Messi’s 5th place Ballon d’Or finish ‘absurd’ — Valverde

By Daily Sports on December 6, 2018

Lionel Messi’s fifth-place finish in the 2018 Ballon d’Or vote was “absurd”, Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said of the Spanish champions’ Argentina forward on Tuesday.

Real Madrid’s Croatia midfielder Luka Modric took the prize on Monday in Paris after winning the Champions League and being named player of the tournament at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The 33-year-old’s triumph ended Messi’s and Cristiano Ronaldo’s decade-long reign, with Juventus’ Portugal striker finishing second and Messi fifth in a vote by 180 journalists.

“I will not get into discussing the inconsistencies of the prize,” Valverde told reporters.

“We congratulate Modric for winning the Ballon d’Or but Messi being in fifth place is absurd.”

Messi, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, led Barca to a La Liga-Copa del Rey double last season but Argentina went out of the World Cup in the last 16 to eventual champions France.

The Barca No. 10 also won a record fifth European Golden Shoe after finishing with 34 top-flight goals last season.

Modric got 753 points followed by Ronaldo on 476, Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann with 414 and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe was fourth with 347, ahead of Messi on 280.

Barcelona host Cultural Leonesa on Wednesday in the second leg of their Copa del Rey round of 32 tie, in which they hold a 1-0 advantage, although Messi is not expected to feature. (ESPN)

•Photo shows Lionel Messi

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 6, 2018


 

You may also like...
Oguchi, Ahmed, others call for early camping ahead...

Real Sociedad's Alexander Isak 'Spotted In London Amid...

Real Madrid hope title momentum can boost Man...

Weightlifter Missing In Japan Before Olympics

FIFA WWC: USA Beat Hosts France to Book...

Liverpool’s Ojo Set To Join Cardiff On Loan...

 

Latest News Hearn slams Ngannou over Joshua defeat excuse Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen Visa unveils Amusan, Nwachukwu as global ambassadors I’m not under pressure to coach Eagles – Finidi Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo Ibrahim: Striker who wants to emulate Lukaku at Chelsea Boniface ranked best African performer in Europe Napoli may reduce Osimhen price tag Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly NOC commends Team Nigeria, government, media for victory at African Games JOF U-13 Cup: 8 Clubs Qualify For Quarterfinals Osimhen resumes training, fit for Atalanta clash

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,383 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,392 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,542 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,214 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (41,999 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (41,876 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (41,757 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,215 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,265 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,177 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,626 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,204 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media