Lionel Andres has broken virtually all existing records. Statistics show he’s the greatest footballer of all time. But critics are always quick to point to the fact that he is yet to win the World Cup, and until he adds the Mundial to his CV, he is still behind Brazil icon, Edson Arantes dos Nascimento, aka, Pele and compatriot-Diego Amando Maradona. The argument over who is the greatest footballer ever will continue to linger, but facts and figures are there for all to see
Lionel Messi on Monday won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for an incredible fifth time, reclaiming it from his great rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who had walked off with the award for the previous two years.The Barcelona and Argentina star took 41.33 per cent of the votes followed by the Portuguese and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (27.76 percent), with Brazil and Barcelona forward Neymar third (7.86 per cent).
"It is a very special moment for me to be back here on this stage, winning again another Ballon d’Or after being there in the audience watching Cristiano win. It’s incredible this is my fifth," said Messi as he accepted the award.
The footballing world has indeed been reacting to the Argentine’s winning his fifth Ballon d'Or.
Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney hailed an 'unbelievable achievement' by Messi. 'Congratulations to Lionel Messi on winning his 5th Ballon d'Or. Unbelievable achievement,' Rooney wrote on his Twitter.
Rooney's predecessor as England skipper, Steven Gerrard, said he thinks Messi is the best to have played the game. 'The best in the world #genius,' Gerrard said on his Instagram page. 'The best ever? I think so.'
Gary Lineker was in agreement with former Liverpool captain Gerrard, saying on his Twitter page: 'The FIFA Ballon d'Or winner is the greatest footballer to ever play the game.'
Former Barcelona midfielder Luis Figo, who infamously departed the Nou Camp for Real Madrid as a player, heralded Messi for his award. 'Congratulations to Messi to the 5th Ballon d'Or,' Figo said. 'Amazing.'
Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Cesc Fabregas, now at Chelsea, said 'Conrgatulations! You deserve it.'
The media was not left out in eulogising the Argentine superstar. Messi is no stranger to widespread plaudits, but even he may have been surprised by the identities of some of the newspapers celebrating his fifth Ballon d'Or triumph.
Madrid-based publications Marca and AS tend to focus on Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid rather than Messi's achievements - but even for them there was no ignoring the top story on Tuesday.
AS led with the percentage, adding that it was a 'fifth Ballon d'Or for an eternal player' while giving a Real hint with the winner's quote: 'It's special, it's been two years watching Cristiano win.'
Marca's headline is 'Leo V', recognising how the Argentine reigns in the stratosphere of football with fifth Ballon d'Or'. Again, there is a Madrid touch to the story, with the back of Ronaldo's head shown as he congratulates his rival.
Unsurprisingly, Messi was the lead story for Catalan papers SPORT and Mundo Deportivo, who both focused on the word 'oro', or 'gold', in their coverage.
In France, the 28-year-old is seen in a more relaxed manner on the front of L'Equipe alongside the five awards he has picked up in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
While the Zurich ceremony also got coverage in the English papers, there was a blow for fans who harbour hopes of seeing the world's best player in the Barclays Premier League.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been linked with moves for Messi in the past, but he says he has no intention of leaving Barca even later in his phenomenal career.
'I want to finish my career at home. My home is Barcelona. I've always said that I can't leave Barcelona. It's always my response. My intention is to terminate my career where it started, in Barcelona,' he said.
And while he has now won the Ballon d'Or twice more than any other player, including Ronaldo, the focus is already on pushing for more success.
'Now is not the time to think about whether this is my peak,' Messi added. 'It's more important that we keep trying to win, that we work hard. It's a lot to think about. Football changes so much, a year ago we were all getting criticised and we ended up winning nearly everything. I want to keep succeeding with the club.'
‘The great thing about Messi is that he doesn't really believe he's Messi' wrote the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano. 'And long may it stay that way because that allows him to play with all the joy of a kid just playing in the street.'
The unassuming nature, the 'head down and on to the next game' philosophy that has always enabled Lionel Messi to carry his genius so lightly is certainly part of the magic.
But as he sees his face reflected back at him on those five golden balls it must be more difficult than ever to not think about just what he has become – the greatest of all time.
However, winning his fifth Ballon dÓr award has again propelled the issue of who the best footballer ever is.
Messi has reigned over football long enough for the game to have changed all around him. The organisation that honours him every January has itself fallen, knees finally buckling under the weight of scandal upon scandal.
Its president Sepp Blatter is disgraced and was absent from the latest long lunch, dull speech and back-slapping extravaganza that he so enjoyed season after season. No-one missed him – it just meant there was more stage for Messi.
Winning the Ballon d'Or for the first time fresh-faced and with the tie not quite pulled up to the collar of his shirt in 2009 was one thing, and then to repeat the feat in black velvet, burgundy velvet, and polka-dot tuxedo in the next three years was something else.
But to then watch Cristiano Ronaldo win it in 2013 and 2014 and come back better than ever in 2015 was a statement of consistency and longevity that reminds us of what really separates him from those who would contest that title of all-time best.
Diego Maradona and Pele are the favourites of those who resist the march of Messi-time.
Pele's time seems so far removed from the modern game the comparison is made difficult. It's true he was kicked around in four World Cups and came out with three winners medals, but he never played club football in Europe.
