Lionel Messi capped off a banner individual year in 2019 by winning a record sixth Ballon d’Or, but it’s not the only award he won this year. In addition to France Football’s prize, the Barcelona ace also won the European Golden Shoe, FIFA’s The Best award, and IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker award.
No player had previously won all four in a single year. That’s even accounting for the fact that the Ballon d’Or and The Best used to be a combined prize. No one had won the combined FIFA Ballon d’Or in addition to the Golden Shoe and Best Playmaker awards.