Almost 500 captains, coaches and journalists had their say in voting for FIFA’s Ballon d’Or.

Lionel Messi won despite once again not featuring in rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s top three, al-though the Barcelona forward also repaid the compliment to his Real Madrid counterpart.

Messi picked his Barca team-mates Luis Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta, while Ronaldo sided with his club colleagues Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale.

Michael Mifsud, the Malta captain, left Messi and Ronaldo out and gave his top preference to Bayern Munich forward Thomas Mueller followed by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Andres Iniesta.

Malta coach Pietro Ghedin opted for Messi, Ronaldo and Welshman Bale in that order.

Mifsud gave his top vote to Bayern’s Pep Guardiola in the coach of the year contest ahead of Massimiliano Allegri, of Juventus, and Carlo Ancelotti.

Ghedin also voted for compatriot Allegri as his no.1 choice with Ancelotti second and Guardiola in third place.

The title of best coach on Monday went to Luis Enrique. The Spaniard led Barcelona to a treble in his first year in charge.

Perhaps, the biggest surprise of Monday’s vote was the choice of Paul Pogba’s brother.

Having been voted into the World XI, the Juve midfielder may have felt he could rely on the support of his older sibling Florentin, who plays for Saint-Etienne.

However, the Guinea captain opted for Messi, Ronaldo and Neuer instead.

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