This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
The 2019 Ballon D'Or ceremony is set to take place tonight, with Lionel Messi and Virgil van Dijk among the top contenders for the award. Published on December 2, 2019
According to a leaked list of rankings shared on social media, Messi tops the voting with 446 points, followed closely by van Dijk with 382 points.
The voting for the award has already been cast, but it is unclear whether the leaked list is official or not. The award celebrates the best footballer in the calendar year, and is voted on by journalists from around the world out of a shortlist of 30 players.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes van Dijk deserves to win the award, citing his consistency and impressive performances throughout the year.
"Yes, 100 per cent. I'm Messi's number one fan, for sure. I love the player. Obscene numbers in his game in terms of assists and goals. I'm definitely a Messi fan, in the gang. But if you talk about consistency from one player over a year, who wins the European Cup and is absolutely faultless in every performance, that means you deserve to win the Ballon d'Or," Gerrard told Goal.
