Leaked Ballon d'Or result appears to crown Messi as winner

Lionel Messi is set pick up a record sixth Ballon d'Or title, according to an image leaked online.

Messi is the heavy favourite to lift the trophy on Monday evening in Paris, ahead of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

And according to the list, which purports to be the final classifications after voting for this year's award, the Messi is set to top the pile once more, 64 votes ahead of the Dutch stopper.

There is a strong presence for the Reds on the list, with Mohamed Salah making up the top three, while Sadio Mane and goalkeeper Alisson Becker come in at fifth and sixth respectively. 

One of the most surprising aspects of the list is perhaps the revelation that Cristiano Ronaldo may be set to miss out on the top three. 

The five-time winner has never finished lower than second for each of the last eight seasons.

Elsewhere on the list, Kylian Mbappe is voted into seventh, while Dutch pair Frenkie de Jong and  Matthijs de Ligt are eighth and ninth respectively. Eden Hazard completes the top 10.

The ceremony is set to take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Monday. _Daily Mail

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