Messi wins best FIFA player of the year for record sixth time

Soccer Football - The Best FIFA Football Awards - Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy - September 23, 2019 FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi speaks after winning the Best FIFA Men's player award as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, presenter's Ilaria D’Amico and Ruud Gullit look on REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

Milan, Italy (Reuters) - Argentine Lionel Messi beat Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo to win the best FIFA player of the year award for a record sixth time on Monday.

Messi, who won the Spanish La Liga title with Barcelona last season as well as the European golden boot having scored 54 goals in 58 games in all competitions, last won the award in 2015.