Who Was the Best Soccer Player in 2016
In 2016, Lionel Messi was widely regarded as the best soccer player after winning his sixth Ballon d’Or. He led Barcelona to multiple titles and set new records for goals and assists in European club competitions.
Key Awards and Statistics
Messi won the 2016 Ballon d’Or and the European Golden Shoe. He scored over 50 goals for club and country, helping Argentina reach the Copa América final and winning the Best Player award at the tournament.
Main Rivals and Context
Cristiano Ronaldo finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting after leading Real Madrid to the UEFA Champions League title and winning Euro 2016 with Portugal. For detailed statistics and career data, see the official Ballon d’Or archive at https://www.francefootball.fr/ballon-dor.
