Lionel Messi and Megan Rapinoe scoop Ballon d’Or 2019 awards - in pictures

Both were favourites for the honours but faced tough competition

Argentinian striker Lionel Messi and US winger Megan Rapinoe have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards, in a ceremony in Paris on Monday night. AFP

Barcelona's soccer player Lionel Messi holds the trophy of the Golden Ball award ceremony in Paris, Monday, Decemer 2, 2019. Messi won the Ballon d'Or for sixth time. AP Photo/Francois Mori

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right, receives his sixth golden ball from Real Madrid's Lucas Modric during the Golden Ball award ceremony in Paris, Monday, December 2, 2019. AP Photo/Francois Mori

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo (L) and their sons Thiago and Mateo arrive to attend the Ballon d'Or France Football 2019 ceremony at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris on December 2, 2019. AFP / FRANCK FIFE

The Men's 2019 Ballon d'Or winner Barcelona forward Lionel Messi sits behind some of his six Ballon d'Or trophies during the ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, 2 December 2019. EPA/YOAN VALAT

Barcelona's Lionel Messi with his six Ballon d'Or trophies. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

United States' forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates scoring her team's first goal during the France 2019 Women's World Cup quarter-final football match between France and United States, on June 28, 2019, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. AFP / FRANCK FIFE

US player Megan Rapinoe is connected via video link as she is announced 2019 Women's Ballon d'Or winner during the ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, December, 2 2019. EPA/YOAN VALAT

Argentinian striker Lionel Messi and US winger Megan Rapinoe have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards in a ceremony in Paris on Monday night.

In a star studded evening at Paris’s Theatre du Chatelet, the Barcelona forward took the men’s award for a record sixth time, after a stunning season where the Spanish club won their 26th La Liga.

There were 30 nominees in total for both awards, which are organised by France Football magazine and voted for by 180 journalists from around the world.

Messi faced tough competition for the men’s award. Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk was also up for the award, as was Cristiano Ronaldo. They came second and third.

Messi had already won the Best Fifa Men's award in 2019, while Van Dijk was Uefa's Men's Player of the Year this year.

"Today is my sixth Ballon d'Or," Messi said at Monday's awards event. "It's a completely different moment, lived with my family and my children.

"As my wife said, 'You must never stop dreaming but always work to improve and continue to enjoy'. I am very lucky, I am blessed.

"I hope to continue for a long time. I realise that I am very lucky, even if one day retirement will ring. It will be difficult.

"But I still have beautiful years ahead of me. Time goes very quickly, so I want to enjoy football and my family."

Van Dijk was not the only Liverpool player on the short list.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and forwards Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were also nominated.

Rapinoe, 34, won the women’s award after this year helping the US to win its fourth Fifa Women’s World Cup, in France.

The winger is the driving force for the US team on and off the field.

Rapinoe was co-captain for the World Cup. She was named player of the tournament and netted six goals to also become its top scorer.

England’s Lucy Bronze, the Uefa Women's Player of the Year, was the runner-up for the award on Monday.

The Lyon defender played a key role in helping England make it to the World Cup semi-finals in July.

Last year’s men’s award was won by Luka Modric, who was not nominated this year.

He was the only winner other than Messi and Ronaldo in the past 12 years.

Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural Women's Ballon d'Or in 2018.