This archive report was first published on 25 September 2019.
On September 25, 2019, Lionel Messi was named FIFA Player of the Year, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk to the award.
According to FIFA, Messi garnered 46% of the votes, securing his sixth title and breaking a tie with Ronaldo, who now has five.
However, the award was met with controversy as some fans felt that Ronaldo deserved it.
When asked about his rivalry with Ronaldo, Messi revealed that the two players have a good relationship and that any competitiveness between them is limited to the football pitch.
"People think that the rivalry goes beyond football, but it doesn't. We both want what's best for our teams and neither of us like losing. It's something we don't accept," Messi said in an interview with FIFA.
"That's why there's that competitiveness between us. The important thing is that it stays out there, on the pitch," he added.
