MX23RW : Friday, November 8 21:57:44| >> :60:773:773:

Michel Platini tips Lionel Messi for Ballon d'Or

Michel Platini backs Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or award for the third consecutive year.

UEFA president Michel Platini believes that Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi will win the Ballon d'Or award for the third consecutive year.

The Argentinian was named on the 23-man shortlist earlier this month and is currently the favourite to be awarded the trophy.

Platini is the only player to have won the Ballon d'Or for three straight years but he has no doubt that Messi will equal his achievement.

"I believe that Messi will win his third Ballon d'Or in a row," he told reporters. "I know that records are meant to be broken and I also believe he will overtake me.

"I arrived at Juve at the age of 27, while Messi arrived at Barca when he was 13. Times have changed.

"If I had grown at Juventus, I would have won even more awards, but my grandparents moved to France and I cannot appeal to any court against this."

The winner will be announced in early January.

ID:8086: cacheID:8086:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1848:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Lionel Messi
Read Next:
Messi up for Time magazine award
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!