This archive report was first published on 25 September 2019.
On Monday night, Lionel Messi was named FIFA Best Player of the Year for the sixth time, beating his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk to the award.
Messi, who won La Liga last season and the European golden boot, last won the award in 2015.
His win was a surprise, given Van Dijk's impressive performances for Liverpool, including their Champions League success, and his recent win of UEFA's best European player award.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo was conspicuous by his absence at the La Scala Opera house in Milan, where the award ceremony took place.
According to Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri, Ronaldo was not present due to injury, and will miss their upcoming fixture against Brescia on Tuesday night in Serie A.
However, even if Ronaldo had been fit, it's unlikely he would have attended the ceremony, as he was not named in the FIFPro World XI, and was treated as persona non grata.
Despite his absence, Ronaldo took to Instagram to share a philosophical message, writing: "Patience and persistence are two characteristics that differentiate the professional from the amateur."
He also shared a picture of himself reading a book, with his son Cristiano Jr appearing to do his homework in the background.
