Top 5 2019 Ballon d'Or nominees with most goals and assists in 2019

#2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona / Argentina): 62 (43 goals and 19 assists)

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi's 21 Liga goals in 19 games since the turn of the year, which included hat-tricks away at Sevilla and Real Betis propelled Barcelona to their fourth Spanish top-flight title in 5 seasons.

After missing the first four Liga games of the new season due to injury, Messi's goal in Barcelona's 4-0 home win over Sevilla made the all-time Liga top-scorer the first player to score in 15 consecutive LaLiga seasons.

The diminutive Argentinian scored his 50th career freekick by scoring in a 5-1 home win over Real Valladolid. Continuing his scoring streak in a 6th consecutive LaLiga game, Messi scored his 34th Liga hat-trick to draw level with Cristiano Ronaldo for most hat-tricks in LaLiga history.

Two weeks later, Messi turned his attention to the Champions League where he became the first player to score in 15 consecutive seasons in the competition by scoring in Barcelona's 2-1 win at Slavia Prague. Two Matchdays later, Messi became the first player in the Champions League to score against 34 different teams by opening the scoring in a 3-1 home win over Borussia Dortmund as the Catalan club sealed qualification for the knockout round as group winners.

34 - Leo Messi has scored against 34 different teams in the UCL, more than any other player in the competition. Historic. pic.twitter.com/qEkVoxCbva

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 27, 2019

The only disappointment for Messi in yet another fabulous season was at the 2019 Copa America where the Argentina captain scored only 1 goal in 6 games as the Albiceleste fell in the semifinals to eventual winners Brazil, and of course, the infamous Liverpool comeback that knocked the Catalans out of the UCL.

With 43 goals and 19 assists in 51 games in 2019, Messi has had a hand in 62 goals for club and country, the same tally as Robert Lewandowski. However, Messi takes the second spot in this list as he accomplished his tally in 2 fewer games than the prolific Bayern Munich striker.

The Argentina and Barcelona captain has strutted his credentials to win a record-6th Ballon d'Or title. It's now for the jury to decide.