Lionel Messi, Megan Rapinoe win Ballon d’Or awards

Lionel Messi won a record sixth Ballon d'Or overtaking his rival Cristiano Ronaldo's five, a day after scoring his 614th career goal for Barcelona on December 2. (Source: Reuters)

US Megan Rapinoe is seen on the screen after she awarded as the best female soccer player during the Golden Ball award ceremony at the Grand Palais in Paris, Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. Awarded every year by France Football magazine since Stanley Matthews won it in 1956, the Ballon d'Or, Golden Ball for the best player of the year will be given to both a woman and a man. (Source: AP)

Messi's and Ronaldo's 10-year grip on the prestigious individual award organized by France Football magazine was ended last year by Luka Modric. (Source: Reuters)

Messi scored 36 times last season en route to the Spanish Liga title, and was the Champions League top scorer. (Source: Reuters)

The Argentine has not showed any sign of slowing down since the start of the new European season, marking his 700th game for Barcelona last week with a goal and two assists in beating Borussia Dortmund 3-1. (Source: AP)

Messi also won his sixth FIFA award in September, edging Van Dijk, who missed the chance to become the first defender to top the France Football poll since Italy's World Cup-winning captain, Fabio Cannavaro, in 2006. (Source: Reuters)

Lionel Messi with his family at the ceremony. (Source: Reuters)