Lionel Messi has won the prestigious Ballon d'Or five times – in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015. He is the first player in history to win the award five times, and is widely considered as one of the greatest football players of all time.
The Ballon d'Or is an annual football award presented by France Football magazine. It is awarded to the world's best performing male and female players. Messi has been the recipient of the award five times in the last decade, and has been nominated a further seven times.
Messi's first Ballon d'Or win came in 2009, when he was just 22 years old. He was the first Argentine and Barcelona player to ever win the award. He won it again in 2010, 2011 and 2012, making him the first player to win the award four consecutive times. His fifth win in 2015 further cemented his place in history, as he became the first ever player to win the Ballon d'Or five times.
Messi has also been nominated for the award a further seven times, including in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. He was runner-up in 2013, 2014 and 2019, and third place in 2016, 2017 and 2018. In 2020, he was named ‘Player of the Century’ by France Football magazine, a testament to his incredible achievements in the world of football.
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