the world's top club side, easily overcoming South American champions River Plate in the Club World Cup in Japan last month.

Also Read: Suarez deserves Ballon d'Or nomination: Lionel Messi

Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique will be up for coach of the year alongside Bayern Munich's Pep Guardiola and Jorge Sampaoli — the mastermind behind Chile's Copa America triumph.

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