Ballon d'Or 2018 Winner: Luka Modrić

[CaaC (John)+]

Ballon d'Or: Lionel Messi's fifth place 'absurd', says Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde

1 hour ago | European Football

Lionel Messi and Ernesto Valverde won the Spanish league and cup double last season with Barcelona

Lionel Messi finishing fifth in this year's Ballon d'Or vote was "absurd", says Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric won the prize, awarded by France Football and voted for by 180 journalists.

Barcelona and Argentina forward Messi, 31, finished outside the top three for the first time since 2006, having won the award five times.

"We congratulate Modric for winning the Ballon d'Or but Messi being in fifth place is absurd," said Valverde.

"I will not get into discussing the inconsistencies of the prize."

Messi won a record fifth Golden Shoe for finishing as Europe's leading scorer last season, with 34 goals as Barcelona won La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

Messi's 280 points in the voting left him behind Modric (753), Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo (476), Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann (414) and Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe (347).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46448532

[Stan]

1 minute ago, José said:

Valverde pendejo  I understand him not wanting to bring up Barcelona's CL failure but didn't he watch the WC? 

Yeah the French league is not a top league, but at the end of the day is just another League like la liga. Winning the League doesnt come anywhere near the CL or the WC  silly Cules, but hey if RM had played a team like Barcelona they would not be back to back to back champions although Barcelona has failed to reach the final in three consecutive years  bat shit crazy mentality if you ask me but goes to show how biased the Cules are. 

 

Gotta agree, those Cules are really the only biased ones on here. 

[True Blue]

Like the change (from Messi and Ronaldo) but i don't think he is the fitting winner. He did have a excellent season and a great World Cup.