Ballon d’Or vote: Messi’s fifth place absurd, says Barca coach

Lionel Messi ’ s fifth – place finish in this year ’ s Ballon d ’ Or vote was absurd , his FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said of the Spanish champions ’ Argentina forward on Tuesday .
Real Madrid ’ s Croatia midfielder Luka Modric took the prize Monday in Paris after winning the UEFA Champions League and being named the tournament ’ s player at the 2018 World Cup in Russia .

The 33 -year – old ’ s triumph ended Messi’ s and Cristiano Ronaldo ’ s decade- long reign , with the 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 St -Germain ’ s Kylian Mbappe was fourth with 347 , ahead of Messi on 280 .

FC 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.

However , Messi is not expected to feature .

NAN .

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