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We have reached the business end of the 2018/19 season (including international fixtures) and by now, we know how each team has fared this season. In this slideshow, we are going to talk about Barcelona and one of their biggest talismans, Lionel Messi.
Barcelona had a good enough campaign but they surely didn't reach the highs everybody expected them to. The recent reports have even suggested that Ernesto Valverde might be sacked before the start of next season.
The Blaugrana started the season with brilliant momentum and they continued that until their second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Liverpool. They blew their 3 goal lead in the first leg for the second time in two years.
That derailed Barcelona's charge and then they even went on to Valencia in the Copa Del Ray Final. One thing that everyone knows about now is the dependency of Barcelona on Messi. The Argentine had another brilliant season this year and while many expect him to win the Ballon d'Or, some might think otherwise.
Let's look at the 3 reasons why Lionel Messi is no longer a favourite to win the Ballon d'Or:
#3 Bernardo Silva has emerged as another favourite for the award
If Bernardo Silva had been playing for a Liverpool, Manchester United or any other hugely followed Premier League club, he would have been the most talked about midfielder in the world. But, just because he plays in a team full of stars, that is Manchester City, he hasn't been noticed by many.
Silva has lit up everything he has touched this season and he has been absolutely everywhere, winning everything, barring the UEFA Champions League. He has won many awards and also some individual awards, and now to add to that list, the UEFA Nations League.
He has won the Premier League, UEFA Nations League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Manchester City Player of the Season, Community Shield and to top it all off, the UEFA Nations League Player of the Season. If this number of trophies would have been won by a Lionel Messi or a Cristiano Ronaldo, they would have been favourites to win the award. So, its time we recognized the brilliance the little Portuguese wizard has shown this season.
Now, Messi faces a much greater competition for the trophy and that means he isn't a clear cut favourite.
#2 Failure to win the Champions League and the Copa America
Believe it or not, winning the Champions League goes a long way in winning the Ballon d'Or. The last three Ballon d'Or winners have all won the Champions League that season. Messi and his team were dumped out in the semi-finals by Liverpool with an incredible comeback.
In the first leg, Barcelona swept Liverpool away and went to Anfield with a 3-0 lead. But they blew the three-goal advantage and lost 4-0 in the second leg. It felt like a humiliation Barcelona and their captain, Messi couldn't motivate his players enough.
The loss in the Champions League semi-finals might cost Messi the Ballon d'Or this year. Also, Argentina bowed out to Brazil in the Copa America in the semi-finals which have further dented the chances of Messi winning the coveted trophy. While, Lionel Messi has certainly had a terrific individual year, winning international and European trophies is pivotal in winning the Ballon d'Or.
#1 Virgil Van Dijk has the best claim on the award
As stated in the previous slide, winning the Champions League is pretty important for being in contention for the Ballon d'Or. But that is not the only reason Van Djik has a better claim to the award. He has been a rock for Liverpool at the back and he has hardly put any foot wrong throughout the season.
Also, in hindsight, Liverpool have looked a better team than Barcelona and they challenged arguably the best team in the world for the Premier League title this season, Manchester City. As far as influence on a team goes, Van Dijk is level on that with Messi. The Netherlands international is the Reds' pivot at the back and his leadership qualities are known to everyone.
Defenders aren't favoured for the Ballon d'Or award but the performances Van Djik has put in this season have to be noted. He is arguably the current favourite to win the coveted trophy. Also, he led the Netherlands side to the UEFA Nations League finals, when no one expected them to even reach the semi-finals. All that makes the big Dutchman the #1 favourite for the Ballon d'Or.
