Lionel Messi wins 6th record Ballon d'Or

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player for a record sixth time.
The 31-year-old Argentine beat out Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who was instrumental in helping Liverpool win the Champions League, for the award voted on by a panel of international journalists.

"I am very lucky, I am blessed. I hope I will continue for a long time," Messi told reporters. "I realize that I'm lucky even if one day it will be time to retire.
"It will be tough, but I still have some years ahead of me. Time flies, so I will enjoy football and my family."

Messi also came out on top in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 and he is now one clear of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has five.
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane finished fourth behind Ronaldo in the final voting.
"It was amazing," Van Dijk said. "There are a couple of players like him [Messi] who are fantastic. I'm proud of what I've achieved with Liverpool and Holland. It's going to be tough [to win the award] when these guys are around."