Italian
Lionel Messi ha conquistato il primato di sei Palloni d'Oro, battendo gli altri favoriti del Liverpool e Cristiano Ronaldo e innalzando il più prestigioso premio individuale.
L'argentino, che ha vinto il titolo della Liga con il Barcellona ma è giunto solo terzo in Copa America con la sua nazionale, ha aggiunto il trofeo 2019 ai suoi premi del 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 e 2015.
Alla consegna del premio, Messi ha sottolineato che il calcio è uno sport di squadra ed è più importante di un trofeo individuale.
"In sport, I try to overcome (challenges) each year, to keep working on getting better. It's more than just individual prizes. This is a very nice recognition and it is very important for what it means, but it is secondary. The most important thing is to accomplish the group's goals."
Messi ha preceduto l'olandese Virgil van Dijk e al terzo posto Ronaldo, che ha vinto il premio cinque volte.
Megan Rapinoe ha vinto il Pallone d'Oro per le donne, dopo aver condotto quest'anno gli Stati Uniti ad un quarto titolo che ha esteso il primato, confermando la vittoria della scorsa edizione.
"It's been such an incredible year and women's football is lucky to have every single one of these amazing players every year. It pushes us and it pushes me to be the best player that I can."
La 34enne centrocampista, la giocatrice che si è più distinta durante il torneo di giugno e luglio, prende il posto della norvegese Ada Hegerberg, che non ha partecipato ai mondiali.
E l'olandese Matthijs de Ligt, giocatore chiave dell'emozionante cavalcata dell'Ajax fino alle semi-finali della Champions League, ha vinto il premio Kopa come miglior giocatore Under-21.
English
Lionel Messi has claimed a record sixth Ballon d'Or award, beating Liverpool's leading nominees and Cristiano Ronaldo to lift soccer's most prestigious individual trophy.
The Argentine, who won the Liga title with Barcelona but only managed third place in the Copa America with his home country, has added the 2019 trophy to his awards from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
Accepting the award, Messi noted that football is a team sport and greater than an individual prize.
"In sport, I try to overcome (challenges) each year, to keep working on getting better. It's more than just individual prizes. This is a very nice recognition and it is very important for what it means, but it is secondary. The most important thing is to accomplish the group's goals."
He finished above Dutchman Virgil van Dijk and Portugal's third-placed Ronaldo, who has won the award five times.
Megan Rapinoe has taken out the women's Ballon d'Or after leading the United States to a record-extending fourth World Cup title in France this year as they retained the trophy.
"It's been such an incredible year and women's football is lucky to have every single one of these amazing players every year. It pushes us and it pushes me to be the best player that I can."
The 34-year-old midfielder, the standout player at the June-July tournament, succeeded Norway's Ada Hegerberg who did not take part in the World Cup.
And Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt, a key player in Ajax Amsterdam's thrilling run to the Champions League semi-finals and now at Juventus, won the Kopa trophy for the best Under-21 male player.
Report by SBS.
